The SIU Football Salukis will not play their April 3 Missouri Valley Conference game at Illinois State.
The Redbirds have opted out of the remainder of their spring season. Head Coach Brock Spack said it's to protect the health and safety of their players and ensure their readiness for the upcoming fall schedule.
SIU head coach Nick Hill says he's disappointed in the Redbirds' announcement.
"Giving somebody your word, that means something, that's the way I know I was raised. I know what this team is going to do. We said we were going to play and we're going to play. Getting in the middle of the season, basically I guess just quitting the season, I didn't see that coming."
Spack said injuries at key positions, especially on the defensive line, have made it nearly impossible to play this week and extremely difficult to compete in the remaining four games.
Illinois State was coming off it first win of the season Saturday over Western Illinois.
The remaining Redbird games will be considered no contests, with no winner or loser.
SIU is at Missouri State this Saturday.
