Indiana University Athletics
A Look Ahead: Southern Illinois
7/3/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
July 3, 2006
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Following its first road contest of the season at Ball State, the Indiana football team returns to Memorial Stadium for its third game of the season against Southern Illinois on Saturday, Sept. 16. The Hoosiers and Salukis will square off at 4 p.m. EDT on Varsity Club Day and Band Day.
SIU is coming off a 2005 campaign in which it posted a 9-4 record, shared first place in the Gateway Conference at 5-2 and advanced to the postseason. In the playoffs, the Salukis fell in the second round to Appalachian State and ended the season ranked seventh in the Sports Network and Coaches Polls.
With nine starters returning, the Salukis appear poised to repeat last year's success. Senior running back Arkee Whitlock headlines an offense that returns six players. Whitlock rushed for 1,454 yards and 14 touchdowns a season ago. He averaged 121.2 yards per game and churned out 5.4 yards per carry.
Nick Hill will get the nod behind center after tossing only 20 passes in 2005. His leading target will be junior wideout Alan Turner, who brought in 21 receptions for 320 yards and one score last year. Senior tight end Braden Jones also is a threat, snatching 16 catches for 188 and two touchdowns as a junior.
Only two starters return to a new-look defense. Senior safeties Marlon Heaston and Patrick Jordan anchor the 4-2 scheme. Heaston led the club with 76 tackles in 2005, while Jordan added 61 stops and a team-best three interceptions. The Salukis are also looking for big things from junior cornerback Brandon Bruner and senior defensive end Lorenzo Wims, who is one of the top pass-rushers in the Gateway Conference.
This will be the first meeting between the two programs. For ticket information, please call 1-866-IUSPORTS.
| Date | Opponent | Location | TV | |
| 09/02/06 | Western Michigan | Bloomington, Ind. | | 6:00 PM |
| 09/09/06 | Ball State | Muncie, Ind. | | 6:30 PM |
| 09/16/06 | Southern Illinois | Bloomington, Ind. | | 4:00 PM |
| 09/23/06 | Connecticut | Bloomington, Ind. | | 4:00 PM |
| 09/30/06 | Wisconsin | Bloomington, Ind. | | TBA |
| 10/07/06 | Illinois | Champaign, Ill. | | TBA |
| 10/14/06 | Iowa | Bloomington, Ind. | | TBA |
| 10/21/06 | Ohio State | Columbus, Ohio | | TBA |
| 10/28/06 | Michigan State (Homecoming) | Bloomington, Ind. | | TBA |
| 11/04/06 | Minnesota | Minneapolis, Minn. | | 2:30 PM |
| 11/11/06 | Michigan (Parents' Weekend) | Bloomington, Ind. | | TBA |
| 11/18/06 | Purdue | West Lafayette, Ind. | | TBA |
* Schedule subject to change.
** Games times local to game site
