Oct. 9, 2006
NORMAL, Ill. -
For only the second time in the 44-year history of Hancock Stadium, the home of Illinois State football will serve as the host for a clash between two teams ranked in the top 10 nationally. With the latest release of The Sports Network I-AA Top 25 Poll, the Redbirds moved up another position and enter the week ranked No. 5, while Southern Illinois is now ranked No. 7.
The No. 5 ranking is the highest for the Redbirds, since being ranked No. 3 in the final poll of the 1999 season. That was also the same year ISU played a game between two top-10 teams at Hancock Stadium. On Oct. 2, 1999, No. 10 Illinois State defeated No. 5 Northern Iowa 47-28, on homecoming.
Sandwiched between the `Birds and Southern Illinois at the No. 6 spot is Youngstown State, giving the Gateway Football Conference three teams ranked in the top 10. In addition, Northern Iowa maintained its No. 14 ranking. The Redbirds were also No. 5 in the CSN Coaches Poll.
The Homecoming 2006 game against Southern Illinois will kick-off at 2:30 p.m. Nearly 800 reserved tickets remain unsold and general admission seats are still available. For more ticket information, please contact the Redbird Arena Ticket Office at 309/438-8000.
