By Ryan Keith 23

SIUC football junior quarterback Kent Skornia and the University of South Florida football team have faced a tough transition in their rookie seasons, but both are starting to show they have bright futures ahead of them.

Skornia, a native of Washington, Mo., who transferred to SIUC from the University of Missouri-Columbia in January, has seen plenty of hills and valleys in his first year as a Saluki. The Bulls have had some difficulty adjusting to playing college football as well. South Florida is in its first year of competition and has a 2-4 record.

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SIUC and the University of South Florida battle at 6 p.m. Saturday at Houlihan Stadium in Tampa, Fla.

After splitting time with fellow junior Marcus Capone in the Salukis’ first four games, Skornia has taken control of the offense in the last two weeks. He has led the Salukis to a 1-1 mark since his return and a 2-4 record overall.

Skornia said the biggest difference he has seen in the last two weeks is an increase in confidence.

I’m comfortable with the wide receivers, offensive line, coaching staff, everybody, Skornia said. It just took a few weeks to get in the groove. Right now, I just feel so much more comfortable.

Comfort is one feeling that Skornia struggled with to open the year. The Salukis opened the season with a disappointing 33-0 loss to Nicholls State University Sept. 6 in which the Saluki offense gained just 120 yards in total offense.

Skornia rebounded with a strong comeback in a 24-20 win over Murray State University the next week. But his roller-coaster season took another dive the following week in a 19-14 loss to Indiana State University where he was taken out of the starting lineup at halftime after throwing three interceptions.

After Capone started against the University of Northern Iowa Sept. 27, where the Salukis lost 28-27, Skornia regained the starting spot in practice and has been at the helm ever since. Skornia threw for 181 yards and two touchdowns in a Homecoming loss to Southwest Missouri State University Oct. 4. Skornia followed that by throwing for three touchdowns and 276 yards in leading SIUC to a comeback win over Illinois State University Saturday.

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SIUC coach Jan Quarless said Skornia has earned the starting position the hard way.

He’s had two good weeks of practice, Quarless said. Kent seems to have a handle on it now.

Sophomore wide receiver Cornell Craig, who took advantage of Skornia’s hot hand by setting a school record with 219 yards on 11 catches Saturday, said Skornia’s new attitude has lifted the team to a higher level.

You can feel it in the huddle, Craig said. He has a confidence about his ways that just spills over to the rest of the offense and we pick up on it.

This season also has been a rough road at times for South Florida, which is playing its first season of organized football. The process, which began two years ago under coach Jim Leavitt, has been filled with its share of trouble as South Florida enters Saturday’s contest with a 2-4 record.

But one big advantage the Bulls have is a large home crowd at Houlihan Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bulls expect about 40,000 fans, which is almost a bigger total than the Salukis have played in front of in their first six games combined.

Skornia, who played in front of large crowds while at Missouri, sees a large crowd as a benefit to the Salukis.

I’m really interested to see how they react, Skornia said. I remember playing Nebraska in my first start, and I was so into the crowd, I forgot what I was doing on the first few plays. But after a few plays, you settle down and play the game of football, and that’s what it’s all about.

I think our guys will do a good job. They have good poise, and they’ll just go in there and play some ball.

With a battle against No. 7 Western Kentucky University scheduled for Oct. 25, and two more teams in the nation’s top five in Division I-AA left on the Salukis’ schedule, a win over the Bulls gives the Salukis a little extra breathing room for a tough home stretch.

Quarless said that while the Salukis have a good shot of winning the game, the Bulls cannot be taken lightly.

I’d like to believe so [that the Salukis can win] in the sense that they’re a young team, Quarless said. On the other hand, I’m not sure what to expect. The reason I’m not sure is because I’ve seen them play with a lot of excitement.

That’s the mark of a young, energetic football team that expects something to happen all the time. I don’t think it’s going to be easy at all.

The Salukis travel to Tampa, Fla., for a 6 p.m. non-conference matchup with the University of South Florida Saturday.

The game will be broadcast on 95.1 WXLT-FM and at http://www.siu.edu/godawgs.