SIU's Mike Reis speaks to local Rotarians

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Mike Reis, commonly known throughout southern Illinois as the "Voice of the Salukis", entertained Du Quoin Rotary Club members at their regular Tuesday noon meeting held at Francie's Bed & Breakfast.

With 31 years of experience as Southern Illinois University's primary sports announcer, Reis recalled many of his favorite moments behind the microphone as well as discussing what in his opinion was the major difference between young athletes today as compared to three decades ago.

Among his top broadcasting moments were SIU's two "Sweet Sixteen" appearances in basketball while calling many of the Salukis' exciting football games in recent years also provided memorable broadcasts for him personally.

Reis told the group that he remembered Rich Herrin's first season, which he believed was 1985-86, as SIU's basketball coach.

The team itself wasn't very good, in fact it only won eight or nine games, but the players on that team were the nicest, the hardest-working players he ever saw at SIU.

Reis also informed the 15 Rotarians and three guests present for the luncheon that a work crew began e reporting at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning to begin razing the inside of the SIU Arena as part of the "Saluki Way" renovation program.

He said that it was necessary for SIU to continue to provide top-level facilities for its fans if it wishes to compete in the Missouri Valley Conference and that the SIU Arena was the oldest building still in use in the league.