By now the words must sound like "Remember the Alamo" to the Salukis.

'Remember Montana State' has been the familiar refrain heard by the team since its 35-28 win over Indiana on Saturday.

Head coach Jerry Kill started the mantra just moments after quarterback Nick Hill took a knee to seal SIU's first win over a Division I-A school since its national championship season in 1983.

Kill said his team should celebrate its win before he cautioned, "We don't want to pull a Montana State and turn around and get beat the next week."

Kill reiterated his stance throughout a week of challenging practices leading up to Saturday's game at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

Montana State, a Division I-AA program, beat former Big 12 Conference power Colorado 19-10 in the season opener for both teams. The Bobcats stumbled in their next game, a 35-24 loss to Division II Chadron State.

In the span of seven days, the Bobcats transformed from a program that shocked a BCS conference team to one regrouping after its own stunning loss.

The Salukis (2-0) find themselves in a similar situation entering their game at Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-2).

SIU, like Montana State, defeated a I-A team in the first half of its 2006 schedule. With nine games remaining, though, the journey to a national championship game is far from finished for the Salukis.

"Our goals are far ahead of us," Hill said. "It starts with Arkansas (Pine Bluff)."

Senior center Will Justice agreed the Golden Lions represent the first hurdle toward those goals. He also said it was time to move on from the Indiana game.

"Last week was great, but that was last week," Justice said. "Now we're on to this week. It's the next step in our season."

Saturday's game, unlike the Indiana contest or the Lock Haven slaughter, counts toward SIU's postseason chances. If the Salukis lose, they can forget about their present top-10 national ranking ˘ at least for a while.

They can also say goodbye to momentum as they enter a difficult Gateway Football Conference slate that begins in eight days ˘ not that the Salukis look beyond Saturday's game.

Not with three words constantly ringing in their ears.

"Remember Montana State."

Sound advice. And a warning the Salukis take to heart.

"We're not overlooking anyone," senior running back Arkee Whitlock said. "We're going to take last week's win and put it behind us."

And in doing so, the Salukis shifted their focus from remembrances of past glories to thoughts of upcoming game.

But that does not mean the team frets about the Golden Lions.

The Salukis remain confident in their ability to beat their Southwestern Athletic Conference hosts. When a team owns the top-ranked rushing offense in I-AA football, which the Salukis do, confidence is easy to find.

But still, Whitlock said the team realizes it is in for a game.

"We know they're going to come out ready to play," Whitlock said. "Nobody is going to come out and lay down on us."

Especially if the Golden Lions remember Montana State.