SIU Athletic Director Mario Moccia was kind enough to weigh in on the DE's Saluki Sports Awards. This is what he had to say if he was handing out the hardware.
Biggest Improvement: "Probably Dann Nelson. I don't know if anybody really thought there was a potential Missouri Valley Conference championship team when we started out, but he ended up proving it at the end."
Best Game: "The (Southern Illinois) football game ... with the last second field goal against UNI in front of the biggest crowd in the last 20 years." SIU defeated UNI 27-24 on Sept. 27, 2008.
Best Play: "The gang tackle on fourth down (against Illinois State) to win the (Missouri Valley Football Conference) championship. That was pretty dramatic for one play's standpoint."
Biggest Achievement: "Bryan Mullins being academic all-American in the sport of men's basketball, which is a pretty hard thing to do. As well as receiving a NCAA postgraduate scholarship."
Most Valuable Saluki: "My assistant Linda Auxier, who keeps my schedule together."
Coach of the Year: "Dann Nelson, especially taking into consideration the facilities we play with."
Quote of the Year: "I would probably say (men's basketball associate head coach) Rodney Watson because he's always coming up with folksy quips. He's the most quotable."
