Southern Illinois Salukis football

History

The first official season of Southern Illinois football took place in 1913. Their first game was a win against Anna High School.

In 1983, the Salukis began the year ranked 8th in the NCAA Division I-AA rankings. They finished the regular season ranked #1 with a record of 10–1. In their three playoff games, they outscored their opponents by an average of 23 points. They defeated Western Carolina 43–7 in the National Championship Game to finish the year with a record of 13–1 and to be crowned national champtions.

In 2006, the Salukis defeated Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, 35–28, becoming the first Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) school to win against a Big Ten Conference member. In 2007, the Salukis were victorious against Northern Illinois University. This marked the second consecutive year that SIU had beaten an FBS program.

In the 2000s, SIU set then-MVFC records with 99 consecutive weeks ranked in the top-25 and 14-straight MVFC wins.

Conference affiliations

• Independent (1913–1924, 1962–1976)
• Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (1925–1961)
• Missouri Valley Conference (1977–1984)
• Missouri Valley Football Conference (1985–present) (known as the Gateway Football Conference until June 2008)

Postseason games

The Salukis have appeared in two bowl games, compiling a 2–0 record.

Bowl games

Division I-AA/FCS playoffs

The Salukis have appeared in 17 playoff games in I-AA/FCS tournaments, compiling a record of 11–10. They won the I-AA national championship in 1983.

Championships

Conference championships

Southern Illinois has won nine conference championships, five outright.

† denotes co-champion

National championships

Players

Salukis in the NFL

SIU has had 28 players drafted in the NFL Draft, including four since 2010. In total, 36 Saluki football players have gone on to play in the NFL. Some notable Salukis in the NFL are listed below.

• Kenneth Boatright – Dallas Cowboys, DE (2013–2015)
• Brandon Jacobs – New York Giants, RB (2005–2013)
• Bart Scott – Baltimore Ravens & New York Jets, LB (2002–2012)
• Carl Mauck – San Diego Chargers, OL (1969–1981, coach 1982–2007)
• Damon Jones – Jacksonville Jaguars, TE (1997–2001)
• Deji Karim – Houston Texans, RB (2010–2014)
• Houston Antwine – Houston OIlers, DT (1961–1972)
• Jayson DiManche – Cincinnati Bengals, LB (2013–2017)
• Jewel Hampton – San Francisco 49ers, RB (2012–2016)
• Jim Hart – St. Louis Cardinals, QB (1966–1984)
• Kevin House – Tampa Bay Buccaneers, WR (1980–1987)
• MyCole Pruitt – Tennessee Titans, TE (2015–present)
• Sebron Spivey – Dallas Cowboys, WR (1987)
• Amos Bullocks – Dallas Cowboys, RB (1962–1964)
• Ray Agnew III – Cleveland Browns, FB (2014–2015)
• Terry Taylor – Seattle Seahawks, DB (1984–1995)
• Tom Baugh – Kansas City Chiefs, OL (1986–1989)
• Yonel Jourdain – Buffalo Bills, KR, RB (1994–1997)
• Korey Lindsey – Indianapolis Colts & Dallas Cowboys, CB (2012, 2014)
• Chase Allen – Miami Dolphins, LB (2017–present)
• Jeremy Chinn – Carolina Panthers, LB/SF (2019–present)
• Craig James – Philadelphia Eagles, CB (2018–present)
• Ryan Neal – Seattle Seahawks, CB/SF (2018–present)
• Madre Harper – New York Giants, CB (2019–present)

All-Americans

Cornell Craig is the school's all-time leading receiver and first receiver in school history to earn consensus All-American honors (1999). His senior season he led the nation in receiving with 77 receptions for 1,419 yards and 15 touchdowns. He also amassed over 2,000 all-purpose yards as a senior. His career numbers (all Saluki records) are 207 receptions, 3,508 yards, and 37 touchdowns. He was inducted into the SIU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2008 and is also honored on Missouri Valley Conference's 25th anniversary team along with three other Salukis.

