Redbirds Travel to UNI for Pivotal MVFC Matchup

THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT

TIES WITH THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT

NEEDING A COUGH SUPPRESSANT
ISU's opponents may think that the Redbirds are a little sick this year, judging by the number of times they have coughed the ball up on offense. Illinois State ranks 115th out of 118 NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) teams in turnover margin, owning a -1.75 turnover margin. Illinois State did little to help that stat against Indiana State, as the Redbirds fumbled twice and didn't force any Sycamore turnovers.

THE CHALLENGE OF THE CENTURY ... WELL, ALMOST
It's been a while since the Illinois State football team last opened its season with four of its first five games on the road - 99 years to be exact. The year was 1909, and Illinois State, under the direction of head coach George Binnewies, opened its season with four-straight games away from Normal, Ill., with games at Wabash (L, 0-27), Illinois Wesleyan (T, 0-0), Bradley (W, 5-0) and Lombard (L, 0-12). ISU finished 2-3-2 that season. The only other time that Illinois State has opened a season with four of its first five games on the road occurred in 1912, but that year was an anomaly, as ISU played only five games total.

THIS KID DOESN'T KIEL UNDER PRESSURE
As the Redbirds have learned this season, it is good to have a reliable back-up quarterback. Early in the year, starter Kevin Brockway battled a recurring chin injury, and redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Kiel has been ready at a moment's notice. In his seven full drives leading the Redbird offense, Kiel has led Illinois State to five touchdowns. He also completed the last 15 yards of Brockway's final drive at Murray State with another Redbird touchdown. Kiel was not available in the Eastern Illinois game, after undergoing appendectomy surgery three days prior to the game.

ALL-AMERICAN U.
ISU has produced at least one All-American player in 22 of the last 25 seasons. Over the last eight seasons, 30 players from 12 different positions have been honored. Kye Stewart was an All-America selection in 2007.

DOME, NOT-SO-SWEET, DOME
For the Illinois State football team, a dome is NOT where the heart is. Illinois State is just 2-9 all-time at Northern Iowa's UNI-Dome, which includes two-straight losses in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The Redbirds' last victory over Northern Iowa at the UNI-Dome came Oct. 26, 2002, when ISU took down then-No. 17 UNI, 31-20. Illinois State head coach Denver Johnson is just 1-5 at the helm of the Redbirds when ISU plays in a dome, having lost to then-No. 22 (FBS) Minnesota, 37-21, Sept. 11, 2004, in the Metrodome, as well as a 54-28 loss to then-No. 1 North Dakota State last season in the Fargodome.

GONNA PARTY LIKE IT'S 1999
Illinois State enters Saturday's game at Northern Iowa in sole possession of first place in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Redbirds have not been in this position since the 1999 season, when ISU won the league title with a perfect 6-0 record.

QUICK EXCHANGES
If a football team is going to be successful, one of the best tactics it can take is to get the ball back from its opponent in the minimum four downs a team's offense is provided. Illinois State did just that last Saturday against Indiana State and reaped the benefits of it. The Redbirds successfully held the Sycamores to a "three-and-out" situation seven times in the game, which included five-straight times between the first and second quarter. The Redbirds' previous season-high for holding an opponent to a three-and-out situation in a game was five against Eastern Illinois Sept. 20.

ROAD WARRIORS
Since 2005, the Redbirds have had reasonable success on the road. In the last 19 games away from Normal, Ill., the Redbirds own a 11-8 mark, including last week's 57-6 win at Indiana State.

THE THIRD PERIOD, A.K.A. THE DEAD PERIOD
For the Illinois State defense, the dead period has been the third quarter in its last two games against Eastern Illinois and Indiana State. Combined, the Redbird defense has held its last two opponents to minus-14 yards of total offense. The EIU offense totaled zero yards of offense in the third quarter against Illinois State, while Indiana State lost 14 yards in the quarter.

MOVING THE STICKS AND SCORING SIX
With Geno Blow's 1-yard touchdown run on Illinois State's opening possession at Indiana State, the Redbird football team found the end zone on its first drive for the second-straight game and the second time this season. Traditionally, that's a good thing, as the Redbirds own a 22-9 record during the Denver Johnson-era when scoring on their first possession.

THE THREE DEGREES OF ST-PIERRE
While Jonathan St-Pierre is in his third season with the Redbirds, he has already walked across the stage to receive two degrees, a bachelor's in economics from Illinois State and a bachelor's degree in business administration from Miami (Fla.). The Longueuil, Quebec, Canada, native is on pace to finish with three degrees by the time he leaves ISU in 2009. He is currently working on his master's degree in economics and is on target to have it completed in May 2009. In addition to three degrees, St-Pierre was also selected in the second round of the 2008 Canadian Football League Draft by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

IT'S IN THEIR BLOOD ... THE NFL, THAT IS
Your upbringing plays a central role in the type of person you grow up to be, and in the case of three current Redbirds, their upbringing as collegiate football players includes NFL ties. Redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Kiel's uncle, Blair Kiel, had a seven-year career in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts, after starring at Notre Dame. Cornerback Kelvyn Hemphill also comes from an NFL bloodline, as his father, Darryl Hemphill, was drafted by the New York Jets and played one season with the Baltimore Colts. In addition, quarterback Preston Earl is the son of former Chicago Bear fullback Robin Earl.

