The Daily Egyptian is published by the students of SIU at Carbondale. Except during vacations and exam weeks, The Daily Egyptian is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and TWThF during the summer semester."

Saluki students MIA

Maybe it was the cold weather or maybe it was the fact the St. Louis Cardinals were still playing, but SIU drew a measly 10,143 fans to one of the biggest games in school history.

That's about 2,000 less than two weekends ago against Northern Iowa and about 7,000 short of McAndrew Stadium's capacity.

The Athletic Department is not only disappointed with the turnout, it's mystified as to why no one showed up.

"I wish I had that answer," said SIU Marketing Director Mike Trude. "I know we had hoped they would come to that game.

"If you can't come to a No. 1 verses a No. 4, I don't know what game you're going to come to."

The West side of the stadium, where the bulk of paying customers and season-ticket holders sit, was about the same as it has been every game this season. It was the student and general admission side, in particular students, which really helped drag down attendance levels.

Trude said the school gave out less than 1,400 student tickets, a primary reason the East side of McAndrew Stadium was a little over half full.

"It was the students who were not there," Trude said.

The turnout was particularly disappointing given the rumors of a sellout in the days leading up to the game, including a few spots on local television stations stating the University was expecting one of the largest crowds since 1983.

It never panned out and was not even close to a sellout, something that has eluded McAndrew Stadium and its 17,000-person capacity for a long, long time.

"There's this strange thing that goes around, that every time there's a sporting event with what looks to be two marquee teams that it's a sellout," Trude said. "But 17,000 people is a lot of people to put into that stadium."

Red Zone Royalty

When SIU was in the red zone Saturday, there was little doubt whose number was going to be called.

Kill kept it simple and safe all night, feeding the ball to 6-foot-4, 260-pound running back Brandon Jacobs, and the results were spectacular.

Jacobs was a beast in the red zone Saturday, getting the ball on 13 of 20 red zone plays.

The results were three touchdowns for Jacobs and a frustrated Western Kentucky defense. Everyone knew Jacobs was getting the ball, yet he plowed through the Hilltoppers anyway.

"Once my momentum's going, I don't think anybody can stop me,"Jacobs said.

Jacobs had played against Western Kentucky last year with Auburn, and absorbed some verbal taunts such as "you're not at Auburn anymore."

Jacobs said he just ignored them and played football, and his bulldozing spoke louder than any words.

Jacobs has kicked his nasty little habit of not finishing runs. He's also starting to figure out a somewhat complex offense, something that took a while because Jacobs did not join the team until summer.

"Brandon has run harder the last two ball games than he has all year," SIU head coach Jerry Kill said. "But I think that comes down to comfort."

Jacobs said he is comfortable, and combined with what he sees as a phenomenal offensive line, he hopes to continue knocking defenders aside.

"Everything's starting to come together for me," Jacobs said. "I got a hell of a team around me, and basically I feel like with those guys around me and protecting me, I can do anything."

Dumb penalties disappear

SIU lost 130 yards Saturday - the good way.

One week after compiling an obese 140 yards on 17 penalties, the Salukis committed only two penalties for 10 yards against Western Kentucky.

Even bigger for the Salukis, there were no personal fouls or otherwise mindless shots in the foot.

"We didn't have stupid penalties, which is really good," quarterback Joel Sambursky said.

Hilltopper defense in rare form

In scoring five touchdowns Saturday, SIU put a serious dent in what was a terrific defensive statistic for Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers had given up only eight touchdowns in five games coming into Saturday's game, meaning the Salukis slapped Western Kentucky with a 62.5 percent increase in touchdowns allowed in just one night.

SIU's 14-second quarter points were also unlike anything the Hilltoppers have seen this season. Western Kentucky has given up only three-second quarter points this season, and suffered a 467 percent increase in second quarter points Saturday.