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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2023
Rollin’ upHill
Record freshman class helps fuel SIU’s growth
Saluki defense shines bright in win over Huskies
Ryan Grieser rgrieser@dailyegyptian.com
2023-24 is a year of historic growth for SIU Carbondale’s enrollment. SIU grew across the board, according to a news release by SIU Director of Communications Kim Renfeld. The overall enrollment at the university stands at 11,359 students and represents a 2.3% increase over the 2022-23 academic year. The group that saw the largest increase was new transfer students, which increased nearly 11% up to 1188. The freshman class, with 1621 people, is nearly 7% larger than the previous academic years; in 2022, 1486 new freshmen enrolled. The increase continues a now four-year trend of
Joseph Bernard jbernard@dailyegyptian.com
ENROLLMENT | 3
Architecture professor dies
Annie Hammock ahammock@dailyegyptian.com
Architecture Professor Jon Daniel Davey is being remembered as having a “glorious career.” College of Arts and Media Dean Hong Cheng announced Davey’s death in an email to his colleagues Sunday. “With a very heavy heart, I am bringing DAVEY you this sad news: Dr. Jon Daniel Davey, our beloved colleague and a longtime professor of architecture at SIUC passed away at Herrin Hospital yesterday ‘after several weeks in a delicate state of health,’” Cheng wrote. Davey is listed on SIU’s website as Distinguished Faculty and had earned the architecture school’s Teacher of the Year award five times. “With his kindness, talent, and dedication, Professor Davey enlightened numerous individuals’ souls and lives in his glorious career. He will be dearly missed by the CAM family and far beyond,” Cheng said.
VOL. 107, ISSUE 4
The Salukis take the field for the first game of the season as they face Austin Peay at home Sept. 2, 2023 at Saluki Stadium in Carbondale, Ill. Lylee Gibbs | @lyleegibbsphoto
Bring back the Wheel! Salukis aim for revenge in game against SEMO
Howard Woodard hwoodard@dailyegyptian.com
It was a tough pill to swallow last season when the Southeast Missouri State SEMO Redhawks stole a win and “The Wheel” at Saluki Stadium via a last-second touchdown. It left Saluki players, coaches and fans disappointed to lose grip of the coveted wheel in the final moments of the matchup. “Just to come down to the end and lose like that, it was pretty heartbreaking,” SIU defensive tackle Kam Bowdry said. “… And losing that wheel is always something we don’t like.” Wide receiver D’Ante’ Cox shared Bowdry’s sentiments about losing a game that means so much by such a close score (34-31). “The emotions were obviously down, just because we lost the rival game plus The Wheel,” Cox said. The storied rivalry between SIU and SEMO goes back over a century, with the schools facing off 90 times on the gridiron. So
far, it has swung in favor of the Redhawks who hold a 43-39-8 advantage over the Dawgs. That is something that Southern will look to swing back to their side in this year’s game.
which was, in fact, the War for the Wheel game. With only 50 miles separating the schools, he recognized the significance of the game. It provided a unique experience for him as a player.
“... it didn’t go our way last year, but we want to get it back.” - Jacob Caughall Saluki Center
“I know it’s very important for the school and it didn’t go our way last year, but we want to get it back,” center Jacob Caughall said. After transferring to SIU before the last season, Caughall’s introduction to the rivalry was the 2022 home opener for SIU
“That one hurts a little extra because they’re right up the road,” Caughall said. “…Probably one of the best [atmospheres] I’ve played in in my whole career. The close proximity causes an increased competitive environment
Down go the Huskies 14-11. Two years in a row now, the Salukis have defeated yet another Football Bowl Subdivision team on their schedule. In a statement performance by defensive coordinator Antonio James, the Saluki defense kept Northern Illinois University (1-1) scoreless into the third quarter, and held the Huskies to just 11 points total to move to 2-0 on the young season. Despite allowing nearly 400 total yards on offense, the Dawgs defense came when it mattered most. They forced three interceptions, including one by junior safety Ubayd Steed in the final minute of regulation to seal the deal. Desman Hearns and Mark Davis also had picks of their own on separate occasions. The defense also took down NIU quarterback Rocky Lombardi for four different sacks with senior defensive end Tim Varga leading the charge with two. It wasn’t the prettiest day for the Saluki offense, but no huge turnovers were given up either as the Dawgs won the turnover battle 3-0. Quarterback Nic Baker was put under pressure throughout the whole game, with five separate sacks. Baker finished completing 16 of his 24 passes for 168 yards passing. He rushed for a touchdown to break open the scoring late in the first. Senior running back Ro Elliot led the charge on offense for the Dawgs, with 81 total yards from scrimmage. Elliot rushed for 58 yards off nine attempts, including a 10-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter. Elliot caught two more for 23 yards as well. Junior tight end Aiden Quinn led the Salukis in receiving
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