ISU's Jeremy Joynt and Billy Speiser will be up against several of their former junior college teammates from Iowa Central CC today in UNI's Mack Kimble, Will Lewis, Matt Mackey, Dave Schratz and Darian Williams.
Simply the Best
There isn't much doubt that Laurént Robinson is the best receiver to ever play at Illinois State. Robinson continued his takeover of the ISU record books on Saturday with his six catch, 169-yard performance against Indiana State. With the effort, Robinson became the all-time catch leader in Illinois State history and the leader in all-time receiving yards. The senior wideout now has 178 catches for 2,773 yards.
Turnover Free
It's unknown if the Illinois State football team has any additives or preservatives, but one thing is definitely for sure - the Redbirds are turnover free. At least since the 9:49 mark of the first quarter in the game at Western Kentucky when Pierre Rembert lost his only fumble of the season. Since that time, the Redbirds have played their last 354 minutes and 49 seconds without a turnover. In addition, quarterback Luke Drone has thrown 146 passes, and completed 90, without an interception. His last occurred in the second quarter at Murray State.
Hunting in Packs
"Hunting in Packs" has long been the mantra of the Illinois State defense and last Saturday at Indiana State there was physical proof. The Redbirds had four defenders post double-digit tackles in the 42-20 win over the Sycamores. All three Redbird linebackers, Cameron Siskowic, Kye Stewart and Niall Campbell, each posted 11 tackles in the game, while defensive end Ronnie Tate collected a career-high 10 stops.
Managing Miscues
Just because the Redbirds are turnover free, doesn't mean their opponents are. Since the Redbirds' last turnover, Illinois State has forced eight opponent miscues. The Redbirds have forced 12 more turnovers than what they have committed and their +1.20 turnover ratio not only leads the Gateway Football Conference, but also ranks No. 4 in all of I-AA football. It has also turned into points, as ISU has out scored its I-AA foes 55-10 on points off turnovers.
It Takes Two to Tackle
Pairs are definitely needed to perform the tango, but for linebackers Cameron Siskowic and Kye Stewart they prefer to tackle. The tandem doesn't need each other to get it done either, but they do compliment each other pretty well. Siskowic has notched 125 tackles on the season and is second in all of I-AA football with 12.5 tackles per game. Stewart has also gone over the century mark in stops with 112, which ranks second in the conference and No. 3 nationally. With two tacklers each posting over 100 wrap-ups, Siskowic and Stewart become the first duo since Boomer Grigsby and Gean Gilot to accomplish the feat since 2003.
Cleaning the State
With the Redbirds' 27-14 win over Western Illinois, it gave Illinois State its first sweep of Illinois' I-AA schools since the 2000 season. Earlier this season, the 'Birds downed Southern Illinois, 37-10, and defeated Eastern Illinois, 44-30.
Road Warriors
With victories at Western Kentucky, Western Illinois and Indiana State this season, and wins at Missouri State and Southern Illinois in 2005, the Redbirds are riding a five-game road winning streak in the Gateway Football Conference. The streak is Illinois State's longest run of success on the road since joining the Gateway in 1985.
Robinson Returns; Collects No. 32
Reigning Gateway Football Conference Offensive Player of the Year Laurént Robinson returned to the Redbird line-up in the last two games. Robinson has responded with at least one catch in each game, which extended his school record of consecutive games played with a reception to 32.
Bend Don't Break
The Redbird defense is allowing 345.8 yards per game, which ranks No. 4 among Gateway teams, but ISU opponents haven't been able to convert them into points. On the season, ISU is allowing a league-best 18.3 points per game, which also ranks No. 25 nationally. The 'Birds have allowed 12 touchdowns in 29 red-zone trips (41 percent).
Drone: A Worker QB
Not only is quarterback Luke Drone a hard-worker, he is also efficient. In fact, he's the most efficient quarterback the Redbirds have ever had. For his career, Drone has posted a passing efficiency rating of 153.6, which is 26 points higher than the next highest ISU quarterback. His efficiency rating (154.5) this season is second in conference and ranks No. 10 in I-AA football.
Gunnin' 'em Down
Cameron Siskowic is showing why he was named a Buck Buchanan Award watch list member in 2006, as the senior linebacker leads the nation in tackles. The San Diego, Calif., native is on pace to lead the Gateway Football Conference in tackles for the second straight season. As a result, Siskowic has totaled 365 tackles in his career at Illinois State, which ranks sixth in school history. He is only the 12th player in ISU history to total 300 or more tackles in a career.
Getting Your Picks On Route 66
With Hancock Stadium located just off nostalgic Route 66, the Redbird defense has been getting their kicks in 2006. Through 10 games, the `Birds have intercepted 14 passes, which is tied for the ninth best team total in Division I-AA. The kicker is that the Redbirds have already surpassed last season's total of 10. In addition, the 'Birds are averaging 1.4 picks per game, which would put them on pace for 15 interceptions, the most since 1989.
Nine Would be Fine
With a victory today, Illinois State would earn its ninth win of the season. The ninth victory would mark the second-highest win total in the 111-year history of the Illinois State football program, The nine wins would only trail the 11-3 campaign of 1999.
