Dec. 1, 2009
By Jason Clay

Game Day Quick Facts
RADIO: Saluki Sports Network with Mike Reis (play-by-play), Gene Green (color analyst) and Joel Sambursky (sideline) on WVZA-FM 105.1 in Carbondale. Please see complete game notes for other radio affiliates.

Third-seeded Southern Illinois (11-1) hosts William & Mary (10-2) Saturday at 11 a.m. in McAndrew Stadium in the quarterfinals of the 2009 NCAA Division I Football Championships... Fans can listen to all the action with "Voice of the Salukis" Mike Reis, Gene Green and Joel Sambursky on the Saluki Sports Network beginning at 10 a.m. on WVZA-FM 105.1 in Carbondale... SIU is making its fourth quarterfinal appearance in the last five seasons and is looking to reach the semifinals for what would be the second time in three years... The Salukis finished the regular season ranked No. 1 by The Sports Network and will be facing their fourth ranked opponent this weekend and their third Top 10 team, as the Tribe finished the year ranked No. 6. SIU has a 3-0 record this year against Top 25 teams... Senior running back Deji Karim was named one of the three finalists for the 2009 Walter Payton Award. He needs 97 all-purpose yards Saturday to break SIU's single-season record... Junior quarterback Chris Dieker, who missed the last five games with a broken collarbone, was cleared to practice this week... Southern Illinois has dominated its competition at home since 2003 and have a 41-5 record at McAndrew Stadium in the last seven seasons... William & Mary, who is 4-2 on the road this year, comes to Carbondale with the nation's No. 1 rushing and No. 2 scoring defense... Southern Illinois is third nationally in scoring and fourth in rushing... This is SIU's seventh-straight playoff appearance and eighth in program history. The Salukis were national champs in 1983.

Saluki Headlines
• SIU is 41-5 at home since 2003.
• Deji Karim is the 2009 MVFC Offensive Player of the Year and Dale Lennon is the Coach of the Year.
• Defensive end Kyle Russo and quarterback Paul McIntosh were named to the 2009 MVFC All-Newcomer Team on Monday

Eying a Return
Junior quarterback Chris Dieker has been cleared to practice this week. Dieker went down in the Youngstown State game with a broken left collarbone, but has received clearance from the medical staff to practice this week with the Salukis. Dieker was an All-MVFC honorable mention selection this year. In his seven games, he threw for 1,272 yards and 10 touchdowns while completing 59.3 percent of his passes.