December0109Complete

Today: High: 58, Low: 38 Wednesday: High: 46, Low: 31 Thursday: High: 40, Low: 25

Daily Egyptian TUESDAY

SPORTS, PAGE 8: Gus Bode says congratulations to Dale Lennon and Deji Karim.

DECEMBER 1, 2009

VOLUME 95, NO. 65

8 PAGES

!"#"$%&$'()*%*+#,,%-#.+$)"*%"/%0)(1$2*("($* Madeleine Leroux DAILY EGYPTIAN MLEROUX@SIU.EDU

SIU was not the only university to receive a small portion of state appropriations last week.

The university received $15.5 million Nov. 24 from the Comptroller’s office in a belated appropriation payment to help make December payroll. While the state continues to deal with overwhelming debt and little revenue, funds are beginning to open up to state universities, many of which are struggling to meet payroll obligations.

Carol Knowles, spokeswoman for

Comptroller Dan Hynes, said the state owes SIU about $113 million for the fiscal year after the $15.5 million payment last week.

“We are in frequent communication and are continuing to work with SIU and all of the other universities to address their funding issues,” Knowles said.

Darcie Schinberger, director of university relations for Western Illinois University, said the state made an appropriation payment of $4.3 million on Nov. 24 to help the university make today’s payroll.

Schinberger said Western Illinois is still owed roughly $32.3 million in state appropriations.

W

e don’t want to not pay our people and we don’t want to lay our people off.

Melanie Magara, assistant vice president for Public Affairs at Northern Illinois University, said the university received $8 million in state appropriations last week, the first payment made for the fiscal year. Magara said the university is now owed $58 million in state appropriations.

Jay Groves, Illinois State University spokesman, said Illinois

— Glenn Poshard SIU president State has received more than $5 million in state appropriations for the fiscal year. Groves said he did not know when the payment was made, but the university is still owed more than $46 million for the fiscal year.

According to the Gatehouse News Service, the University of Illinois, which is supposed to be appropriated $743 million in general

funds, has asked for about $340 million of that money and received about $400,000 as of Nov. 24.

According to the Herald & Review, Eastern Illinois University is owed more than $22 million in state appropriation as of Nov. 13.

SIU President Glenn Poshard said the university is facing a $16.5 million gap in funding to meet Jan. 1 payroll obligations. Without additional appropriation payments from the state within the next two to three weeks, Poshard said the university could face furloughs and layoffs.

See PAYMENTS | 2

!"#$%&'()*+$#,'-,%.,/*0$1'23*+$+)+,'4)/.,3,.'45'*1,3.$36'7/,,8, Christina Spakousky DAILY EGYPTIAN XTINA25@SIU.EDU

The university’s new Social Justice Leadership Institute has met its enrollment goal, but the program may lose its keynote speaker as a result of the budget crisis and spending freeze.

Amanda Phillips, coordinator of student development, said the Social Justice Leadership Institute, which will begin spring 2010, is a

new program that plans to promote leadership by teaching courses that urge students to make a difference on campus and in the community.

Phillips said the program would include workshops, small group dialogues and critical-thinking courses.

The institute’s leaders had planned to bring in Tim Wise, a premier social justice activist, as its keynote speaker, but because university officials enacted a spending freeze, Phillips said it is unable to assure Wise’s participation.

“The contract just hasn’t gone through yet,” Phillips said. “We can’t move on it because of the budget.”

Larry Dietz, vice chancellor for Student Affairs, said any contracts that have not been signed by officials are being held until the end of the year. He said officials are trying not to cut any student activities, but right now, they must hold related expenditures.

“Our holdings have nothing to do with our agreement with the program; it has to do with cooperating

with the other units on campus,” Dietz said.

Despite the budget struggles, Carl Ervin, coordinator of Student Development-Multicultural Programs and Services, said the program is still on target and moving forward with plans. He said the goal was to select 50 students, and because they received 80 applications, he’s confident they will narrow it down to the best candidates.

The 50 candidates will be selected by a committee and finalized by the end of the year, he said.

“We’re going to make this happen even though we have to deal with the budget (crisis),” Ervin said.

“It’s going to be bare bones, but we’ll just have to rely on creativity.”

Phillips said the budget situation changes some of what was planned, but alternative plans will provide the same end goal, which is for students to come up with a vision for social change.

“We want (students) to walk away saying that ‘I was challenged and I challenged others,’” Phillips said.

