Sitting in a sea of orange midway through the second quarter of the Michigan State-Illinois game Saturday, the scene was baffling.

The Illini were taking a fierce beating – they went into halftime facing a 38-7 deficit – but the stands were still full of orange and blue-clad fans cheering on their team every play.

They put their arms around each other and danced back and forth to the tune of the “William Tell Overture.” They cheered and pointed in unison for every first down. Several even sang along with the Illinois fight song each time the band played it. Most importantly, they didn’t let a foreseeable loss ruin the game day atmosphere.

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SIU may be able to match up with the Illini on the field but not in the stands.

As a host of Illini supporters sang Illinois’ “Oskie Wow-Wow” in unison, I couldn’t help but realize that I have no idea what the words to SIU’s fight song are other than “Go Southern go.”

The words are in the game program, but most people are content to just to sing, “Go Southern go, that’s all the words I know.”

Not that no one knows the school fight song, but when was the last time it could be heard from the Strip?

It’s true that a rush of Illini fans left at halftime of the game not able to stand the beating any longer, but a great deal of people toughed it out through halftime and into the second half.

When SIU played host to NAIA Union College (Ky.), the bleachers emptied rapidly in the second half. The scores between the games were fairly similar, other than that in Salukis’ case, they were winning.

The fans who stuck around in the second half of the Union game were rewarded a glimpse of the future of SIU football as sophomore quarterback Nick Hill and freshman running back Renell Thomas put on a show in relief of the starters.

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Were the stands still full of Illini fans through the end of the game? I have no clue. I left shortly after the beginning of the second half – must be acquainted to how things are done at McAndrew Stadium.

While at the game, though, the Illini student section remained on its feet the entire first half except for breaks between quarters and halftime. In most games, Saluki fans only rise when a big play is being made.

This weekend, SIU has its homecoming game against Missouri State, which also happens to be the conference opener for the Salukis. While the Illini were picked to lose Saturday’s game, the Salukis are the favorites to beat the Bears to open conference play.

Saturday will be a good chance for Saluki fans to pack McAndrew stadium and be a factor in the game.

If the No. 3-ranked Salukis come into McAndrew Stadium Saturday to find a sea of maroon on their feet cheering them on for four quarters, Missouri State won’t have much of a chance – about as much as Illinois had.

Reporter William Ford can be reached at [email protected]