Salukis look to steal marshall's thunderSIU opens against FBS school for the first time since 1989
By Ryan Voyles
Published: Thursday, September 3, 2009
Published: Thursday, September 3, 2009
SIU head football coach Dale Lennon said he does not care where the Salukis open their season or who they are playing — they’re ready.
“I don’t mind being on the road — I don’t mind playing a (Football Bowl Subdivision) team,”
Lennon said. “Our whole intention is to put our best game forward. We’re going down there with the intention that we have the ability to win.”
The Salukis will travel to Huntington, W.Va., Saturday to face the Marshall Thundering Herd of the FBS Conference USA. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
Lennon said Marshall would be a great test to open the season.
“(There’s) a lot of football history there, just the idea of playing Marshall in the first game is exciting,” Lennon said. “But we need to stay focused on the game and not let the hype catch up to us.”
“(There’s) a lot of football history there, just the idea of playing Marshall in the first game is exciting,” Lennon said. “But we need to stay focused on the game and not let the hype catch up to us.”
If the Salukis can make history repeat itself, they could leave Marshall victorious.
SIU has won two of their last three games against FBS teams, with wins against Indiana and Northern Illinois. Marshall bounced back from its 48-35 loss at home in 2007 to Football Championship Subdivision’s New Hampshire by pounding Saluki conference foe Illinois State 35-10 last season. Marshall head coach Mark Snyder said he knows not to overlook the lower division teams.
SIU has won two of their last three games against FBS teams, with wins against Indiana and Northern Illinois. Marshall bounced back from its 48-35 loss at home in 2007 to Football Championship Subdivision’s New Hampshire by pounding Saluki conference foe Illinois State 35-10 last season. Marshall head coach Mark Snyder said he knows not to overlook the lower division teams.
“The disparity between us and them has almost completely disappeared now,” Snyder said. “You cannot look at these teams anymore and expect a victory.”
The Salukis are relying on their returning starters to continue last season’s success.Junior quarterback Chris Dieker comes back to build on his successful sophomore season.
Dieker passed for 2,082 yards and 16 touchdowns as he led the Salukis to a 9-3 record. Lennon said Dieker would have more control of the offense this season because of his experience in the offensive scheme.
Dieker passed for 2,082 yards and 16 touchdowns as he led the Salukis to a 9-3 record. Lennon said Dieker would have more control of the offense this season because of his experience in the offensive scheme.
While Dieker has found a home under center, the Salukis go into the season with a wide-open backfield. Junior running back Richard White returned to practice this week after a turf toe injury sidelined him last week. White and redshirt senior Deji Karim are expected to get the most touches out of the backfield.
Despite the experienced offense, it is SIU’s defense that caught Snyder’s attention.
Snyder said Marshall must find way to stop the speed of the Saluki defense, which includes cornerback Korey Lindsey and linebackers Brandin Jordan and Chauncey Mixon. Jordan said the team is looking at Marshall as just another challenge.
“Any team that we’re scheduled up against this season, we definitely have a chance at beating them,” Jordan said. “We’re just going to use this as a stepping stone, and hopefully knock these guys off and keep it going smooth from there.”
No comments:
Post a Comment