EVAN DAVIS | D AILY E GYPTIAN

LET THERE BE LIGHT Campus employee Mike Gould hoists himself into a tree on Greek Row to trim overgrown branches blocking light from a lamp. Plant and Service Operations has been cleaning the canopy around light poles helping to keep sidewalks safe. The next step is to find lights that are out and replace the bulbs. Todd Sigler, SIUC Director of Public Safety, said during the Oct. 4 Campus Safety Walk the lack of lighting and dense foliage are the main safety concerns for students who walk around campus in the dark.

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Tuesday, December 1, 2009

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PAYMENTS CONTINUED FROM

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“We don’t want to not pay our people, and we don’t want to lay

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our people off,” Poshard said. “We just have extraordinary obligations financially.”

Poshard and SIU spokesman Dave Gross both said they

are optimistic the state will come through with the money needed to make Jan. 1 payroll and Hynes said his office was in talks with the university to prevent a missed payroll.

!""#$%#&'()$*#*)+,&'-)$+' .%+,/&')&'0)(,1%%2'3/#,$*&' SPRINGFI ELD — Want to know what type of leftover pizza a GOP candidate for state treasurer is eating for breakfast? Try Twitter.

Following the lead of President Barack Obama’s successful straight-to-voters Web campaign, many Illinois candidates for statewide offices are hoping voters will follow their tweets and friend them on Facebook.

State political candidates have collected donations via Web sites for years, but now one site isn’t enough. Social networking means staking claims on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr and YouTube.

Take Democrat Dan Hynes.

The candidate for governor tweets about football and campaign stops.

He has a Facebook page and a YouTube video.

And GOP treasurer candidate Dan Rutherford posts casserole recipes on his Web site. His breakfast on Nov. 14? He tweeted it was “OJ & leftover pizza: Giordano’s stuffed spinach & sausage and Pontiac Mario’s sausage & mushroom.”

Hynes’ and Rutherford’s online outreach is typical of how

e-campaigning is expanding for both Democrats and Republicans.

A consultant for Republican governor candidate Jim Ryan says the Web is at the forefront of Ryan’s campaign.

“We’ve managed to get our fingers into every single part,” said Curt Mercadante, who is helping Ryan on the Web. Michael Cheney, a senior fellow at the Institute of Government and Politics at the University of Illinois, said candidates want to be like Obama, taking their message directly to voters. He expects the campaigns to do even more online as the Feb. 2 primary gets closer.

For now, the candidates are online “largely because they want to make sure they have everything in play that they want to have in play,” Cheney said.

Gov. Pat Quinn’s campaign in on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

But posting can be time-consuming.

“As you can imagine, Gov. Quinn doesn’t have much time for Facebook updates and tweets, so we have a new media team focused on online outreach,” Quinn

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s you can imagine, Gov. Quinn doesn’t have much time for Facebook updates and tweets, so we have a new media team focused on online outreach.

— Elizabeth Austin spokeswoman for Gov. Pat Quinn

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spokeswoman Elizabeth Austin said.

GOP candidate for governor Dan Proft said his goal on Twitter and other sites is “to provide valueadded content of a policy nature.”

But he’s not above an occasional movie review. He recently commented on Twitter that people shouldn’t bother seeing the movie “Paranormal Activity”: “Not just with policy ideas I save taxpayers’ money. Save the $10 I spent (on the movie) ...” he tweeted on Nov. 15.

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P ulse DA I LY E G Y P T I A N

Tuesday, December 1, 2009 • 3

TEN-YEAR ITCH

!"#$%&!'(")**+$)),!'&-).*,'/0'-01#*,0, Luke McCormick DAILY EGYPTIAN LMCCORM2@SIU.EDU

Editor’s Note: Ten-Year Itch is a weekly column focusing on a film or album at least 10 years of age and deserving of a second look.

In the late 1980s, Minneapolis musicians were treating their guitars like they owed them money. Mark Olson and Gary Louris were exceptions to the trend.

Instead of borrowing from former punk forefathers, the two artists grabbed from artists such as Neil Young and The Flying Burrito Brothers producing sunshine-inflected country-pop classics.

Following two well-received albums, the group was signed to American Records and in 1992, released its best and most cohesive record, “Hollywood Town Hall.”

The album’s 10 tracks do not contain a standout piece. The record’s contents blend together to create a cohesive statement in strong songwriting.

