Aidan Quinn is lifted in the air by SIU offensive lineman Abdou Toure after Quinn’s 14-yard touchdown reception in the Salukis’ 35-0 playoff victory against Nicholls. (Photo by SIUSalukis.com)
By Barry Bottino
CARBONDALE – Aidan Quinn cautiously approached the postgame interview room Saturday night, wondering aloud if he had to stand in front of a backdrop facing TV cameras and journalists.
He was asked whether being in the media spotlight or playing in the FCS playoffs was more difficult.
“Oh, this, by far,” Quinn said. “Being out on the field is what I do.”
Despite his unease as an interviewee, the junior tight end proved plenty comfortable for the Southern Illinois offense in its 35-0 opening-round win against Nicholls.
He caught a first-quarter touchdown and delivered several key blocks, including on a run play when he blocked a Nicholls defensive back for nearly 20 yards and into the Colonels’ bench. In the same sequence, he had another similar knockdown block.
“I came here to block,” said Quinn, the son of former NFL quarterback Jonathan Quinn. “That’s my job. That’s what I enjoy most.”
SIU coach Nick Hill is one of the many who have noticed Quinn doing his job well.
“Aidan’s been incredible,” Hill said. “You probably don’t want to see him in the middle of a hole. He’s going to fight you all day. He’s a team guy.”
With 1:02 remaining in the first quarter and the Salukis leading, 14-0, Quinn lined up to left side of the formation in a three-receiver set alongside fellow tight end Ryan Schwendeman at the Nicholls 14-yard line. Behind the two tight ends was running back Ro Elliott.
Quarterback Nic Baker took the snap and executed a pump fake toward Elliott for a screen pass. All three Nicholls defenders reacted to the fake. Quinn and Schwendeman both ran routes to the end zone, and Baker connected along the left sideline for a touchdown pass to Quinn, his third this season.
“We got into those three-receiver sets and do a lot of screens,” Quinn said. “On screens, I’m not the guy getting the ball, ever. I’m usually blocking in that set every time. This was a little fake screen that let me get out the back. It was an easy six because (defenders) are all driving on the screen.”
Despite the deceptive touchdown play, Quinn’s role in SIU’s second-round game Dec. 2 at No. 4 seed Idaho (8-3) likely will be different. (9 p.m., ESPN2)
Quinn and the SIU ground game will prove important in trying to keep the Idaho offense – which averages nearly 35 points a game – off the field.
“Touchdowns are big, but if I can go and get a lot of movement and pancake people on back-to-back plays, I live off of that,” Quinn said.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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