The South Inter-Athletic Association Conference (SICA) West Division will also be represented in Saturday's game. ISU's Dave Mordis (Stagg HS) and Mike Piton (Stagg HS) will be in action against NDSU's Steve Walker (Lockport HS).
Facing Number One
Playing the No. 1 team in the country is nothing new for Illinois State, especially when playing a top-ranked opponent on the road. ISU owns a 2-2 all-time mark against No. 1-ranked teams, including a 61-35 dismantling at Southern Illinois on Oct. 15, 2005, the Redbirds' last game against a top-ranked team.
Drone Approaches Another Milestone
After throwing for two touchdowns in last weekend's game versus Western Illinois, quarterback Luke Drone approaches another milestone. With his 58 career touchdown passes, Drone needs only five more in his last two games to pass former Redbird Kevin Glenn (62) for the school's career passing touchdown record.
Redbirds in the Peace Garden State
As the Redbirds enter their first game against North Dakota State, this will only be ISU's second trip to the state of North Dakota. The Redbirds lost at North Dakota, 20-0, Sept. 29, 1979, back when Jimmy Carter was president, The Deer Hunter won the Academy Award for Best Picture and Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are" was song of the year.
It's a Family Matter
With the Redbirds struggling to find success on the ground last weekend versus Western Illinois, it became the second-consecutive Family Day game that the `Birds have recorded less than 100 rushing yards. Illinois State mustered only 64 yards rushing against WIU, while the Redbirds recorded a meager 18 yards on the ground versus Youngstown State Oct. 28, 2006.
Movin' On Up
With his four first-half receptions during last week's game versus Western Illinois, senior wider receiver Jason Horton moved up to fifth place all-time on Illinois State's career reception list. Horton, who now has 114 catches, passed Bill Miller, who grabbed 112 passes from 1986-89, and Vito Golson, who had 113 catches from 1999-2002.
Cementing His Legacy
Quarterback Luke Drone has made his case to go down as one of Illinois State's most successful signal callers, as the senior's 22 completions during last weekend's game versus Western Illinois moved him up to No. 2 in the school's all-time completions list. Drone now has 563 completions, surpassing John Coppens' 554 career completions from 1981-84.
Stewart Doubles Over
Linebacker Kye Stewart finished last weekend's game versus Western Illinois with a career-high tying 17 tackles, which was his seventh double-digit tackling effort this season and the 21st of his career. Stewart's 356 total tackles now ranks seventh all-time in the school annals, as he passed both Mike Prior (1981-84) and Tony Jones (1988-91), who amassed 345 and 343 tackles, respectively.
Turnabout is Big Play
While Illinois State benefited from the big plays at Youngstown State, it was an inability to stop the big plays that cost ISU during last weekend's game versus Western Illinois. The Leathernecks took advantage of the big plays, as they recorded three plays over 20 yards, with all three finding the end zone. WIU scored on runs of 55 and 38 yards, while adding a pass play for 52 yards.
It's In His Sights
With 7,684 career passing yards, Luke Drone is in a chase to become the most prolific passer in Redbird history. Drone needs 568 yards through the air in ISU's final two games, or 284 passing yards per game, to knock former Redbird Kevin Glenn (8,251) from the top spot.
What a Blow!
Illinois State's leading rusher Geno Blow suffered a season-ending injury after he broke his left hand in the 27-14 loss to No. 24 Western Illinois last weekend. Blow finished the 2007 season with 776 yards rushing on 143 carries. He was averaging 5.4 yards per attempt and posted a team-high eight rushing touchdowns.
Thirst for a First
Heading into the game versus Western Illinois, the Illinois State football team ranked No. 1 in the country in third-down efficiency and had been able to move the chains with regularity when faced with the circumstances of third down. However, the Redbirds were unable to keep the drive going against WIU, as Illinois State was only able to convert 2-of-12 attempts on third down. ISU has converted 51 percent of third downs this season and now ranks No. 3 nationally.
Spinning the Turnstiles
With the over-capacity crowd of 15,118 at last week's home finale versus Western Illinois, ISU finished the 2007 home slate with the second-highest average attendance in Hancock Stadium history. The Redbirds averaged 13,010 fans at home this season, which was second only to 1970, when the team averaged 14,300 fans at Hancock Stadium. In addition, the Family Day attendance of 15,118 was the 10th-highest attendance total in the history of the facility.
Looking for a Grand
Head coach Denver Johnson has had a 1,000-yard rusher in nine of the last 10 seasons that he has been a head coach, both at Illinois State and Murray State. Senior Rafael Rice is the Redbirds' only realistic chance to reach the 1,000-yard promise land this season. Rice, who has 752 rushing yards this season, needs an average of 124 yards in the final two games to eclipse the 1,000-yard plateau.