Instead of the record floating away as peaceful background music, Olson and Louris’ creative chops keep ears perked throughout the entire listening experience. This is not to say the record was or is eye-opening, because it does not contain any real groundbreaking sounds. It

I

is hearing two musicians at their creative collective peaks making such pleasurable, soothing music that makes this record a standout.

It is a shame the group never reached some semblance of commercial success.

Basically every song here has an infectiously hummable hook that could have pierced the mainstream. Then again, these tunes would have faired better two decades earlier. They did not stand much of a chance pitted against grunge and the rock ‘n’ roll getting radio play in the early ‘90s.

The band’s sound on its third record does not differ from the rest of its output, as it is indebted to Young and Gram Parsons. However, the band completed these 10 tracks without them dripping in nostalgia. Confidence bleeds through each electric riff, acoustic strum, skin slam and piano tinkle. Each track is an original Americana slice.

The band’s lack of commercial appeal with this record and its follow up, “Tomorrow the Green Grass,” seemed to take its toll on band leader Olson as he left the group after the band’s fourth record.

Before his departure though, The Jayhawks created a ragged, passionate alternative-country masterpiece with “Hollywood Town Hall.”

Perhaps someday he will get the recognition (along with Louris) he so richly deserves.

t is hearing two musicians at their creative collective peaks making such pleasurable, soothing music that makes this record a standout.

PROVIDED P HOTO

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Tuesday, December 1, 2009

!"#$%&'&()*+"(

News

!"#$%"&'("#)&($*%+)$#& ,"$-%,&.$*"&/"0$%"!

David Espo

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WA S H I NGTON — Driven by partisanship, the Senate plunged into a widely anticipated debate Monday over sweeping health care legislation that President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats have vowed to approve and Republicans sworn to block.

Debate is expected to last for weeks over the legislation, which includes a first-time requirement for most Americans to carry insurance and would require insurers to cover any paying customer regardless of their medical history or condition.

“We must avoid the temptation to drown in distractions and distortions,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said in the first moments of the first speech of the day, a jab at Republicans that was reciprocated minutes later.

“Well, I don’t know what’s more preposterous: saying that this plan ‘saves Medicare’ or thinking that people will actually believe you,” Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said of Reid’s oft-made statement.

At a cost of nearly $1 trillion, the legislation is designed to extend health care to millions of American who lack it, abolish insurance industry practices such as denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions and cut back on the rise of health care spending overall.

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated the 2,074-page bill would cost nearly $1 trillion, and reduce deficits by $130 billion over the next decade. In all, CBO said 31 million uninsured individuals would receive insurance if the bill were enacted, many of them assisted by federal subsidies. A total of 94 percent of the eligible population would wind up covered. The legislation would be paid for through a combination of cuts in projected Medicare payments to hospitals and other providers, a payroll tax on the wealthy, and taxes on drug makers, medical device manufacturers, owners of high-cost insurance and others.

It has taken months to advance the legislation to the floor, Democrats struggled with their own internal divisions as well as Republican opposition.

Democrats control 60 seats in the Senate, precisely the number needed to trump a promised Republican filibuster. While Reid spent most of the day jousting with Republicans, his ability to steer the bill to passage will depend on finding ways to finesse controversial provisions within the measure. None is more important than calls for the government to sell insurance in competition with private firms. Liberals favor the plan; moderate and conservative Democrats oppose it. As drafted the bill establishes a so-called government option, although each state can block it.

Even before Reid rose to speak, the two parties were squabbling over a new CBO study assessing the legislation’s impact on the cost of insurance.

Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., issued a statement saying it showed that “whether you work for a small business, a large company or you work for yourself, the vast majority of Americans will see lower premiums than they would if we don’t pass health reform.”

Not so, said a statement from McConnell’s office: “Most people will end up paying more or seeing no significant savings.”

The 28-page report was less clearcut than either side said.

It said that by 2016, premium prices for Americans working at large

companies, about 134 million individuals, would be between zero and 3 percent lower on average than would otherwise be the case.

At small companies, estimated to provide coverage for 25 million by 2016, the average premium would be between 1 percent higher to 2 percent lower on average. That did not factor in the federal subsidies that would be available to the firms to spur them to provide coverage. Those receiving the assistance would have premiums as much as 11 percent lower on average.

