Nov. 20, 2005

By Tom Weber
www.SIUSalukis.com

CARBONDALE, Ill. - Southern Illinois received an at-large bid to the 16-team I-AA Playoffs and will play at Eastern Illinois next Saturday at 1 p.m. in a first-round game.

NCAA I-AA Playoff Bracket

Podcast with Jerry Kill

The Panthers (9-2) were automatic qualifiers after winning the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Salukis (8-3) will make their third-straight playoff appearance. Last season, Southern was ranked #1 in the nation and was the #1-seed in the playoffs, but lost in the first round to Eastern Washington.

"I felt like we peaked too soon a year ago," Kill said. "I don't feel like this football team has peaked yet."

Kill said he thinks the Salukis may be underrated.

"Some people have kind of given up on us, but I think we're starting to play our best football," he said. "Even though we lost to Northern Iowa (last week), we played a good football game up there. I think we still have our best football to be played."

The Salukis and Panthers are familiar foes, having squared off 62 times dating back to 1913, Southern's first year of collegiate football.

Southern Illinois leads the all-time series, 36-25-1. The last meeting between the schools took place in 2001, when Eastern won, 49-21, in Carbondale.

"I'm just glad we got in the big show and got a chance," Kill said, when asked about the matchup. "It's a great reward for our seniors."

Junior running back Arkee Whitlock, who led the Gateway Conference in rushing this year with 1,271 yards, credited the Saluki senior class for turning Southern's program around.

"I got here and kind of forgot what it's like to lose," he said. "We've been successful for three years straight now. I have two rings here. It's a great accomplishment for the seniors who started out at 1-10 and built it up to a three-peat.

The winner will play the winner of the game between Lafayette and Appalachian State.