The Worm Word

Roller Coaster of Emotions

I was so overcome with excitement, disappointment and turkey last week that I didn't even get around to making a blog post. I hope that everyone had a good Thanksgiving and that the turkey coma has worn off, though I'm not sure mine has.

It all started when SIU Men's Basketball played Chattanooga in California. I had to plan my Thanksgiving dinner around the game because I didn't want to miss a moment of it, and I was not disappointed with the 63 to 41 win. After a good nights rest I was ready to watch the guys take on Mississippi State and again watched an awesome victory of 63 to 49. Unfortunatly the SIU girls didn't do so well; the Women's Basketball team lost to Western Kentucky and the Women's Volleyball team lost to Creighton. On Saturday the football team took it's first playoff victory against Eastern Illinois. Again the Women's Basketball team just couldn't catch the lead and lost to South Dakota. Sunday was a heartbreaker for me though, the Men's Basketball team lost to USC, and I stayed up way too late watching it. All in all it was an exhausting weekend.

This weekend is shaping up to be even busier. Saturday starts at 2:30 with the second SIU playoff game, this time against Massachusetts. Then all of the fun starts all down Illinois Ave in Carbondale; there will be a cookie walk through a number of businesses, live reindeer in the main square, a home tour (be sure to go by Hickory Lodge to see the Silkworm Christmas tree, I get to be an angel on it) and to top it off, the Lights Fantastic Parade starting at 6:30. If you want to see everything Saturday has to offer you will need a good spot at the start of the parade because the Men's Basketball game against Indiana starts at 8:30. I'm worn out just mentioning it all.

If you are going to the basketball game on Saturday you should know that it is a white out. The goal is to have everyone in the arena in a white shirt. To help with that Silkworm is printing up a white FloorBurn U shirt specifically for the game. The shirts will be available at Silkworm in Murphysboro, Saluki Central both on the strip and in the mall, and Pinch Penny Pub. The shirts are $5 each so I am expecting the shirts to sell very quickly so you might want to call before you go to pick yours up.

I know I keep mentioning it, but I swear a new FloorBurn U Saluki Way Fundraiser shirt will be coming soon. I will let you know as soon as it is available. I hope everyone is having a great holiday season.

Sezmore

Almost all about Athletics

I am still reeling from all the excitement of this past weekend. You can tell I'm not in my regular state because it has taken me longer in the week to make my blog post.

Saluki Football won their game on Saturday, and that puts us one win from making the playoffs. I'm not jinxing anything, but I have faith in our guys to take it all the way. The next game is on this Saturday, the 17th, at 1pm against Hampton in Hampton, VA. I wish I could go and cheer those guys on to victory, instead I will have to send my well-wishes from here.

The Women's Basketball team couldn't quite get the win over DePaul last Saturday, but they already made a comeback to defeat Christians Brothers on this past Monday. They will play again this Sunday at 2pm in Champaign, IL. I know that a lot of attention goes to our guys playing basketball, but the girls need just as much love and support from us Saluki fans. Lets all be with them in spirit if we can't actually make it to the game on Sunday.

The Men's Basketball team slammed Lincoln Memorial with a 97 to 51 win last Sunday. I'm looking forward to them taking names all the way through the season and will be rooting my heart out on Saturday as they take on Northern Illinois at 7:05pm. From there the guys will be jumping into one game after another with games on the 22nd, 23rd and 25th. All of those games will be in Anaheim, CA, but they will be on ESPN, so we can watch our Dawgs from afar.

I just heard that the Kerasotes donated the Varsity Theater in Carbondale to the city of Carbondale. I am so excited about all of the possibilities this could bring. This will be a stage for local theater groups as well as who knows how many other types of performances. Needless to say, I will be keeping a close eye on all that goes on with the Varsity.

The SIU Alumni Online Store is bit by bit getting ready for the Christmas season. We are getting in new items every week, and getting them up on the store as soon as we can. We have one Basketball shirt up now, and you can rest assured that there will be more to come. I can't say much now, but don't be suprised to see a "FloorBurn U" shirt up before Christmas.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving next week. I know that some people (SIU students) will be off for the whole week. I'm not nearly that lucky, but I am looking forward to some yummy turkey and stuffing next Thursday.

Sezmore

Costumes Galore

I hope everyone had a great Halloween last week, I know everyone at Silkworm did. A bunch of people dressed up and we had a costume contest. Then I got to put on a costume myself and hang out at the Halloween event put on by the City of Murphysboro. I love getting to dress up and go out. I got so many hugs I can't even tell you how many.

This past weekend was just buzzing with Saluki Athletic victories. Men's Basketball took down King College 74 to 38. Women's Basketball beat the Lambuth Eagles 87 to 58. And Football brought in Coach Kill's 100th career victory when SIU pulled a 10 to 9 victory over Western Illinois. It is almost too much to take all at once. This Saturday, November 10th at 1:30pm will be the last home Football game of the season unless we make the playoffs, which I am of course hoping for. Saturday at 7:05pm the Women's Basketball team will take on DePaul. On Sunday the 11th Men's Basketball will be playing vs Lincoln Memorial at 2:05pm in Carbondale. I don't know if I can stand all that excitement.

On Saturday On Media hosted a showing of Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back to benefit the Shoes That Fit charity. They did two showings; one at 1:00pm and one at 5:00pm. I hear the 1:00 show sold out, fortunately I went to the 5:00 and was able to get in. The Southern Illinois Jedi Order and the 70th Explorers Garrison of the 501 even came out in full Star Wars costumes. There was Darth Vader, some Storm Troopers, a scary little Jawa, Darth Maul, Jango Fett, Chewbacca and a whole bunch of other characters. Chewbacca looks pretty darn big in the movie, but he is even larger in real life. I was a little intimidated actually.

If you need a daily dose of cute, be sure to check out the new SIU College of Business Online Store; some baby items were introduced last week and we used a Silkworm employee's daughter as the model. I think she might really have a career ahead of her in that field. If nothing else, she sure seemed to have fun.

I hope your week goes as well as mine will.

GO DAWGS!!!!

Sezmore