ISU's Alex Filin and EIU's Adam Parsill were teammates at Niles West High School in Skokie, Ill.
Great Scott
In his first season as the defensive coordinator, ISU assistant coach Galen Scott's defense is throwing a shutout. To date, the Redbird defense has allowed four field goals - that's it. The last time Illinois State opened up the season without allowing a single touchdown in its first two games was 1950, when ISU shut out both Indiana State (0-0) and Millikin (28-0).
Action Jackson
With all-American wide receiver Laurént Robinson resting a sore ankle, the Redbirds needed one of their other receivers to step up and make some catches. Senior Pierre Jackson was that man, as he got into the action by catching nine passes for 113 yards, both of which were career highs. "Jelly" as his teammates and coaches call him, now leads all ISU receivers with 12 catches for 201 yards on the season.
Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood
Laurént Robinson has laid claim to his neighborhood - the ISU record books. Robinson already owns the school record for catches in a game (14), catches in a season (86), receiving yards in a game (292) and receiving yards in a season (1,465) and touchdown receptions in a career (24). The records that are in his sights for 2006 are: catches in a career (needs 16), receiving yards in a career (needs 354), and 100-yard games in a career (needs four).
Defense Already Making Noise Nationally
Just two games into the 2006 season, the experienced Redbird defense is making a name for itself nationally. The 'Birds rank No. 6 nationally in I-AA in rushing defense with an average of 53.5 yards-per-game and rank No. 4 in TFLs per game with 9.5 per game. In addition, free safety Tom Nelson is tied for first in the nation with three interceptions and linebacker Kye Stewart ranks No. 3 in tackles with 27.
The Sisko Kid Looks for the Fifth
When Brent Hawkins claimed the 2005 Gateway Defensive Player of the Year award, it marked the fourth straight by a Redbird player and tied the league record for consecutive league MVPs with Northern Iowa (1991-94). Cameron Siskowic hopes to extend that ISU streak. The senior linebacker was a finalist for the 2005 Buck Buchanan Award and led the conference in tackles with 132 and averaged 12 tackles per game. Siskowic is off to a great start in 2006, as he's collected 23 tackles, three and a half of which are for loss, and has added a sack.
Consistency is Key
There are many adjectives that have been used to describe Laurént Robinson and consistent is one that often comes up. Robinson has shown he is consistent by catching a pass in at least 27 straight games, but maybe even more impressive are his eight consecutive games with six catches or more. His seven catches against Kansas State give him 73 in those eight games.
Ranking the Redbirds...
Had been a scary proposition for ISU of late, as the 'Birds had lost the last five games in which they were ranked in the national polls before last week's game with Central Arkansas. However, they bucked the trend against UCA and earned a victory after going into the game ranked No. 7 in the country. The 'Birds will now try to start a new trend, a winning streak while ranked, as they will face off this week with intrastate rival Eastern Illinois as the No. X ranked team in the country.
Tate Putting on the Pressure
A defensive end's job is to put pressure on the opposing team's quarterback, and Ronnie Tate seems to understand his job well. Against UCA, quarterback Robbie Park saw a lot of No. 95 as Tate was credited with five quarterback hurries in the game. Although, he never quite got to Park for a sack, Tate did help force two errant passes that were picked off for interceptions in the secondary for the Redbirds.
Running Rembert
Pierre Rembert is off to a quick start in 2006, as he's rushed for 259 yards on 56 carries, good for a 4.4 yards-per-carry average in two games. With his 139 yards against Central Arkansas, Rembert also passed the 1,000-yard plateau in his career at ISU and has now amassed 1,045 yards in 12 career games.
The Sky's the Limit for Kye
In his previous two seasons for the Redbirds, junior linebacker Kye Stewart has emerged as a play maker on the field. Stewart has lived up the billing in 2006 as well, as he leads the team in tackles with 27 stops and has added three TFLs in two games. He has collected back-to-back double-digit tackle games to start the year and with his 14 tackles against Central Arkansas, he now has eight for his career.
