SIU's suburban players eager to take on Illinois

Eric Bergman laughed about the likelihood of cheering for Illinois or putting on any of its gear around his house when he was younger.

Not too likely since Bergman's dad, Bill, was a lineman on Indiana's 1968 Rose Bowl team.

But Eric Bergman knows more than a few of his Southern Illinois teammates had dreams of playing Big Ten football for the state school.

And that's why it's difficult for the Salukis to try to downplay their big trip up I-57 from Carbondale on Saturday. The Football Championship Subdivision title contender comes to Champaign for a shot at the Fighting Illini at 6:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

"Everyone realizes what a great opportunity we have here to play a Big Ten opponent," said SIU linebacker Joe Okon, a Rolling Meadows product who had a team-high 7 tackles in his first start last week against Quincy.

"It's definitely an opportunity and we can't wait to get out there," said Bergman, an Elk Grove graduate who made his first start at right guard last week. "Growing up in Illinois, you want to play Big Ten football."

Okon, Bergman and left guard George Danilkowicz (Vernon Hills) are glad the jitters of their first starts for the Salukis are behind them heading into their chance to show they can play at a big-time level.

Sophomore Anton Wilkins (Neuqua Valley) rushed for 17 yards and a touchdown last week and offensive linemen Matt Van Dril and Scott Becker of St. Charles North played against Quincy.

Linebacker Blair Lane (Harper College), defensive back Kendall Lane (Conant) and tight end C.J. Robertson (Neuqua Valley) also got on the field last week. Freshman wide receiver Mike Cornely (Buffalo Grove) and long snapper Giovanni Paparella (Vernon Hills) are redshirting this season.

The Salukis, ranked second in the FCS coaches poll after reaching the quarterfinals last year, also don't view facing Illinois as an impossible task.

"Everybody on our team believes we can compete with guys at a higher level," Okon said.

"I look at this as we have a lot of players from Illinois and it will be a big game," Danilkowicz said. "We're also taking it as the next game and looking to go in and get a win.

"Obviously (Illinois) is a great team, but our main goal is just to get a victory."

The 6-foot-3, 300-pound Danilkowicz transferred from North Dakota State to Southern Illinois so he could go to school closer to home. A new campus wasn't the only transition for Danilkowicz. He also switched from defense to offense with SIU.

"It was tough at first learning some of the techniques," Danilkowicz said, "but I feel I'm getting better every day."

The 6-2, 260-pound Bergman had a shorter move from center to guard. After playing three games last year, the challenge for the redshirt sophomore to see more action didn't come from another teammate.

It came when Bergman missed spring practice after contracting mononucleosis.

"I wasn't even sure I'd play and my strength was definitely down," Bergman said. "The last time I had seen action before the summer was last December in the playoff loss to William & Mary.

"I definitely bounced back pretty well once the summer came around."

Okon, a 6-3, 245-pound redshirt sophomore, made 13 tackles in six games last year and is the Salukis' right inside (Will) linebacker.

"I really think the coaches have done a good job with my progression and getting me to where I'm at right now," Okon said. "Being the Will gives me an opportunity to run around and get to the ball. One of my strengths is getting to the ball."

Okon hopes to use it so he can have a ball with his teammates Saturday night. Southern is the only Missouri Valley Football Conference school to beat a Big Ten team (Indiana in 2006), but it lost its only two meetings to Illinois (56-21 in 1990 and 28-25 in 1985).

So, beating this Big Ten team would carry a little more weight.

"This game will definitely show us where we're at as a team," Bergman said. "It will show us how well-prepared we are against a good program like U of I.

"Everyone can't wait for the game and everyone is saying they'll be there. There is definitely a lot of hype around campus for this game."