Longtime Saluki pledges $30K, joins leadership society

By Jeff Wilson

For more than 50 years, Mike Norrington has been a Saluki Athletics season ticket holder. Now, he is one of the first members of the newly minted Big Dawg Leadership Society.

The society honors the most resolute supporters among Saluki Nation and offers them unique access and opportunities to enhance the fan experience. Members of the Big Dawg Leadership Society are recognized at various giving levels. Norrington recently made a $30,000 pledge to Saluki Athletics.

A fixture at most Saluki Basketball and Football games, he believes there is no better bang for his buck.

“It’s the best entertainment in the southern part of the state. You can’t beat it,” Norrington said. “There’s no chant that brings about more internal stimulation than ‘S-I-U, S-I-U!’”

He also understands the value donors bring to the athletics department.

“I give, but it’s a pittance of the whole budget. You can’t run a football team without some big bucks. There are lots of players, lots of travel. That stuff isn’t cheap,” he said. “SIU is a place of higher education. It can’t put all its money in athletics.”

For Norrington, joining the Big Dawg Leadership Society was the obvious choice.

“If someone asks what’s happening that day, and I can say there’s an SIU game, that definitely elevates the day,” he said. “Your long-range commitment isn’t that bad. There are a lot of things in life that cost a lot more. The Big Dawg Leadership Society is just Saluki Athletics saying thank you for guaranteeing it for five years.”

To learn more about the society, email Todd Reeser at toddr@foundation.siu.edu or Kat Martin at katm@foundation.siu.edu.

Sharing Saluki stories

Norrington’s Saluki story began in 1965 when he came to SIU as a freshman from Decatur. After working a couple student jobs, he was hired onto the Saluki Patrol, becoming a full-time officer in 1970, working on the SIU police force until 1980.

“SIU police were the main people responsible for dignitaries that came to campus. I stood right beside President Jimmy Carter with the Secret Service in 1976. I was assigned as the driver to pick up Elvis Presley that same year.

“I picked him up at the airport when he got off his Lisa Marie jet and drove the car straight into the SIU Arena. We went with him on stage, and when it was over, we got back in the car and went right back to the airport. It was the coolest thing I have ever done.”

He also interacted with an SIU legend, President Delyte Morris. After starting his Saluki Patrol job, Norrington remembers meeting President Morris while walking through campus.

“My name tag just said ‘Norrington, but (Morris) said ‘Mike, you’re one of our new officers. We appreciate having you on board’ and shook my hand,” Norrington said. “He knew everyone and had respect for them all.”

In 1980, Norrington became the chief of police in Clinton, Illinois, working there for 13 years. He then returned to Carbondale as the director of law enforcement for the southern third of the state. He retired in 2018 after 25 years in that role.

During his decades around SIU and Saluki Athletics, Norrington has seen it all. He has seen the impact winning sports programs have on the university.

“When SIU went to the Sweet 16 a couple of times, that’s no joke. People I know around the country were talking about it,” he said. “If you’re into advertising, that’s the way to do it. The Salukis are something people recognize.”