In 1983, the season the SIU football team entered the Division I-AA level and captured the national championship, the Salukis defeated a Division I-A team.

In that game, the Salukis mauled I-A New Mexico State, 41-3. In the time since, there have been 19 games against I-A foes – and 19 losses.

But the Salukis have yet another chance at redemption Saturday against Western Michigan University, which plays in the Mid-American Conference.

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Coming off of two resounding thrashings against Union (Ky.) and Southeast Missouri State, the Salukis will attempt to ride the Broncos into submission. But in their hometown of Kalamazoo, Mich., there could be about 25,000 people cheering for a different outcome.

The Broncos – riding a 12-game losing streak dating back to last season – will be looking to beat up on a smaller school to regain some pride. All of this sets the stage for a great game.

“It’s going to be a great challenge for us,” said SIU head coach Jerry Kill after rattling off a list of WMU’s strengths. “But we’re looking forward to it, and it should be a lot of fun.”

Fun aside, this game should certainly give the Salukis their first true test of the season.

Among the strengths Kill mentioned was Greg Jennings, a Bronco wide receiver with a laundry list of preseason accolades. Jennings was double and triple-teamed in WMU’s recent 56-23 loss to Toledo, yet still managed to rack up 72 receiving yards on eight receptions.

“We don’t go out there and say, ‘Hit Greg on this play,'” said Broncos’ head coach Bill Cubit. “He’s a guy that just seems to … get the ball.”

Ryan Cubit, the Bronco quarterback who sat out his first game with an injury, was able to amass 215 passing yards in the same game. The numbers don’t seem that daunting, but the Broncos possess more depth, talent and scholarships than the Salukis.

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And for a Saluki pass-defense that has been known to stumble at times, the Broncos’ pass-heavy philosophy is cause for concern. Except, of course, in the minds of Kill and the Salukis. Kill is relying on heavy pass rushing to disrupt Cubit, and senior safety Frank Johnson – who is questionable for Saturday’s game – is in agreement.

“We can cover all day, but we need that pressure on him to get the ball off,” Johnson said. “We need our defensive line; it’s a big key for the pass defense.”

But while much of the attention has been focused on WMU’s air attack – which has produced 486 yards in two games – Kill was adamant in remembering the ground game as a relevant threat.

Bill Cubit felt much the same about SIU’s always-potent ground game led by junior running back Arkee Whitlock. Whitlock has rushed for more than 200 yards thus far in the season and was SIU’s second-leading rusher last season behind current New York Giant rookie Brandon Jacobs.

“It’s a major concern,” Bill Cubit said. “We’re small, and we have a lot of inexperience on the defensive side of the ball.”

And while Toledo and Virginia were able to rush for almost 450 combined yards against the Broncos, Kill is not going to blindly rely on his ground game against WMU. Joel Sambursky, the oft-reliable senior quarterback, will see his fair share of snaps in his 39th straight start.

Being able to do so in front of a larger crowd only gives Sambursky more incentive to break the 19-game losing streak.

“I don’t think they’re going to be the friendliest fans in the world,” Sambursky said. “It’s called home-field advantage for a reason, but we enjoy playing in hostile environments.”

Reporter Gabe House can be reached at [email protected]