BIPOLAR 'BIRDS
Illinois State was tabbed to finish eighth in the recently expanded nine-team Missouri Valley Football Conference, but the last time the Redbirds were projected to finish second-to-last in the conference race, ISU made a run at the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision Playoffs. In 2005, the Redbirds were voted to finish seventh (in the then-eight-team league) on media day, but ISU finished with a 7-4 mark, including a 61-35 victory at then-No. 1 Southern Illinois; and a 38-3 win over then-No. 13 Northern Iowa.

  ABOUT THE OFFENSE

BLOW-ING INTO THE TOP-FIVE
It all started last season when junior tailback Geno Blow burst onto the Valley Football scene with fivestraight 100-yard rushing games. Now, after his first 100-yard rushing game of the 2008 season - a 119- yard effort in ISU's 57-6 win over Indiana State Oct. 4 - Blow is primed for a run up the Redbirds' 100-yard rushing record. Blow has six career 100-yard rushing games and needs just one more to move into the top-five all-time at ISU.

THROUGH THE SKY, ON THE GROUND, HE'S ALL AROUND
Not only does quarterback Kevin Brockway have a strong arm and an ability to find a receiver on the run, he's also nimble in the rush, as he displayed last Saturday in ISU's 57-6 dismantling of Indiana State. Brockway racked up a career-high 60 yards on the ground over nine carries for an average of 6.7 yards per rush. Brockway was so successful, in fact, that he was the Redbirds' fourth-leading rusher in the game, and even outpaced one of ISU's main rushers, Parrish Fisher, who finished with 46 yards on the ground.

NOTHING LIKE A NICE RUN THROUGH THE FOREST
The last two times Illinois State has played Indiana State, the Redbird offense, particularly its running game, has blown past the Sycamore defense. In each of the last two meetings between the two teams, Illinois State has racked up over 400 yards rushing, including a season-high 410 yards last Saturday in the Redbirds' 57-6 win over the Sycamores. Last season, in the Redbirds' Homecoming game against the Sycamores, Illinois State had three, 100-yard rushers and totaled 448 yards on the ground.

THIRD-AND-EIGHTH IN THE NATION
If a football team is going to be successful, one thing that it must do is convert on third-down opportunities. That's exactly what Illinois State has been doing this season, as the Redbirds rank first in the Missouri Valley Football Conference and eighth in the nation in third-down conversions. Illinois State has produced a first down 47.7 percent of the time off a third-down opportunity this season.

FAMINE TO FEAST
Through the first three games of the 2008 season Illinois State was without a 100-yard rusher, until Saturday's game at Indiana State. The Redbirds' starting tailback Geno Blow surpassed the rushing milestone with 119 yards on 23 carries - Illinois State's first 100-yard rushing performance of the year. Before the game was over, senior running back Walter Mendenhall became the second Illinois State running back to eclipse the mark with 103 yards on 10 carries.

NO NEED TO SHARE
The Illinois State football team has been stingy when it comes to keeping the ball in its possession in games this season. So stingy, in fact, that the Redbirds rank seventh in the nation and second in the conference in time of possession (TOP) at 33:51 per game. Western Illinois is the only Valley team to hold on to the ball longer this season, as the Leathernecks' 36:52 TOP ranks first at the FCS level.

SALEM'S LOT
The football seems to be gravitating toward junior wide receiver Eyad Salem. He has led the Redbirds in receiving in three of the first four games. In his last seven games for the Redbirds, dating back to last season, he has recorded 39 catches for 581 yards, while scoring six touchdowns.

ROURKE IS ON THE MONEY
Jake Rourke had another catch at Indiana State, but for the senior wide receiver, it has always been about quality, not quantity. Again, Rourke's only catch resulted in a first down. That's kind of been the trend throughout his Illinois State career. For his career, Rourke has 38 career catches, 26 of which were "money" catches, or first-down grabs.

  ABOUT THE DEFENSE

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A SEASON MAKES ...
One year ago, the Illinois State defense ended the 2007 season ranked No. 102 out of 118 teams at the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level in total defense after allowing opponents to rack up 427.91 total offensive yards per game. Things could not be any different this season. The Redbirds now rank No. 12 in the nation and best in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in total defense after having given up an average of just 281.50 total offensive yards per game to their opponents.

GIVING THE OPPONENT A HARD DOSE OF THE THIRD-DEGREE
Opposing offenses have practically been having their Miranda Rights read by the Illinois State defense in the first three games of the season. The Redbird defense has allowed only 13 first downs in 55 third-down situations. The 42-percent success rate has Illinois State ranked No. 1 nationally in the FCS in third-down conversion defense.

