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2013-14 SALUKI BASKETBALL SIUSALUKIS.CoM

orIGIN oF ThE SALUKIS

Several members of the Southern Illinois
King Tut’s Tomb
University athletic staff suggested a new nickname

in 1951. The teams had been known as the Maroons

since intercollegiate athletics began in 1913. The

name became official on March 19, 1951, when the

student body overwhelmingly approved “Salukis”

as the 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 3600 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 History of Official Saluki Mascots

Illinois? Natives of southern Illinois know that the King Tut ................. 1953-54 Debbie .................. 1979-83
Burydown Datis..... 1956-65 Bandit.................... 1979-85
region is frequently referred to as “Egypt.” Historian Ornah Farouk ........ 1956-65 Shariff .................... 1980-82
Desert Dusk........... 1957-69 Khalid.................... 1980-90
Desert Dawn ......... 1957-69 Thunder ................. 1982-91
Baker Brownell, in his book “The Other Illinois,” Lord Sundanya....... 1957-69 Shabaka................. 1987-97
Lady Syriana..........1957-69 Tut II..................1998-2004
explained how the region came to be known as Amira .................... 1968-78 Grace .................... 2004-05
Sarra Aribi ............. 1968-69 Fabian ................... 2004-05
Egypt.
Yembo Aribi .......... 1968-79 Khalila ................... 2004-05

He wrote, “There was a drought in the northern Billa-de-Esta .......... 1969-77 Multiple dogs have served as
Bir Sheba Cairo ..... 1970-78
mascot since 2005.
counties (of Illinois) in the early 1800s...the wheat

fields dried up, the streams died in their beds. But
The tomb of King Tut was moved in 2010
in Southern Illinois, rain fell and there were good
from the northeast corner of McAndrew
crops, and from the north came people seeking Stadium to the walkway between Saluki

Stadium and SIU Arena.
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 41:54b, 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.”

NCAA ToUrNAMENT IN 1977, 93, 94, 95, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07