27 and Counting
With his catch in the first quarter against Kansas State, Illinois State's Laurént Robinson extended his streak of having at least one catch to 27 straight games. The senior wide receiver needs three more games with a catch to claim the school mark of 29 by Vito Golson. Because he did not play last week against Central Arkansas, Robinson's steak remains in tact heading into this week's game with Eastern Illinois.
No Need to Get Defensive
Actually, there has been a big need to get defensive this season for the Redbirds. ISU's defense was stifling against Kansas State, allowing just 207 yards of total offense to their I-A counterparts. The 'Birds followed that performance by allowing only 63 yards rushing to Central Arkansas last week. In addition, ISU has not allowed an offensive touchdown in two games in 2006.
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 three passes in the first two games, the first three interceptions of his career. He picked off two of Dylan Meier's attempts down field at Kansas State and snagged a Robbie Park offering in the third quarter of last week's game with Central Arkansas.
Making Mazur
Kevin Mazur's four made field goals against Central Arkansas tied a Hancock Stadium record for most field goals made by an individual in a game. However, those field goals also move Mazur up in the ISU record books, as he has now made 14-of-19 career field goal attempts for a 73.7 percentage, which is currently higher than school record holder Stephen Carroll's at 71.6 percent.
Band of Brothers
The 2006 Illinois State roster sports three sets of brothers. The Redbird family includes Cameron and Kyle Siskowic, Rafael and Cortes Rice and Dan and Nick Passarelli.
Stuffing the Run
Opposing teams are finding it hard to gain yards on the ground against the Redbird defense in 2006, as the 'Birds rank No. 6 in all of I-AA football with a rushing defense average of 53.5 yards-per-game. ISU limited Kansas State to just 65 yards on the ground and followed that feat by allowing just 63 yards to Central Arkansas last week.
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).
Notable Newcomers
Since the Gateway began recognizing an all-newcomer team in 1994, over 42 Redbirds have been cited for achievement in their first season. In 2005, running back Pierre Rembert and defensive back Tom Nelson added their names to the list.
Another One Bites the Dust?
With a 61-35 dismantling of then No. 1 Southern Illinois in Carbondale and a 38-3 rout of then No. 13 Northern Iowa in Hancock Stadium, the Redbirds have beaten at least one ranked foe in eight of the last nine seasons. ISU will look to make it 9-of-10 on Saturday against Eastern Illinois.
Drone: A Worker QB
In his first full year on the job, quarterback Luke Drone proved to be hard-working and efficient. Drone ended the season with 2,930 yards passing, the second highest total in school history, while completing a school record 64.5 percent of his passes. In 2006, Drone is off to a strong start has he is 40-of-76, which results in a completion percentage of 52.6.
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, both Laurént Robinson and Cameron Siskowic were put on watch. Robinson, a finalist for the 2005 Walter Payton Award, presented to the nation's top I-AA offensive player, was named to the initial watch list for the 2006 award. Likewise, 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.
Turnover Turnaround
In 2004, the Redbirds ranked dead last (117) in turnover margin (-1.91) nationally among I-AA teams. ISU turned the tide in 2005 and finished with 23rd best turnover margin in the country (+.55). The actual result was a difference of +27 turnovers between the two seasons. The Redbirds were in a stalemate with Kansas State on Saturday, as both teams committed a two turnovers each.
J.T . Snagged an INT
When junior defensive tackle Jarek Thomas picked off a shovel pass in the second quarter of last week's game against Central Arkansas, it marked the first time since 2001 that a Redbird defensive lineman recorded an interception. The last to do it was David Bull, who picked off a pass against Indiana State in Normal on November 1.
That's One!
Sophomore Jake Rourke's 61-yard touchdown reception from Luke Drone in the third quarter of last week's game against Central Arkansas was the first of his career. In addition, Rourke now has three catches for 90 yards in 2006, both of which are also a career highs, as he caught just two passes for 24 yards in his freshman campaign in 2005.
