CARBONDALE, Ill. – Southern Illinois senior quarterback Michael Lindauer was named the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player-of-the Week, following his record breaking performance in a 62-0 win over Murray State on Saturday.
In his first, and last, career start, Lindauer passed for a school-record seven touchdowns.
A remarkable comeback story, Lindauer retired from playing football last spring, having never attempted a collegiate pass. The Evansville native had spend five seasons between Cincinnati and Southern Illinois, but injuries limited his opportunities, and he turning to coaching as a graduate assistant on SIU’s staff heading into the 2024 season.
In a twist of fate, SIU’s quarterback room became decimated by injuries this season, and Lindauer was called back to active duty in Week 8, after the Salukis had lost three quarterbacks, including their first and second-string QBs.
Lindauer mainly served as backup to true freshman Jake Curry but then Curry suffered a hamstring injury in Week 10, opening the door for Lindauer to start this week on Senior Day.
After a slow start, the Saluki offense kicked into gear late in the first quarter, as Lindauer found Bradley Clark for a 35-yard TD strike to put SIU ahead, 13-0.
The second quarter was all SIU, and all Lindauer, as he threw four touchdown passes – firing 19 and 35-yard TDs to Nah’shawn Hezekiah, sandwiched between 4-yard and 65-yard touchdown passes to Keontez Lewis.
In the third quarter, Lindauer hit Clark once again from 23 yards out, and the record-breaker was a 1-yards to Jay Jones. As Lindauer headed to the sidelines, he was mobbed by jubilant teammates.
Lindauer completed 20-of33 passes for 283 yards, seven TDs, and no interceptions.
Lindauer broke the TD passing record of six, held by Mark Iannotti (vs. Southeast Missouri, 2014) and Sherard Poteete (vs Murray State, 1999).
