Illinois State football fans can enjoy one of the oldest rivalries in Illinois intercollegiate sports by joining a bus trip to Macomb for the Oct. 16 football game between the Redbirds and the Western Illinois Leathernecks at Hanson Field.
Since 1923, the Redbirds and Leathernecks have played football against each other in every year but 1973.
A year ago, only a last-minute touchdown by the playoff-bound Leathernecks came between the Birds and a victory in Macomb, as coach Denver Johnsons Redbirds fell 24-20. Just last week, the Leathernecks fell out of the national Division I-AA Top 25 for the first time since the 2001 season, but the 86th meeting between Illinois State and Western Illinois is still likely to have NCAA Division I-AA playoff repercussions for both teams.
The Redbird Football Fan Bus will depart at 10:45 a.m. from the south end of the parking lot at the former Eagle Grocery Store on North Main Street in Normal. It will travel directly to Macomb and fans are invited to bring their own food and beverages for the trip.
Tickets for the bus are $15 each. Game tickets are $11 each and can be purchased either from Redbird Arena Ticket Office or at the Hanson Field ticket gate. Game time is 1:05 p.m. and the fan bus will return promptly after the game.
For reservations on the Redbird Football Fan Bus, call The Redbird Club office at (309) 438-3803 to place an order. Deadline for reservations is 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 11.