Hronec Puts On the Clamps
Playing in his final home game in an Illinois State uniform, senior Bill Hronec might have had his finest game at Hancock Stadium. Hronec collected a game- and career-high 18 tackles, including a sack and a tackle-for-loss, last week versus Western Illinois. Hronec now ranks second on the team with 82 tackles this season, including 28 solo stops and 5.5 tackles for loss. He has also collected a pair of forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and an interception.
Waffling in their House
With the Redbirds' 27-14 setback to Western Illinois last weekend on Family Day, Illinois State finished the 2007 season with a 2-3 home record. It marks the first time that the `Birds have not ended with a winning mark at home since 2004, when ISU went 3-4.
Salem's Lot
The football seemed to gravitate toward sophomore wide receiver Eyad Salem in the second half against Western Illinois. Salem finished with career-highs in both catches and yards, as he recorded nine catches for 176 yards with a touchdown. Providing the big play, Salem recorded all three of the Redbirds' offensive plays of 20 yards or more.
Many Happy Returns
Through nine games, the Redbirds are on pace to break the school record for kickoff return average by a team in a season. ISU is currently averaging 24.0 yards per kickoff return this season, which is just over one yard better than the record of 22.96 yards per return, set in 1993.
What a Rush
Despite being held to 64 yards rushing last weekend against Western Illinois, the Redbirds are still averaging 210.4 rushing yards per game this season. The rushing average is the most by ISU since 2003, and if the season ended today, would rank as the fourth-best average in school history. It would also mark the fourth time the Redbirds have averaged 200 or more yards a game under Denver Johnson.
2000: A Rushing Odyssey
If the Redbirds can accumulate 106 yards on the ground over their last two games, Illinois State will eclipse 2,000 rushing yards for a third-straight season. The feat has only occurred one other time in school history, when the Redbirds amassed 2,000-plus rushing yards per season from 1998-2000.
Another One Bites the Dust
With the 24-21 win at No. 14 Eastern Illinois, the Redbirds have secured a victory over a nationally-ranked team in 10 of the last 11 seasons. ISU also knocked off No. 12 Youngstown State, 27-22, this season, and will have more opportunities to knock off ranked teams, as both of its final regular-season opponents are ranked in the top-25 polls.
All-America U
ISU has produced at least one all-American player in 21 of its last 24 seasons. Over the last seven seasons, 29 players from 12 different positions have been honored. Linebacker Kye Stewart was a consensus preseason all-America selection prior to the 2007 season.
It's as Easy as One, Two, Three
Illinois State not only had one running back rush for 100-plus yards against Indiana State, the Redbirds had three of them. For the first time in school and Gateway Football Conference history, Illinois State had three backs reach the milestone in the same game. Senior Rafael Rice pounded out 182 yards on the ground, while sophomores Geno Blow and Cortes Rice added 122 and 110 yards, respectively.
The Four Horsemen
With Cortes Rice's 110 yards rushing in the victory over Indiana State, the Redbirds have had four different running backs reach 100 yards or more in at least one game this season. Rice's older brother, Rafael Rice, has rushed for 100 yards three times this season, while Geno Blow has reached the plateau five times and Parrish Fisher once. The foursome becomes the first group of Redbirds to each rush for 100 yards in a game during the same season since 1968, when Jed Waters, Harold Olson, Bruce Cullen and Mike Phillips accomplished the feat.
In Rare Company
ISU has proven that it can help student-athletes leap into the professional ranks, with a player selected in each of the last three NFL Drafts. Only one other school in the FCS, Cal Poly, has sent as many players to the NFL during that same time span. Boomer Grigsby (fifth round, Kansas City), Brent Hawkins (fifth round, Jacksonville) and Laurént Robinson (third round, Atlanta) are the recent Redbird NFL Draft choices.
The Buck Stops Here
Illinois State linebacker Kye Stewart is one of 16 players chosen by The Sports Network to be on the watch list for the 2007 Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top defensive player in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. With Stewart's candidacy for this year's award, it marks the sixth-straight season that Illinois State has had at least one player on the list. Other Redbirds to receive recognition include former all-American linebacker and current Kansas City Chiefs fullback Boomer Grigsby; former all-American defensive end and current Jacksonville Jaguar Brent Hawkins; and former all-American linebacker Cameron Siskowic.
He Really is a Drone
In the bee world, drones are dubbed "worker bees" because of their consistent work ethic. In Redbird football, quarterback Luke Drone is of the same mold. The avid student of game film, Drone is by far the most efficient signal caller in school history. For his career, Drone has posted a passing efficiency rating of 142.7, which is nearly 15 points higher than the next highest ISU quarterback.
A Sixth Sense?
Since 2001, Illinois State has been the home of the Gateway Football Conference's Defensive Player of the Year award. Boomer Grigsby, the league's only three-time winner, won the award in 2002, 2003 and 2004; while Brent Hawkins followed suit in 2005; and Cameron Siskowic claimed the honor in 2006. Redbird senior linebacker Kye Stewart, the top returning tackler in the GFC, is also on pace in 2007, leading the league with 107 tackles, which also ranks No. 8 nationally in the FCS. So, it's only sensible that Stewart would be considered the favorite for the award this season, which would give the Redbirds six straight.