CBO said for non-group coverage, premiums would rise by between 10 percent and 13 percent on average. But more than half that group is expected to receive federal subsidies that would result in premiums as much as 59 percent less costly on average. Individuals purchasing coverage without any federal assistance would presumably face higher costs, although CBO’s letter did not indicate how much more.

The debate over premiums was only one of many expected as the Senate dug into a complicated bill that seemingly delved into every corner of the health care system.

But both parties seemed to have political considerations in mind as the day wore on.

The first proposed change to the legislation, offered by Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., would increase insurance benefits for women, mandating that policies include an annual health screening.

As the health care debate has unfolded in Congress, both parties have spent months vying for the support of women.

Not to be outdone, Republicans issued a statement saying that as written, an advisory committee that recently drew criticism for proposing a delay in routine mammogram screening would have even greater authority.

The two sides also sparred over issues important to seniors, a group that polls show is particularly concerned about the impact of health care.

Reid sought Republicans’ agreement that Social Security would be protected as debate moved ahead.

Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., objected, saying Reid had included an unrelated provision in his request, but refused to extend the same protection to Medicare.

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Tuesday, December 1, 2009

5

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Study Break

!"#$$%#"& Across 1 Heats a bit 6 Movie music 11 Cigar residue 14 Like loud crowds 15 “Family Matters” nerd Steve 16 “I like __”: ‘50s campaign slogan 17 Striding self-confidently 19 Blender setting 20 Having sufficient skill 21 No-brainer college course 22 Lamp-to-plug link 23 God of thunder 25 Short races 27 It’s a virtue, so they say 31 iTunes download

32 Midterms, e.g.

33 Emitted a delighted sigh 35 Beaver or boater 38 Tick off 39 Paid to play 40 Hepcat’s jargon 41 Condescending cluck 42 Climbing tool for frozen surfaces 43 TV host Philbin 44 About, in a memo 46 Words while delivering a blow 48 Team supporters, collectively 51 Hobbling gait 52 Tiny pond plant 53 Aired, as a TV show

55 Wolf’s shelter 59 Dry gently, as tears 60 Enjoying an extravagant existence 62 Brit. record co.

63 “Maria __”: 1940s song 64 Kitchen tearjerker 65 Pooch 66 ‘50s Ford flop 67 Part of a Santa costume Down 1 Muted trumpet sound 2 Mideast native 3 Dice throw 4 Provide a schedule slot (for) 5 Indian title 6 Crop yielding a common

sweetener 7 PC monitors 8 Gives the nod to 9 Went off the wagon, e.g.

10 Right-angled pipe 11 Shooting for the stars 12 Mini, midi or maxi 13 Whammies 18 Casino sign gas 22 Finish in front 24 “For __ a jolly ...”

26 Towel holder 27 Saucy 28 Graph’s x or y 29 Carrying on conceitedly 30 Bother big-time 34 Six-sided 36 Nike competitor

Horoscopes Today’s Birthday — This is the time to complete some activities that have caused you to feel compulsive in the past. Work this year with feminine energy, or with a female who always has an extra iron in the fire. The goal for the year is to establish more constructive communication, especially with women. !"#$%&'&(')&(*+,-(."(&/0)(+"12(0"%3#4(/4-(567865(7"9(:,4(7"%-(7"/+-&+.;(0"4'/,4.(&<&+8( -,*,'(=('"(>?(@"+(.'+/'&*,&.("4()"1('"(."%<&(A3-"B32(<,.,'(111?.3-"B3?"+*?3B?

To get the advantage, check the day’s rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19) — Today is a 6 — Make it a point to look at people when they talk to you. There’s a lot that’s not in the words. You’ll get glimpses of the future today.

Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Today is a 7 — If you anticipate change today, you won’t be disappointed. You see possibilities everywhere, if things were just a little bit different.

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Scorpio (Oct. 23—Nov. 21) — Today is a 7 — If you use your imagination today, everything will turn out beautifully. You need that to overcome someone’s fear.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) — Today is a 6 — By the end of the day, you really understand how to help your partner. Start by asking what he or she wants.

Cancer (June 22-July 22) — Today is a 7 — Be prepared to change your mind.

New ideas present great possibilities.

Your mental light bulb turns on.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) — Today is a 7 — Think long and hard before you open your mouth. The words come out fine, but be sure you mean them.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20) — Today is a 7 — Start off on the right foot by making a list of tasks. Others have time to help get things done.

by Mike Argirion and Jeff Knurek

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Unscramble these four Jumbles, one letter to each square, to form four ordinary words.

