NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State football fans who enjoyed the behind-the-scenes Redbird football series "The Next Step" last fall can get caught up with what the team has done during the offseason in preparation for 2016, as Redbird Productions will produce four, 30-minute episodes, set to be broadcast on Comcast SportsNet Chicago beginning Thursday, Aug. 18.
Comcast SportsNet Chicago, the television home for four Redbird football contests this fall and the source for the most comprehensive coverage of the Chicago Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs and White Sox, is available on most cable outlets in the state of Illinois, as well as on DirecTV and Dish Network. The first episode of the four-part mini-series is scheduled to air on Thursday, Aug. 18 at 5 p.m. The next two episodes will also air at 5 p.m. on Aug. 25 and Sept. 1, with the final episode airing at 4 p.m. on Sept. 8 prior to the Redbirds' contest against Big Ten Conference foe Northwestern Sept. 10.
"The Next Step" presented by Country Financial, takes an in-depth look inside Redbird football and chronicles the offseason work the team has put in, with hopes of winning a Missouri Valley Football Conference championship for the third-straight season and pushing towards its ultimate goal of winning an FCS national championship.
Illinois State posted a 23-5 record over the past two seasons and has earned a share of the MVFC championship along with five-time defending FCS national champion, North Dakota State. Following a heartbreaking loss to the Bison in the 2014 FCS National Championship game in Frisco, Texas, the Redbirds rebounded with 10 wins in 2015 and advanced to the FCS quarterfinals for the third time in the past four seasons. ISU returns 15 starters in 2016, including nine on the offensive side of the ball, and has big goals once again.
The series will feature exclusive behind-the-scenes access with the Redbird football program from team meetings, team-building exercises, work in the community and offseason training. A variety of guests, including head coach Brock Spack, co-offensive coordinators Dan Clark and Billy Dicken, and defensive coordinator, Spence Nowinsky, break down the roster, and players such as All-American Anthony Warrum and All-MVFC center Mark Spelman will give their perspective from the eyes of the student-athlete.
For channel information, click on the "fans" tab on GoRedbirds.com and select CSN Chicago Channel Finder. Once there, type in the ZIP code where the broadcast will be watched, and a complete channel listing will appear for cable and satellite providers in that area.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