Assistant coaches who became head coaches

• Don Cross assistant OL 1960–1965 under HC Carmen Piccone & Don Shroyer Missouri State HC
• Bob Ledbetter assistant 1968–1971 under HC Dick Towers Norfolk State HC
• Jim Caldwell assistant WR 1978–1980 under Rey Dempsey HC Wake Forest, Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions
• Alex Wood assistant DB 1981 under Rey Dempsey HC James Madison, Buffalo,Florida A&M
• Shawn Watson assistant GA 1982 under Rey Dempsey HC Southern Illinois, Wofford
• Jan Quarless assistant 1976–1982 DL/OL/OC under Rey Dempsey HC Southern Illinois
• Charlie Strong assistant WR 1986–1987 under Ray Dorr HC Florida, Louisville, Texas, South Florida
• Jeff McInerney assistant LB 1988 under Rick Rhoades HC Centeal Connecticut State
• Bill Callahan assistant OC 1989 under Bob Smith HC Oakland Raiders, Nebraska, Washington Redskins
• Kirby Wilson assistant LB 1991 DC 1992 under Bob Smith HC Pittsburgh Maulers
• David Elson assistant GA 1994–1995 under Shawn Watson HC Western Kentucky
• Dan Enos assistant QB/WR 1997–1998 under Jan Quarless HC Central Michigan
• Tracy Claeys assistant DC 2001–2007 under Jerry Kill HC Minnesota
• Tom Matukewicz assistant LB 2001–2007 under Jerry Kill HC Southeast Missouri State
• Jay Sawvel assistant DB/ST 2001–2007 under Jerry Kill HC Wyoming
• Kyle Schweigert assistant DC 2008–2013 under Dale Lennon HC North Dakota
• Kenni Burns Assistant TE 2008–2009 under Dale Lennon HC Kent State
• Kalen DeBoer assistant OC/WR 2010–2013 under Dale Lennon HC Fresno State, Washington, Alabama
• Nick Hill assistant QB/OC 2014–2015 under Dale Lennon HC Southern Illinois
• Eric Schmidt assistant DL/LB/ST 2008–2013 under Dale Lennon HC North Dakota
• Phil Longo assistant OC 2008–2009 under Dale Lennon HC Sam Houston State

Home venue

Main article: Saluki Stadium

SIU Football plays at the 15,000-seat Saluki Stadium, which replaced McAndrew Stadium, the home of Saluki Football since 1938. Saluki Stadium opened on September 2, 2010 when a sellout crowd of 15,200 watched the Salukis defeat Quincy 70–7.

The Saluki Stadium is part of the university's larger athletic facilities plan, known as "Saluki Way," a comprehensive plan to renovate and restructure the campus athletic facilities.

Future non-conference opponents

Announced schedules as of December 12, 2025.

References

References

1. Hefferman, Todd. (December 23, 2015). "Hill to succeed Lennon as SIU's next football coach". [[The Southern Illinoisan]].
2. "2022 Record Book". Southern Illinois University Athletics.
3. (August 29, 2010). "Remember the time...". [[The Southern Illinoisan]].
4. (September 16, 2006). "Hill tosses 4 TDs as I-AA Salukis shock Indiana".
5. "Top Moments in MVFC History - THE FBS".
6. (September 8, 2007). "S. Illinois 34, N. Illinois 31".
7. "SIU becoming powerhouse at I-AA level".
8. "13 SIU football players honored in MVFC 25th anniversary celebration | WPSD Local 6 – News, Sports, Weather – Paducah KY | Local Sports".
9. Nelson, Kathleen. (August 23, 2010). "SIUC's long-awaited new stadium is ready". [[St. Louis Post-Dispatch]].
10. "Saluki Stadium opens in grand fashion – Southern Illinois University".
11. Norris, D.W.. (July 24, 2010). "How 'Suite' it is: New Saluki football stadium scores with premium seating level". [[The Southern Illinoisan]].
12. [http://www.siuc.edu/future/salukiWay/index.html Saluki Way] {{webarchive. link. (2010-02-28)
13. "Southern Illinois Salukis Football Future Schedules". FBSchedules.com.