TURBS ©2009 Tribune Media Services, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

ROWCE ZOLENZ

NEW BIBLE Jumble Books Go To: http://www.tyndale.com/jumble/

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Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22) — Today is a 7 — First you fall in love with a new idea, and then you examine its practical value. It should work fine if you include others.

THAT SCRAMBLED WORD GAME

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Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Today is an 8 — Ideas take you in two directions at once. By afternoon you decide which path to pursue. Results are good.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) — Today is a 7 — Devote yourself to sorting through old messages. If you clear up old business, you make space for a surprise later.

Score

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By Linda C. Black

Gemini (May 21-June 21) — Today is a 7 — You need your imagination to figure out what others want. You accomplish a lot today through practical effort.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Today is a 6 — Don’t hold on to your morning ideas, because by noon your mind will be going in another direction. Others inspire more creative action.

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37 Try out 39 Game in which “bullets” can be whatever card you decide 40 747, for one 42 Nest egg component, for short 43 Sleep lab acronym 45 Org. with dribblers 47 Crowned checker 48 Washed-out 49 San Antonio mission 50 Gutter sites 54 Trig function 56 La Scala solo 57 Operatic prince 58 Tear apart 60 Filmmaker Spike 61 Soft toss

RODAFE Ans: IT

Now arrange the circled letters to form the surprise answer, as suggested by the above cartoon.

A

“

” (Answers tomorrow)

6

Tuesday December 1, 2009

!"#$%&'(%)*#"+

Classifieds

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Sports

!"#$%&'()*&+,Is the media making too much out of Tiger Woods crashing into a tree and fire hydrant?

RYAN VOYLES rvoyles @siu.edu

Of course not. As part of the media, I think it is my duty to report secondby-second mundane details about whatever Tiger Woods is doing at this exact moment. Oh no, he just coughed! I have to go post it online! Now I’ll ask all his friends to talk about him, but I’ll promise them anonymity so Tiger will never know who they are. Up next, a one-on-one with the fire hydrant he hit.

I think they are. If this was anybody else, it would have been kept quiet. He crashed into a tree and there was no alcohol involved, so what does it matter?

Only Tiger and maybe his wife know what happened. If they want to keep it that way, I say let them. All the talk is just a bunch of gossip, andI have no place for that.

Admittedly, Tiger is making this worse by not addressing the situation at all and only saying things such as, “It was my fault,” but there is no need to latch onto him for this either. Even Tiger is mortal.

RAY MCGILLIS ray1021jr @siu.edu

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

FOOTBALL CONTINUED FROM

8

Despite all the praise directed toward the two Salukis, Lennon said he would only focus on the season and the next game.

!!I

CONTINUED FROM

drobbins @siu.edu

Of course the media was going to blow this up. Woods is the wealthiest athlete in the history of mankind. Lucky for us though, I have a feeling this story is about to get a whole lot juicier. Once TMZ catches wind of a potential controversy, there’s not much anyone can keep hidden. Sit back and enjoy; this story could get quite interesting.

“It’s nice to be honored like that, but it’s not important to me,” Lennon said. “Right now we’re still in the middle of a season, and if I take my focus off of that, it will be over.”

try to provide that spark if we don’t have that spark.

— Deji Karim SIU senior running back

BASKETBALL DEREK ROBBINS

7

8

Despite Western Michigan’s hot second half, SIU played well throughout the period, having a 51.5 field-goal percentage.

SIU also put four players into double digits for scoring. Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Week senior guard Stephany Neptune had a double-double

with 11 rebounds and 22 points, Presswood had 20 points, junior guard Eboni Crayton had 16 points and freshman guard Teri Oliver had 10 points.

Neptune said the team has to focus less on individual performances if it wants to win a game.

“We have got to keep working harder and play as a team,” Neptune said. “We can’t play for ourselves.”

!"#$%&'%($)*+,$*-$%'.$%.',($'/0+.$12'3&//$4'5+ Eastern Illinois football team’s offensive line coach Jeffrey O. Hoover, 41, was killed in a one-car accident on Interstate 57 Saturday while driving back from the football game in Carbondale.

Hoover, Eastern Illinois’ strength coach Erich Cash and members of both men’s families were driving back to Charleston following the afternoon game, when their vehicle swerved off the road to avoid a deer.

