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."

Jacobs rides into sunset

Following Saturday's devastating loss to Eastern Washington, SIU head coach Jerry Kill and running back Brandon Jacobs walked out of the Saluki locker room and made the trek to the media tent for the press conference.

To reporters still in the locker room talking to players, it was a picturesque scene reminiscent of a Clint Eastwood Western. Kill and Jacobs walked side-by-side, Jacobs's large hand resting on the back of Kill's neck.

Two men, after a long struggle, rode into the sunset, and only one, SIU fans hope, will return for the sequel.

"The whole thing hurt," Jacobs would say later. "The greatest thing...that I ever had, it just ended. I love every one of my teammates."

It certainly wasn't due to a lack of effort from Jacobs. More so than any game this season, Jacobs tore through defenders. He looked unstoppable in the Salukis' second to last drive, when they plowed 99 yards for a touchdown without a completed pass.

Jacobs was on an emotional high and became a 6-foot-4, 260-pound water faucet after scoring SIU's last touchdown of the season.

"Scoring that touchdown during the end, it brought tears to my eyes," Jacobs said. "I just went to the sideline and let it go."

The loss hurt Jacobs as much as the guys who had been at SIU for four or five years. A journeyman for three years, Jacobs had finally found a place he belonged.

To Jacobs, who was only in Carbondale half a year, SIU was home, and the Salukis were his family.

"I will do what I can for any one of these guys around here," Jacobs said. "If I need to come back for anything, I'll be here.

"I am a lifelong Saluki. This felt like home."

Unlike the rest of the Saluki seniors, Jacobs will likely sign a million-dollar contract with an NFL team in April. He will also play in postseason exhibition games in exotic locations.

But even when he is stiff-arming people in the NFL, Jacobs will remember SIU.

After all, it was SIU that taught him his devastating stiff arm. It was SIU that that taught him how to run through people. It was SIU that turned him into a blue-collar player, and that will only help in the NFL.

And it was Kill that rode Jacobs enough to make him learn all that, a dose of tough love Jacobs is eternally grateful for.

"This is how football is supposed to be coached," Jacobs said. "They made me a hard-nosed football player."

Record reset

Saturday's loss brought several streaks SIU had ridden all season to a screeching halt. The loss ended the Salukis' 12-game winning streak at McAndrew Stadium, SIU's nine-game overall winning streak and will end its nine-week reign at No. 1.

It also likely pushed Joel Sambursky to the bottom of the Payton Watch list, and it is unlikely SIU will finish the season as the nation's No. 1 defense.

Attendence, weather woes

Despite being the No. 1 team in Division I-AA, SIU could not outdraw the 1983 team's opening round game.

A sparse 7,304 people showed up during Saturday's rain-soaked loss, less than the estimated 8,000 who saw SIU beat Indiana State 21 years ago.

It was also more than 100 less than the season finale against Indiana State.