1983 Southern Illinois Salukis football team

American college football season August 2023 February 2026 1983 Southern Illinois Salukis football Missouri Valley Conference MVC 13–1 4–1 Rey Dempsey 8th McAndrew Stadium NCAA Division I-AA national champion NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game W 43–7 vs. Western Carolina The 1983 Southern Illinois Salukis football team was an American football team that represented Southern Illinois University (now known as Southern Illinois University Carbondale) in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) during the 1983 NCAA Division I-AA football season. In their eighth year under head coach Rey Dempsey, the Salukis compiled a 13–1 record (4–1 in conference games), finished second in the MVC, and outscored their opponents by a total of 448 to 187. They played in the Division I-AA playoffs and won the Division I-AA national championship with a victory over Western Carolina in the championship game.1983 National Championship SIU Salukis.com March 1, 2025 https://siusalukis.com/sports/2016/6/12/sports-m-footbl-archive-062510aas-htmlSouthern Illinois Saluki Football 2019 Media Guide Southern Illinois University 2019 118 July 12, 2020 https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/siusalukis.com/documents/2019/8/20/Media_Guide.pdf April 1, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210401074246/https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/siusalukis.com/documents/2019/8/20/Media_Guide.pdf dead The Salukis scored an average of 32.6 points per game and allowed opponents to score 14.3 points per game. They set multiple school records, including most victories (13), most points (448), and most total offense (4,399 yards).Southern sets records Herald and Review December 25, 1983 12 https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review-southern-sets-records/166965801/ Newspapers.com Quarterback Rick Johnson ended his SIU career with the school record with 5,804 passing yards. Placekicker Ron Miller set the school's season scoring record with 110 points. The defensive secondary set a school record with 41 interceptions (including eight against New Mexico State), and was led by three veteran defensive backs: Cornerback Terry Taylor was named to the Division I-AA All-America team.Daniel, Taylor to play in bowls Southern Illinoisan December 21, 1983 11 https://www.newspapers.com/article/southern-illinoisan-daniel-taylor-to-pl/166963302/ Newspapers.com He later played 12 years in the NFL. Quarterback Rick Johnson later described Taylor's impact on opposing quarterbacks: ""With Terry Taylor, you could see the fear in the quarterback's eyes." Cornerback Donnell Daniel was named MVC Defensive Player of the Year. Free safety Gregg Shipp, a fifth-year senior, led the defensive backfield with 72 tackles.Unsung Greg Shipp is a defensive leader who's lost in the crowd Southern Illinoisan Scott Monserud December 9, 1983 9 https://www.newspapers.com/article/southern-illinoisan-unsung-greg-shipp-is/166965346/ Newspapers.com He set a school single-game record with four interceptions against Western Carolina. The team was inducted as a group into the SIU Salukis Hall of Fame in 2023.1983 Football Team SIU Salukis Hall of Fame March 1, 2025 https://siusalukis.com/honors/saluki-hall-of-fame/-football-team/331 The team played its home games at McAndrew Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois. Schedule 1983 NCAA Division I-AA NCAA Division I-AA Football Committee September 3 y y Western Illinois Hanson Field Macomb, IL w 38–6 8,893 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-southern-illinois-rolls-o/158800132/ The Pantagraph Southern Illinois rolls over Western Illinois September 4, 1983 November 10, 2024 Newspapers.com September 10 y Eastern Illinois McAndrew Stadium Carbondale, IL w 17–14 12,800 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-indianapolis-star-millers-field-goa/158800229/ The Indianapolis Star Miller's field goal sparks So. Illinois September 11, 1983 November 10, 2024 Newspapers.com September 17 y 1983 Southeast Missouri State Indians Southeast Missouri State McAndrew Stadium Carbondale, IL w 56–7 10,200 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-salukis-destroy/158800308/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Salukis destroy Southeast, 56–7 September 18, 1983 November 10, 2024 Newspapers.com September 24 y y 8 Northern Iowa UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA w 52–9 11,613 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette-s-illinois-humbles-stumblin/158800374/ The Gazette S. Illinois humbles stumbling Panthers September 25, 1983 November 10, 2024 Newspapers.com October 1 y y 5 Arkansas State Indian Stadium Jonesboro, AR w 35–28 10,281 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/110943578/snoozing-salukis-awaken-to-put-the-bite/ The Commercial Appeal Snoozing Salukis awaken to put the bite on ASU October 2, 1983 October 8, 2022 Newspapers.com October 8 3 Drake McAndrew Stadium Carbondale, IL w 28–9 14,700 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-des-moines-register-drake-suffers-6t/158800556/ The Des Moines Register Drake suffers 6th straight loss, 28–9, despitee 'best defense game in 2 years' October 9, 1983 November 10, 2024 Newspapers.com October 15 y y 2 Southwest Missouri State Briggs Stadium Springfield, MO w 24–6 7,700 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star-southern-illinois-b/158800651/ The Kansas City Star Southern Illinois blasts Southwest October 16, 1983 November 10, 2024 Newspapers.com October 22 y 2 Indiana State 14 Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN w 34–21 14,111 https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-vincennes-sun-commercial-siu-ruins-i/158799200/ The Vincennes Sun-Commercial SIU ruins ISU homecoming October 23, 1983 November 10, 2024 Newspapers.com October 29 1 New Mexico State McAndrew Stadium Carbondale, IL w 41–3 14,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review-defense-sparks-souther/158800753/ Herald and Review Defense sparks Southern October 30, 1983 November 10, 2024 Newspapers.com November 5 1 Illinois State McAndrew Stadium Carbondale, IL w 28–26 16,600 https://www.newspapers.com/article/southern-illinoisan-salukis-survive-scar/158800883/ Southern Illinoisan Salukis survive scare to go 10–0 November 6, 1983 November 10, 2024 Newspapers.com November 12 y 1 Wichita State Cessna Stadium Wichita, KS l 6–28 3,911 https://www.newspapers.com/clip/72077361/wichita-state-shocks-salukis/ Southern Illinoisan Wichita State shocks Salukis November 13, 1983 February 25, 2021 Newspapers.com December 3 y 1 Indiana State 5 McAndrew Stadium Carbondale, IL NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal w 23–7 8,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/centre-daily-times-southern-illinois-top/158799749/ Centre Daily Times Southern Illinois topples Indiana State December 4, 1983 November 10, 2024 Newspapers.com December 10 y 1 Nevada 11 McAndrew Stadium Carbondale, IL NCAA Division I-AA Semifinal w 23–7 12,000 https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review-southern-boots-reno/158767061/ Herald and Review Southern boots Reno December 11, 1983 November 10, 2024 Newspapers.com December 17 y y 1 Western Carolina 9 Johnson Hagood Stadium Charleston, SC NCAA Division I-AA Championship Game w 43–7 15,950 https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch-salukis-satisfy/143949589/ St. Louis Post-Dispatch Salukis satisfy their appetites, 43–7 December 18, 1983 March 23, 2024 Newspapers.com Roster 1983 Southern Illinois Salukis f 9 Jr Tony Adams WR 59 So Tom Baugh C y 16 Sr Rick Johnson Rick Johnson (quarterback) QB y 84 So Mike O'Day TE 15 Fr Rick Spielman QB y 99 So Frank Carr LB 74 Sr Ed Norman DT 21 Sr Terry Taylor Terry Taylor (American football) S y 93 So Dan Wetzel DE Rey Dempsey References External links SIU Alumni Association video on team Video of 1983 national championship game Southern Illinois Category:Southern Illinois Salukis football seasons Category:NCAA Division I Football Champions Southern Illinois Salukis football Southern Illinois