Cash and several members of

both coaches’ families were also injured in the crash.

According to Illinois State Police District 12, Hoover’s wife was driving a Chevrolet Suburban on I-57 northbound when she swerved in an attempt to avoid a deer in the road near Watson at 7:43 p.m. The vehicle rolled several times, before landing in the east side of the roadway.

Effingham County Coroner Leigh Hammer pronounced Hoover dead at the scene, resulting

from blunt force trauma to the head and chest.

The other passengers were transported by helicopter and ambulance to St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital and Carles Foundation Hospital in Champaign.

The passengers were listed in fair to stable condition as of Monday.

Eastern Illinois had finished its season earlier in the day with a 48-7 loss to SIU at McAndrew Stadium.

VOYLES’ VISIONS

62'3&//,7$8&-90$0'2:$';&<0$12'3&//, RYAN VOYLES rvoyles @siu.edu

The first round of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs officially wrapped up Saturday, leaving only eight teams to fight for chance to be named national champion. Only one thing could make the championships even more exciting.

Bowl games.

Does anybody really want to see these eight elite teams in the FCS competing this far into December hunting for a national championship? Of course not. Everybody would much rather watch 78 teams play in a variety of bowl games, each competing to say, “We’re No. 29” after winning the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., the day after Christmas.

At least, that is what the newest public relations push by the Bowl Championship Series would have people believe.

In an effort to clean up its tattered image and restore faith in the system, the BCS has hired Ari Fleischer Communications to spin everything positive. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Ari Fleischer was the former press secretary for President George W. Bush.

So, yes, Fleischer has some experience in working with people with image problems.

First step to reinventing the BCS: Creating a Twitter page.

Amazingly enough, most of the tweets merely talk about how great the BCS system is and how a playoff system will destroy all of sports.

Just like it destroyed the National Football League and the National Basketball Association.

Don’t believe them? Then check out the hottest new Web site that will tell you why you’re an idiot for supporting a college playoff system. The site, playoffproblems. com, paints the picture of a horrifying world in which teams “Don’t know where the games would be played.”

The horror.

It should not be forgotten these problems are already faced by the current system. Also, the Web site was created by “the BCS group,” so its coverage is obviously fair and balanced.

The site does provide insightful quotes from well-known figures such as Bill Hancock, who said, “If you think the BCS is controversial, wait until you realize how much

E

more contentious a playoff would be.” Strong words, indeed, but who is Hancock?

Why, he is the executive director of the BCS — leading the very group that is against playoffs. At least he is not a “Bracket Creeper.”

A seemingly mystical figure the Web site said would force the expansion of the tournament every year, forcing college football to play more and more games at the end of the year.

It’s not like the BCS and the bowls send out at least 68 invites to football teams across the country.

But this column is not here to bury the BCS — it really does it on its own. For all of its flaws, the BCS brags about its title game featuring the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country the last 11 years (those teams’ rankings chosen by the BCS). The championship game is often entertaining, there are some interesting matchups created by the big four bowls.

And besides, the playoffs will knock out the most important companion to the BCS — money.

No bowls means less money for everybody. No one wants that.

verybody would much rather watch 78 teams play in a variety of bowl games, each competing to say, “We’re No. 29” after winning the Meineke Car Care Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., the day after Christmas.

SUZANNE CARAKER | D AILY E GYPTIAN Christine Presswood, a senior from Lincoln, brings the ball down the court during Wednesday’s game. Although this game marked the return of Presswood, who had a career best 20 points, the Salukis lost 82-77 to Western Michigan.

Sports DA I LY E G Y P T I A N

TUESDAY

INSIDER, page 7: Is Tiger’s media coverage too much?

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DECEMBER 1, 2009

FOOTBALL

!"##$#%& '()*+&,)"(+& $-&.(//"0&,)$1 Named best coach, offensive player Ryan Voyles DAILY EGYPTIAN RVOYLES@SIU.EDU

Winning the Missouri Valley Football Conference outright, being ranked No. 1 in the country and earning the No. 3 seed in the playoffs was not enough, as head football coach Dale Lennon and running back Deji Karim are now bringing in more accolades.

Lennon was announced as the MVFC Head Coach of the Year Wednesday, while Karim became just the fourth player in SIU history to be named the conference’s top offensive player.

Lennon, who has won the award twice in two seasons as SIU’s head coach, said his entire staff also deserved a piece of the award.