THE DRIVE STOPS HERE
The ISU defense is allowing just 12.75 first downs per game this season, the fewest first downs per game average in the nation. That's a vast improvement, after allowing an average of 21.5 first downs last season.

SAFETY DANCE
Illinois State's recovery of a bad snap from the Indiana State center in the Redbirds' end zone last Saturday marked the first safety recorded by the Redbirds since Oct. 25, 2003, versus Youngstown State, when Illinois State sacked the Penguin punter in the end zone.

STUFFING THE RUN
For the second-straight game, the Illinois State defense held its opponent to less than 100 yards rushing. Eastern Illinois gained 92 yards on the ground against the Redbirds, while Indiana State was held to 99 yards rushing last Saturday. The last time Illinois State held back-to-back opponents to less than 100 yards rushing was at the start of the 2006 season. The Redbirds held Kansas State to 44 yards rushing, before limiting Central Arkansas to 63 yards on the ground.

THE BUCK STOPS HERE
The Buck Buchanan Award is presented annually by The Sports Network to the nation's best NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) defensive player. When acquiring a list of potential candidates, or a watch list, Illinois State is as good of place to start as any. Since 2002, the Redbirds have had one player finish in the top-five of the Buck Buchanan Award voting in each season. Even though Illinois State hasn't been able to claim the top honor, a Redbird has finished second twice and third twice. Here is a list of ISU's Buck Buchanan Award finalists:

WHO'S GOT NEXT?
For the last six seasons, the Missouri Valley Football Conference's top tackler has worn an Illinois State uniform. Three-time league defensive player of the year Boomer Grigsby set the stage by leading the conference in stops in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Former Redbird linebacker Cameron Siskowic followed suit with back-to-back tackle titles in 2005 and 2006, and Kye Stewart led the league last season with 131 stops. Kelvyn Hemphill has been the odds-on-favorite after leading the Redbirds in stops in three of the first four games of the 2008 season. He ranks tied for No. 19 nationally and leads the Valley with 41 stops.

  ABOUT THE SPECIAL TEAMS

KEEPING UP WITH THE REDBIRDS
Owning the nation's best punt return average entering last Saturday's game at Indiana State, Illinois State surely had many teams envying its ability to run the ball back with great success on punt returns. The Redbirds added to this proficiency by racking up 158 punt return yards against the Sycamores. Those 158 punt return yards rank as the second-most in school history and the most in a Missouri Valley Football Conference game for ISU.

A STEP ABOVE THE REST
Illinois State has had a total of 23 defensive players record at least one tackle this season on special teams. Those 23 players have racked up a total of 43 tackles, but it is the effort of one player that has stood out from everyone: junior cornerback Jason Tate. The Lake Mary, Fla., native has totaled a team-high six special-teams tackles this season and is third on the team in total tackles with 23. Just behind Tate is redshirt-freshman tailback Clifton Gordon and kicker Bobby Kelsey, both of whom have four specialteams tackles apiece.

MAKING PR WORK FOR YOU
Entering Saturday's game at Northern Iowa, the Redbirds, thanks to their PR (punt return) practitioner Tom Nelson, rank No. 1 nationally in the FCS in punt return average. The Redbirds are averaging 23.2 yards per game and Nelson is tied for No. 1 individually in punt returns with 22 yards per return.

GETTING SOME KICKS
Through the first three games, Illinois State attempted just one field, a successful 22-yard kick by Zach Kutch against Marshall Aug. 30, but at Indiana State, the Redbirds split the uprights twice on a pair of three-point tries. Sophomore Steven Fetzer converted a pair of second-quarter field goals (24, 40), which doubled the season output for field goal kickers on the season.

A FULL NELSON
Well, it was almost the full length of the field, when senior Tom Nelson returned a punt 82 yards for a touchdown at Murray State. It was Illinois State's first punt-return touchdown since Joe Walkins ran in a 52-yard punt return for a touchdown against Youngstown State Oct. 23, 2004. Nelson's punt return also marked the fourth-longest in Illinois State history and the second-longest to be returned for a touchdown.

PLAYING A GAME OF FETZ
In the first three games of the season, the Redbirds used a two-kicker method with sophomore Steven Fetzer handling the majority of the extra-point duties, while newcomer Zach Kutch, a transfer from Auburn, served as the field-goal kicker. At Indiana State, Fetzer appeared to gain control of the position with a 2-for- 2 effort on field goals and a 7-for-7 performance on extra points. For his effort, Fetzer was recognized as the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Special Teams Player of the Week.

KELSEY GETS HIS KICKS
Illinois State's Bobby Kelsey is in his final season with the Redbirds. Kelsey started his ISU career as a field-goal kicker, but has evolved into one of the conference's top punters, and he handles the kickoff duties as well.