Southern Illinois University is a public research university in Carbondale, Illinois. Chartered in 1869, SIU is the oldest and flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system. Originally founded as a normal college, the university today provides programs in a variety of disciplines, combining a strong liberal arts tradition with a focus on research. SIU was granted limited university status in 1943 and began offering graduate degrees in 1950. A separate campus was established in Edwardsville, Illinois in 1957, eventually becoming Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
Willie Edward Lanier, is a former American football linebacker who played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 1967 through 1977. He won postseason honors for eight consecutive years, making the American Football League All-Star team in 1968 and 1969 before being selected to the Pro Bowl from 1970 through 1975.
John Carl "Jack" Rudnay is a former professional American football center in the National Football League (NFL). He played his entire 13-year career with the Kansas City Chiefs.
Scott Pioli is an American football executive who most recently worked as the Assistant General Manager for the Atlanta Falcons. He was an NFL analyst for NBC Sports' Football Night in America, NBC Sports Network's Pro Football Talk, Sirius XM NFL Radio and the NFL Network. He previously served as a front office executive for the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs. Pioli served as the Director – and later Vice President – of Player Personnel for the Patriots from 2001 to 2008 when the franchise won three Super Bowl championships.
William Coleman Hartman, Jr. was an American football running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins before World War II. He graduated from the University of Georgia in 1937 with a B.S., where he was a member of the Chi Phi Fraternity. Hartman was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Georgia Sports Hall of Fame in 1981.
Carl Mauck is a former American football player and coach who was a center who played 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for four teams and later served as an offensive line coach for several teams. Mauck attended Southern Illinois University.
Otis Taylor was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver. He played college football at Prairie View A&M University. He was drafted by the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth round of the 1965 AFL Draft. He was also selected in the 15th round of the 1965 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He chose to play in the AFL for the Chiefs where he would spend his entire career.
John Martin Spirida, Jr. was an American football end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins.
Marion Rushing was a professional American football player. Born in Pinckneyville, Illinois, he played 9+1⁄2 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), mainly for the Chicago/St. Louis Cardinals. He finished his pro rootball career in 1968 with the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (AFL). While at Southern Illinois University (SIU), Rushing earned more athletic letters than any other athlete in Saluki history. He earned a total of 13 letters while playing football, basketball, track, and wrestling for SIU. Following his career at SIU, Rushing went on to play professional football in both the NFL and AFL. He was inducted into the charter class of the Saluki Hall of Fame in 1978. In 2010 Southern Illinois University honored Saluki Hall of Famer Marion Rushing by renaming a street near the new football stadium, Marion Rushing Lane.
The Southern Illinois Salukis are the varsity athletic teams representing Southern Illinois University Carbondale. The nickname comes from the Saluki, the Royal Dog of Egypt and the Persian greyhound, which ties into the fact that southern Illinois has had the nickname "Little Egypt" for just under 200 years.
The Southern Illinois Salukis men's basketball team represents Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Carbondale, Illinois. The Salukis compete in the NCAA Division 1, and they play their home games at Banterra Center. As of March 2019, Saluki Hall of Fame basketball player, Bryan Mullins, has become the newest head coach of the Southern Illinois basketball program.
The Southern Illinois Salukis football program represents Southern Illinois University Carbondale in college football. The Salukis are a member of the NCAA and compete at the Division I Football Championship Subdivision level. The Salukis are a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference and play in Saluki Stadium on the campus of Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Carbondale, Illinois, which has a seating capacity of 15,000.
Allen F. Reynolds was a American college and professional football guard who played eight seasons in the American Football League from 1960-1967 for the Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs. Allen is an alumnus of Tarkio College in Tarkio, Missouri where he was inducted into the Tarkio College Hall of Fame in 1987.
The Colgate Raiders football team represents Colgate University in NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) college football competition as a member of the Patriot League.
The Marching Salukis is the official marching band of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Composed of men and women, the band performs at all SIU football home games and marches in parades for SIU homecoming, the Du Quoin State Fair and Carbondale Lights Fantastic. The band has also performed in halftime programs for the Chicago Bears, St. Louis Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and St. Louis Rams, as well as presidential addresses in Carbondale by Bill Clinton.
Abdul-Gafar Olatokumbo Ayodeji Lamar "Deji" Karim is a former American football running back. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football for Southern Illinois and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.
Patrick Lavon Mahomes II is an American football quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). The son of former Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher Pat Mahomes, he initially played college football and baseball at Texas Tech University. Following his sophomore year, he quit baseball to focus solely on football. In his junior year, he led all NCAA Division I FBS players in multiple categories including passing yards (5,052) and total touchdowns (53). He was selected 10th overall by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2017 NFL Draft.
MyCole Pruitt is an American football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at Southern Illinois, where he was a two-time first-team FCS All-American. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round, 143rd overall of the 2015 NFL Draft.
Lemuel L. Burnham is a former American football defensive end who played three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the fifteenth round of the 1974 NFL Draft. He first enrolled at Santa Ana Junior College before transferring to U.S. International University. Burnham attended Jewett High School in Winter Haven, Florida. He was also a member of The Hawaiians, Washington Redskins and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Nicholas Bolton is an American football linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Missouri, and was drafted by the Chiefs in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
