Following a year which saw the Salukis surprise the league and the nation with a Gateway co-championship, the Southern Illinois football team is picked to win the Gateway Football Conference title in 2004.
The Salukis, picked No. 1 nationally in a couple of preseason polls, are the favorite to win this year’s crown, received 25 of 32 first-place tallies and 244 total points.
2004 Preseason Poll
| Team (First Place Votes) |
Points |
| Southern Illinois (25) |
244 |
| UNI (6) |
212 |
| Western Kentucky (1) |
186 |
| Western Illinois |
174 |
| Illinois State |
110 |
| Youngstown State |
102 |
| SMS |
81 |
| Indiana State |
43 |
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UNI, a Gateway co-champion in 2003, is slated for second place after receiving six first-place votes and 212 points in the poll, conducted by league coaches, media representatives and sports information directors.
Western Kentucky is picked third in the rankings with 186 points, while Western Illinois is close behind with 174 points. All four of the top four preseason picks (UNI, Southern Illinois, Western Illinois, Western Kentucky) represented the Gateway in the NCAA I-AA 16-team playoffs a year ago.
Illinois State (110) is picked to finish fifth in the Gateway, while Youngstown State (102), SMS (81), and Indiana State (43) round out the poll.
2004 Gateway Preseason Team
QB- Joel Sambursky, SIU, Jr.
RB- Terrance Freeney, UNI, Jr.
RB- Travis Glasford, WIU, Jr.
FB- Mike Larson, ILS, Sr.
WR- Reggie Gray, WIU, Jr.
WR- Steven Rush, SMS, Sr.
TE- Mike Roberts, YSU, Sr.
OL- Buster Ashley, WKU, Sr.
OL- Stafford Davis, ILS, Jr.
OL- Fred Layne, WIU, Sr.
OL- Elmer McDaniel, SIU, Sr.
OL- Stuart Williams, INS, Sr.
PK- Stephen Carroll, ILS, Sr.
DL- Billy Beard, SIU, Sr.
DL- Linton Brown, SIU, Jr.
DL- Kyle Mitchell, INS, Jr.
DL- Steve Watson, SMS, Sr.
LB- Boomer Grigsby, ILS, Sr.
LB- Brandon Smith, WKU, Jr.
LB- Charles Thompson, WKU, Sr.
LB- Royal Whitaker, SIU, Jr.
DB- Mike Bracken, YSU, Sr.
DB- Dre Dokes, UNI, So.
DB- Frank Johnson, SIU, Jr.
DB- Alexis Moreland, SIU, Sr.
P- Brian Claybourn, WKU 6-1, Sr.
RS- James Norris, WIU, Sr.
Honorable Mention:
QB Tom Petrie, UNI; RB Lerron Moore, WKU; RB Cody Pratt, SMS; FB Matt Yellin, WIU; WR Brent Little, SIU; WR James Norris, WIU; TE Andy Thorn, UNI; OL Jeremy Melville, ILS; OL Brad Durham, SMS; OL Mike Stegeman, ILS; PK Brian Wingert, UNI; PK Nick Terracina, YSU; PK Justin Langan, WIU; DL Kevin Stensrud, UNI; DL Charlie Phillips, WKU; LB Kevin Sears, SMS; DB Antwan Oliver, ILS; DB Torre Endsley, SMS; P Ryan Hoffman, ILS; RS Steven Rush, SMS.