Denver Johnson - a Man of Honor
As ISU opened its 2007 training camp, head coach Denver Johnson earned recognition for his hard work as the Redbirds' mentor. Johnson was honored by the All-American Football Foundation, along with three other coaches, as a recipient of the prestigious Johnny Vaught Head Coach Award. Johnson led the Redbirds to their third trip to the NCAA Division I FCS playoffs in 2006, while also being a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award last season.
The I-Pass
The Redbird offense won't speed up the lines at toll booths, but it has been blowing through Gateway football stadiums with regularity the last three seasons. The Redbirds led the Gateway in 2006 with 227.8 passing yards per game, marking the third-straight season that ISU has led the conference in passing offense. If ISU owns the league's top passing offense again this season, it would become only the second team to lead the league in passing four-straight seasons, joining Northern Iowa, which did so from 1995-2000. If the string is going to continue, the pace will have to pick up soon for ISU. Currently, the Redbird offense ranks fourth in the conference with 199.8 passing yards per game.
The Three Degrees of St-Pierre
While junior Jonathan St-Pierre is in his second season with the Redbirds, he has already walked across the stage to receive one degree, a bachelor's in economics from Illinois State. St-Pierre is on pace to finish with three degrees by the time the Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, native leaves ISU in 2009. He will complete two courses at Miami (Fla.), where he began his college career, next summer to complete a bachelor's degree in business administration. This year, he has started the curriculum for his master's degree in economics and should have that completed in May 2009.
Stewart Tops Century Mark
Linebacker Kye Stewart's 17 tackles against Western Illinois gave the Gateway Football Conference leader 107 stops on the season. By surpassing the 100-tackle total, the Redbirds have had at least one tackler over 100 stops in each season since 2002.
The Winning Road?
If the Redbirds are going to finish the 2007 season with a winning record, it is going to have to happen on the road. With a 4-5 record, Illinois State travels to North Dakota State and Southern Illinois for its final two regular-seson games, while trying to avoid its first losing season since 2004.
This Schedule is Rank
Of the 11 games on the 2007 Illinois State schedule, seven have been, or will be, against nationally-ranked teams. The Redbirds are currently in a four-game swing where all four of their opponents are in the national top-25 polls. ISU defeated then-No. 12 Youngstown State 27-20, lost to then-No. 24 Western Illinois, 27-14, before playing No. 1 North Dakota State this weekend and No. 6 Southern Illinois in the season finale Nov. 10.
Getting to the League
Not only have the Redbirds had a player drafted into the NFL in each of the last three years, but currently, there are four former Illinois State players in the NFL and two more in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Former Redbirds in the NFL include: Aveion Cason (RB, Detroit Lions); Boomer Grigsby (FB, Kansas City Chiefs); Brent Hawkins (DE, Jacksonville Jaguars); and Laurént Robinson (WR, Atlanta Falcons). In the CFL, former Redbird teammates Kevin Glenn (QB) and Sam Young (DB) are teammates again with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
A Leader On-and-Off the Field
Linebacker Kye Stewart has shown his prowess on the football field, but it is also his ability to lead his peers off the gridiron that Illinois State football fans should stand up for and applaud. Stewart was selected from a pool of 1,300 top student-athletes from across the country to represent ISU at the 2007 NCAA Leadership Conference, LeaderSHAPE. A 2006 All-Gateway First-Team selection, Stewart was one of 356 student-athletes from around the country that attended the event held in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., from May 27-31. Stewart was the second-straight Redbird football student-athlete to attend the conference, as senior quarterback Luke Drone was selected in 2006.
Transferable
Since 1993, when the NCAA rules changed to allow players immediate eligibility at the FCS level, Illinois State has had 49 players transfer from Football Bowl Subdvision (FBS) schools. ISU's FBS transfers on this year's roster include: Adam Blankenship (DL, Nebraska); Kelvin Chandler (WR, Pittsburgh); Parrish Fisher (RB, Kansas State); Brandon Joyce (OL, Indiana); Mitchell Moore (RB, Iowa State); Jonathan St-Pierre (OL, Miami (Fla.)); and Nick Williams (DL, Pittsburgh).
The NFL is in Their Blood
Redshirt-freshman quarterback Preston Earl and senior offensive lineman Brandon Joyce are both the offspring of former NFL players. Earl's father, Robin, was a fullback with the Chicago Bears from 1977-82. Joyce's dad, Terry, punted for the St. Louis Cardinals during the 1976 and 1977 seasons. In addition, true-freshman quarterback Drew Kiel's uncle, Blair, played in the NFL from 1984-91 with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1984), Indianapolis Colts (1986-87) and Green Bay Packers (1988, 1990-91).