“I think it’s a great compliment to the staff,” Lennon said. “I’ve always felt very good about the staff

!!I

t’s nice to be honored like that, but it’s not important to me. Right now we’re still in the middle of a season, and if I take my focus off of that, it will be over.

— Dale Lennon football head coach

that we were able to put together here, and we work well together … it’s a nice reward for a lot of people.”

Karim said he is just trying to get everybody involved in the game when he touches the ball.

“I try to provide that spark if we don’t have that spark,” Karim said.

“I try to pump people up to get them going, and it helps my game, as well as it helps everybody else.”

Karim is the first Saluki since Joel Sambursky in 2004 to receive the honor.

The MVFC accolades may be the first among many this year for Lennon and Karim.

Lennon is listed as one of the finalists for the Eddie Robinson Award, given to the top coach in the Football Championship Subdivision. On Monday, Karim was named as one of three finalists for the Walter Payton Award. The award is given to the top player in the FCS. The other two nominees for the Walter Payton Award are Appalachian State quarterback Armanti Edwards and Elon wide receiver Terrell Hudgins.

The Robinson and Payton awards are voted on by a select group of sports information directors, writers and broadcasters covering FCS football.

Please see FOOTBALL | 7

JULIA RENDLEMAN | D AILY E GYPTIAN Deji Karim and SIU head football coach Dale Lennon celebrate a 48-7 home playoff win over Eastern Illinois University Saturday. Karim was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year, while Lennon was named MVFC Coach of the Year Wednesday.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

!"#$%&'(#)'*(+)(,)-+.*-/(0##&/)&'1(2*'+*-/(3&4.&5"/ Presswood returns to team with surgical mask Derek Robbins DAILY EGYPTIAN DROBBINS@SIU.EDU

The first win is still eluding the Salukis.

The SIU women’s basketball team (0-4) dropped two games over Thanksgiving break — the first against Northern Illinois 74-65 in DeKalb on Nov. 22 and the second against Western Michigan (2-3) 8277 in Carbondale Wednesday.

Head coach Missy Tiber said both games were winnable for SIU. She said in order to close games out, the team will need to grow.

“It comes with kids that know how to win; unfortunately, we are still learning how to do that,” Tiber said. “I was unimpressed with our

effort, and we were careless with the basketball.”

Some senior leadership returned to the team as guard Christine Presswood returned to the lineup in the game against Northern Illinois.

Presswood had been out since the first exhibition with an eye injury and returned to play with a surgical mask.

“It doesn’t really hurt; I can play,” Presswood said.

Tiber said Presswood’s return to the lineup provided a boost to the team. Presswood scored seven points in the matchup against Northern Illinois and a career-high 20 against Western Michigan.

The Salukis shot better than Northern Illinois (3-3) in the game at 37.5 percent from the field

compared to Northern Illinois’ 35.3 percent. The Salukis also shot better from beyond the arc at 38.1 percent to Northern Illinois’ 21.4 percent.

SIU struggled with free throws and fouls. The Salukis went to the line 20 times in the second half and only hit 11. In the first half, they went 4-for-4 and ended the game with a 62.5 free-throw percentage.

NIU went to the line 44 times in the game and hit 35 of those attempts.

Tiber said SIU had every opportunity to win the game and needs to play more disciplined in the future.

Tiber said fouls doomed the Salukis again Wednesday against Western Michigan.

“The game started really well, but then we got some kids in foul trouble,” Tiber said. “That’s the discipline

!!I

t comes with kids that know how to win; unfortunately, we are still learning how to do that. I was unimpressed with our effort, and we were careless with the basketball.

that we have been teaching them is to control your fouls. But we are not there yet.”

SIU also had problems with ball control, turning the ball over 24 times.

Western Michigan had 17 turnovers.

“Turnovers are something we have been struggling with all year,” Presswood said. “There really is no excuse for it. We’re going to work and try to eliminate turnovers.”

SIU led for the majority of the first half and were leading at the break 35-33, but a second-half

— Missy Tiber women’s basketball head coach turnaround by Western Michigan sunk the Salukis.

Western Michigan’s Miame Giden sparked the turnaround.

Giden scored 19 points in the second half and ended with 31 points.

Tiber said a player the caliber of Giden is difficult to guard.

“They have a go-to player in Giden,” Tiber said. “She is a phenomenal player; we don’t have a scorer of that caliber.”

Please see BASKETBALL | 7