SIU takes on Indiana State today, and, for personal reasons as much as professional, needs to take care of business early at Memorial Stadium.
The Sycamores (1-7, 1-4 Missouri Valley Football Conference) comes off its first win since 2006, but don’t expect a winning streak today, folks. Third-ranked SIU (6-1, 5-0) has too much to play for, has better players, and has been brilliant on the road. The Salukis were up 50-0 at the half last season, and scored two defensive touchdowns. INS coach Trent Miles hasn’t forgotten.
“The Salukis are, obviously, one of the best teams in the conference,” Miles said. “They’re fast. They’re big. They can run and they can throw it. This is the same team that was winning 50-nothing at the half.”
If SIU can build an early lead of a couple of touchdowns, its defense should be able to ride their seventh victory of the season out. The Salukis might not pass for more than 150 yards, but they should be able to run for about 300. Quarterback Paul McIntosh may have more than 100 by himself.
And I’m hoping he does. I was in the hospital until 3:30 a.m. after hitting a deer at 70 miles an hour on Interstate 70 last night east of Effingham.
The passenger side of my car is pretty dinged up. I’ve apparently lost a lot of power steering fluid, because I have to turn the wheel with all my strength to get left or right. Other than that, it’s pretty driveable, which I’m happy to see. I did not want to spend the weekend in Terre Haute, Ind. I’m glad the deer didn’t flip up onto the car and through the windshield, as I’ve known to happen before. I don’t feel sorry for the poor sap, however, and neither does my wild whiplash.
So, I’m hoping SIU takes care of business early, because I’m not in the mood to write a big upset, front-page centerpiece story today. After the game I’m heading home to try to make my daughter’s first trick-or-treat at 6 p.m. in Carbondale.
Hope your weekend is going better.