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Several members of the Southern Illinois
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
Illinois? Natives of southern Illinois know that the
region is frequently referred to as “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 41:54b, 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.”
The tomb of King Tut was moved in 2010
from the northeast corner of McAndrew
Stadium to the walkway between Saluki
Stadium and SIU Arena.
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
Amira..................... 1968-78
Sarra Aribi.............. 1968-69
Yembo Aribi........... 1968-79
Billa-de-Esta........... 1969-77
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. ................. 1998-2004
Grace..................... 2004-05
Fabian.................... 2004-05
Khalila................... 2004-05
Multiple dogs have served as
mascot since 2005.
History of Official Saluki Mascots
King Tut’s Tomb
2013-14 SALUKI BASKETBALL
siuSalukis.com
NCAA Tournament in 1977, 93, 94, 95, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07
ORIGIN OF THE SALUKIS