DE Assistant Sports Editor

Some coaches who have come off a losing campaign might be satisfied with breaking even, or just winning more games than the year before.

Saluki head football coach Shawn Watson is not one of those coaches.

Advertisement

Winning only one game last season, the Salukis fortunes have turned, as the Dawgs have posted a 4-4 record this season, after mustering just one win in 1994.

Watson said he is pleased with his team’s performance this year, but is not content with the Salukis just stopping and admiring what they have accomplished thus far.

Our goal is to have a winning season, and we’re calling these last three games a new season for us, he said. We’re going to try and walk through this 3-0 and walk away 7-4, ideally.

Saturday, SIUC had a chance to be in a three-way tie for the Gateway Conference lead with the University of Northern Iowa and Indiana State with a win against UNI.

The Dawgs fell 13-0, but Watson said he was proud of his team, and to look for better things in the future.

It (loss to UNI) proves that we still have some growing up to do, and some development in the program, he said. We’re on course, because we have a good football team here and can have a successful season, and a season that can mark a big turn-around in a year’s time and that’s our goal.

In many areas, the turn-around has already begun.

Advertisement*

In eight games, the Salukis have rushed for 1,004 yards and scored 140 points. The Dawgs ran for 1,092 yards and scored 156 points all of last season. The 156 points also takes into account Saturday’s shutout at UNI and two contests in which the Dawgs have been held to three points a 35-3 loss to Murray State, Sept. 9 and a 52-3 defeat at the hands of Indiana State, Sept. 30.

The Saluki defense has started its transformation as well.

SIUC’s defensive unit has already equaled last year’s total in interceptions (eight) and has forced one more fumble (eight) than it did in 1994.

One of the biggest changes for the Saluki defense this season, however, is in the category of tackles for losses.

In 1994, SIUC dropped opponents behind the line of scrimmage 59 times for 183 yards in losses (-3.1 yards per tackle). This season the Dawgs have stopped the opposition 63 times for a total loss of 243 yards, good for -3.85 per tackle behind the line.

Back in the saddle

After being knocked-out of last Saturday’s contest at UNI with a concussion, Watson said Saluki quarterback Danny Smith should be ready to go against Western Illinois on this Saturday.

He’s going to be OK. He’s a tough kid, he said. I think he’s going to be OK. The headache’s got to go away before he can practice, so that would be the major concern right now.

Just in case Smith is not able to play against the Leathernecks, Watson said he has a plan for it backup quarterback Chris Schullian.

Chris Schullian’s gotten better each week on the practice field, he said. When the lights go on, he has his opportunity, such as in the game this past Saturday, and he’s produced.

If anything were to happen to Dan (Smith), I feel comfortable putting Chris in if he continues to do what we do.