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1983 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
SIUSALUKIS.COM
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2013 SALUKI FOOTBALL
Origin of the Salukis
Since the athletic department was established in 1913,
Southern Illinois’ teams had been known as the Maroons.
In 1951 several members of the Southern Illinois University
athletic staff suggested a new nickname, and on March 19,
1951, the student body overwhelmingly approved “Salukis”
as the official new symbol of SIU athletics, easily besting
“Rebels,” “Knights,” “Flyers,” “Marauders,” and “Maroons.”
The oldest purebred dogs in the world with records
dating back to 2600 B.C., the Saluki is an ancient Egyptian
hunting dog known for its speed and hunting prowess.
So why is the name Salukis relevant to Southern
Illinois? Natives of southern Illinois know that the region
is frequently referred to as “Little Egypt.” Historian Baker
Brownell, in his book “The Other Illinois,” explained how
the region came to be known as Egypt.
He wrote, “There was a drought in the northern counties
(of Illinois) in the early 1800s...the wheat fields dried up,
the streams died in their beds. But in southern Illinois, rain
fell and there were good crops, and from the north came
people seeking corn and wheat as to Egypt of old. Thus, the
name, Egypt.”
The 19th century drought in Illinois parallels the
Biblical account of the country of Egypt.
“There was famine in all lands; but in all the land of
Egypt there was bread. All the earth came to Egypt to Joseph
to buy grain, because the famine was so severe. And (Jacob)
said, ‘Behold, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; go
down and buy grain for us there, that we may live, and not
die.’ So 10 of Joseph’s brothers went down to buy grain in
Egypt.” (Genesis 41:45b, 57, 42:2-3)
In Egypt at that time,
Salukis were accepted as
the finest animal a family
could possess. Adopting
such a well-respected dog
as its mascot fit perfectly
for a school in a region
known as “Little Egypt.”
King Tut’s Tomb
The tomb of King
Tut was moved from
McAndrew Stadium to its
current spot between the
SIU locker room in the
Donald Boydston Center
and
Saluki
Stadium.
Before each home game,
the Salukis walk out of
the locker room and pat
Tut’s Tomb for good luck
on the Saluki Walk to the
tunnel where they run into
the stadium. King Tut was
the first live Saluki dog
mascot, and he was buried
in the northeast corner of
McAndrew Stadium.
History of Official
Saluki Mascots
King Tut.................. 1953-54
Burydown Datis..... 1956-65
Ornah Farouk......... 1956-65
Desert Dusk........... 1957-69
Desert Dawn.......... 1957-69
Lord Sundanya....... 1957-69
Lady Syriana. ......... 1957-69
Sarra Aribi.............. 1968-69
Billa-de-Esta........... 1969-77
Amira..................... 1968-78
Yembo Aribi........... 1968-79
Bir Sheba Cairo...... 1970-78
Debbie................... 1979-83
Bandit.................... 1979-85
Shariff.................... 1980-82
Khalid.................... 1980-90
Thunder................. 1982-91
Shabaka................. 1987-97
Tut II. ..................... 1998-04
Grace..................... 2004-05
Fabian.................... 2004-05
Khalila................... 2004-05
Multiple dogs have served
as mascot since 2005.