Bergman selects Salukis

Eric Bergman's college football choice was a case of Southern hospitality.

Visiting Southern Illinois this weekend gave the Elk Grove senior and Daily Herald All-Area two-way lineman a down home feeling.

So on Sunday, he decided to make SIU his college home by giving a verbal commitment to new head coach Dale Lennon.

"I think Southern had everything I was looking for," Bergman said of his choice over Western Illinois, Army and Air Force. "They have great facilities and I wasn't ready for the (military) commitment for Army afterward.

"I think it was the best fit for me."

Circumstances brought SIU into the recruiting picture late for the 6-foot-4, 260-pound Bergman, who is projected as an offensive guard in college.

Lennon was hired as head coach Dec. 28 after Jerry Kill left to become head coach at Northern Illinois. Lennon's new staff contacted Bergman about two weeks ago.

But the staff led by Lennon -- who was 90-24 the last nine years at Division II North Dakota -- helped Bergman's comfort level.

"They're all former head coaches so I knew they'd have a great coaching staff," Bergman said. "I knew they'd be around awhile."

Bergman, who expects to redshirt as a freshman, joins an SIU program that went 12-2 and reached the semifinals of the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA).

It was the fifth straight playoff berth for a program expected to have its new stadium completed for the 2010 season.

"Everyone wants to play Division I football, but there isn't that much difference," Bergman said. "There are still legit players in Division I-AA."

Bergman, who carries a 4.1 grade-point average on a 5.0 scale, plans to major in secondary education to become a teacher and coach. He also hopes to place in state this spring in the shot put after qualifying last year with a best of 52-feet, 11½ inches.

"It was definitely a fun experience, but after awhile you don't want to answer the phone anymore," Bergman said of his recruitment. "It's definitely nice to be done with it and have a school to call home for next year."