Rembert's Doubly Grand
Running back Pierre Rembert had already eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing milestone this season and at Indiana State he surpassed 2,000 career rushing yards for his career. ISU's offensive workhorse now has 1,297 yards on the season on 266 attempts with 13 touchdowns. It is only the 12th time the 'Birds have had a 1,000-yard rusher in a season, but the fifth in the last seven years. His single season total ranks No. 3 in school history and he needs 113 yards to post the second-highest single-season rushing total in school history. Rembert's 2,098 career rushing yards rank No. 8 all-time.
The I-Pass
The Redbird offense won't necessarily help at the toll booths, but it has been blowing through Gateway football stadiums with regularity the last three seasons. The Redbirds lead the Gateway with 233.7 passing yards per game. If ISU can stay on top in that category, it would mark the third straight season in which the Redbirds have led the conference in passing offense. The 'Birds would only be the third team to accomplish the feat joining Northern Iowa and Western Illinois.
Applying the Full Nelson
That's exactly what sophomore free safety Tom Nelson has been doing to opposing quarterbacks this season, as he has picked off four passes this season. The 2005 Gateway Freshman of the Year leads the Redbirds in picks and ranks tied for No. 17 in the nation with 0.40 interceptions per game.
Doubting Thomas
Lined up at the defensive tackle position, there is reason to be skeptical that Illinois State's Jarek Thomas has two interceptions on the year. But, it's true. Thomas' two interceptions are the most by a Redbird defensive lineman since 1974, when Rick Spain also snagged a pair of passes. Thomas intercepted a shovel pass against Central Arkansas, but later in the season he got the ultimate defensive lineman's dream with an interception returned for a touchdown against Youngstown State.
Action Jackson
Despite having all-American wide receiver Laurént Robinson hobbled with an ankle injury, senior Pierre Jackson has emerged as an alternative deep threat for the Redbirds. "Jelly" has notched three 100-yard receiving games this season and leads the team with 41 catches for 735 yards. He has also added a team-high six touchdowns.
Moving the Chains
The Redbird offense has taken advantage of every down this season, especially third down. In 137 attempts on third down, Illinois State has converted 68 of them or 50 percent. The Redbird success rate ranks as the eighth best in I-AA football on third down. As a result, the 'Birds have collected 202 first downs on the season.
The Temple of Doom
Senior safety James Temple has collected two interceptions this season, with the first coming against Eastern Illinois and his latest against Missouri State. Temple now has six on his career, which makes him the Redbirds' active leader in that category.
Rembert Running with Regularity
In nine of the 10 games this season, including the first seven straight, Illinois State running back Pierre Rembert has rushed for 100 yards or more. With his streak of seven straight games to start the season, Rembert compiled the longest such string of 100-yard rushing games in ISU history, bettering the old mark by three games. With his nine 100-yard rushing games, Rembert is one performance away from breaking the school record of nine in a season set by Toby Davis, during the 1992 season.
Which 'Bird will Get the Fifth
When Brent Hawkins claimed the 2005 Gateway Defensive Player of the Year award, it marked the fourth straight by a Redbird player (Boomer Grigsby won the award in 2002, 2003 and 2004) and tied the league record for consecutive league MVPs with Northern Iowa (1991-94). Both Kye Stewart and Cameron Siskowic hope to extend that ISU streak as the conference's top two tacklers.
Movin' on Up
In just his second season as a starter, Luke Drone is starting to creep up the charts in the ISU record book. With 5,277 career passing yards, Drone is in sole possession of the No. 3 spot on the all-time ISU passing list. He is now chasing John Coppens (1981-84) and needs 962 yards to move into second. He is also chasing Coppens in career completions. Drone has 367 in his career and needs 188 to move into second place in ISU history.
All-America U
ISU has produced at least one all-American player in 20 of its last 23 seasons. Over the last seven seasons, 27 players from 11 different positions have been honored. Laurént Robinson, Brent Hawkins, Stafford Davis and Cameron Siskowic were all consensus selections in 2005.
Transferable
Since 1993, when the NCAA rules changed to allow players immediate eligibility at the I-AA level, Illinois State has had 44 players transfer from I-A schools. ISU's I-A transfers on this year's roster include: Alan Abrams (RB, Ole Miss); Adam Blankenship (DL, Nebraska); Pierre Jackson (WR, Minnesota); Brandon Joyce (OL, Indiana); Dan Passarelli (WR, Northern Illinois); Pierre Rembert (RB, Michigan); Cameron Siskowic (LB, Washington St.); Jonathan St-Pierre (OL, Miami (Fla.)) and James Stevenson III (DL, Illinois).
Rembert's Rave Reviews
Through 10 games, his first as ISU's featured running back, Pierre Rembert has gotten two thumbs up. With 129.7 rushing yards per game, Rembert ranks No. 7 nationally among running backs. He is on pace to finish the regular season with 1,427 yards on the season, which would rank as the second highest total in Redbird history.
Men of Honor
The Redbird football team concluded the spring semester with 35 players on the AFNI Athletics Honor Roll, a new team record. The Redbirds also compiled a 2.68 grade point average for the semester, which was the highest team GPA by the football team in over a decade.
40 Days and 40 Nights
Actually it is a little less than 67 days - that's how many straight 24-hour days a person would have to work to equal the 1,595 community service hours that the Illinois State football team put in last academic year. Typically, the goal for the entire athletic department is 1,000, but the Redbird gridders put in 1,595 hours themselves.
Somebody's Watching
On Aug. 23, Cameron Siskowic was put on watch. Siskowic was added to the 2006 Buck Buchanan Award watch list after finishing as a finalist last season as one of the nation's top I-AA defensive players.
