Four Gateway Conference are ranked for the second-straight week, including Southern Illinois, UNI, Western Kentucky and Western Illinois. The Salukis, who achieved their first No. 1 ranking as a Gateway member last week, fell one spot to No. 2 after falling 23-22 to I-A Northern Illinois last week. All eight Gateway teams are either ranked or receiving votes, as Illinois State and SMS are among [...]

Two I-A near-misses were the story in Gateway Conference action on Sept. 11. Illinois State battled No. 22 Minnesota before falling, 37-21, and top-ranked Southern Illinois fell at I-A Northern Illinois, 23-22, as a failed two-point try by the Salukis late in the fourth was the difference. In all, the Gateway went 5-3 on Saturday, including a 2-1 mark against I-AA teams. Elsewhere in the [...]

Led by Southern Illinois at No. 5, the Gateway’s playoff hopefuls occupy four of the top 11 spots in this week’s Sports Network poll. UNI, which claimed the league’s automatic berth and co-championship with the win over SIU last week, is at No. 8. Western Kentucky (8-3) is at No. 10, while Western Illinois (8-3) is No. 11. All of the Gateway schools are idle [...]

Southwest Missouri State wide receiver Steven Rush, Cal Poly linebacker Jordan Beck, and Maine return man Arel Gordon have been honored as national I-AA players of the week by The Sports Network. Rush was also selected as one of this week’s “All-Stars” by I-AA.org. Rush had a magnificent receiving day against Illinois State, Beck was all over the field in the Mustangs’ win over UC [...]

Tags: National Honor

With its 24-17 win against Youngstown State last week, Southern Illinois (10-0/6-0) claimed at least a share of its first Gateway Conference title. In 18 previous seasons, the Salukis have finished better than fifth only three times: 1991 (t2nd), 1986 (t2nd), 1985 (t3rd). SIU tied for sixth place last year, and was picked sixth in this year’s Gateway preseason poll. Duel in the Dome The [...]

Southern Illinois (7-0) leads the league in the national rankings this week after winning, 37-32, at previously No. 2-ranked Western Illinois. The Salukis, at No. 4, join Western (No. 7), Western Kentucky (No. 8), and UNI (No. 9), as the league has four top-10 teams for the first time in league history. UNI and Western Illinois play in the league’s TV Game of the Week [...]

Southern Illinois and UNI are off to 3-0 starts in league play in 2003. A Gateway team has started conference play 4-0 on 18 occasions, and all finished second or better in the league standings. Fifteen of the 18 earned playoff berths; while 12 won the title. Must See TV The UNI-Western Illinois game will be on TV airwaves this week. It’s Centennial Day in [...]

For the first time in Gateway history, four league teams are ranked among the top 11 in a national top-25 poll. Western Illinois stands at No. 2, while Southern Illinois moves up a spot to No. 7, Western Kentucky holds at No. 9, and UNI moves up a notch to No. 11. A battle of two Gateway top-10 schools takes place this week as unbeaten [...]

Tags: Gateway Teams, top teams

It’s Homecoming in Normal, Ill., and the Illinois State-Western Kentucky game is part of the Gateway Television Network. Mitch Holthus, Richard Baldinger and Scott Warmann will call the action from Hancock Stadium, beginning at 2:30 pm CDT. The game will be seen live on the Hilltopper Sports Satellite Network and will be joined in progress at 3 pm by Fox Sports Net Midwest. (A complete [...]

This week’s Gateway Players of the Week are RB Travis Glasford and LB Lee Russell of Western Illinois; DE Kyle Mitchell of Indiana State; PK Matt Lange of Western Kentucky; PK Brian Wingert of UNI; and C Elmer McDaniel of Southern Illinois. Offensive RB Travis Glasford, Western Illinois So., 5-11, 190, Miami (Fla.) Southridge High Glasford tied a Gateway record with five rushing touchdowns as [...]