Dec. 4, 2008
NORMAL, Ill. -
With the "Redbird Super Fan 2008" promotion set to take place Saturday during the Illinois State women's basketball team's 2:05 p.m. home game versus Eastern Michigan, GoRedbirds.com sat down with the two finalists (David Antczak and Collin Custis) of the promotion for a Q&A session to get a little insight into what makes them some of ISU's best fans. We also quizzed them on their supreme knowledge of Redbird Athletics.
Thursday's interview and Redbird Trivia session sheds light on junior accounting major Collin Custis, who told he always wears red, even on non-ISU gamedays. Check out Collin's Q&A session and answers to our trivia questions below ...
GoRedbirds.com: Tell your fellow Illinois State fans a little about yourself.
COLLIN CUSTIS: My name is Collin Custis, and I grew up in Washington, Ill. I'm a junior accounting major at Illinois State.
GR: Tell us why you think you should be the first-ever "Super Fan" at Illinois State.
CC: I really think I am the "Super Fan" because I go to every game I possibly can. I've only missed one women's basketball game and a couple of volleyball matches the entire time I've been at ISU. I just think I'm really devoted to Illinois State Athletics.
GR: What makes you stand out over the other contestants? How have you proven yourself as Illinois State's "Super Fan?"
CC: My leadership in the student section. I tend to start cheers, and I lead the student section and the team in the fight song after the game.
GR: If you were to guess how many Illinois State Athletics events you've attended in your college career, what would you guess?
CC: All but five. I'm not really sure; I've just been to a lot of games and matches.
GR: What is your favorite Illinois State Athletics event to attend?
CC: I really enjoy men's and women's basketball. I grew up in Washington, Ill., so I know Maggie Krick pretty well. It's fun to go to the women's basketball game and support her.
GR: Do you have any hidden talents?
CC: I'm a saxophone player in the pep band.
GR: If you were to win the "Redbird Super Fan" promotion, what would you do with the money?
CC: I'd probably go out and buy as much Illinois State apparel as possible. I like to show my fandom in any way possible.
GR: What sets you apart from the other contestants?
CC: My dedication to the team and our school. I wear red almost every day just to show my support.
GR: What is your most memorable moment at an Illinois State sporting event?
CC: The State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Women's Basketball Tournament last season. We just beat everyone and took the conference tournament championship.
GR: What's your inspiration to become the "Redbird Super Fan?
CC: I saw the "Redbird Super Fan" promotion on GoRedbirds.com and I felt that it really described me. As a huge supporter of ISU Athletics, I thought I'd just go for it.
REDBIRD TRIVIA
Q: What ISU teams won Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championships last season?
CC: Women's basketball, women's golf and women's soccer.
Q: Who on the ISU women's basketball team was named the 2008 Jackie Stiles Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year?
CC: Kristi Cirone
Q: Who's the head coach of the Redbird women's and men's basketball team?
CC: The women's coach is Robin Pingeton and the men's coach is Tim Jankovich.
Q: What is the capacity of Redbird Arena?
CC: 10,200
Q: True or False: In 1972, Illinois State hosted the first collegiate national women's basketball tournament?
CC: True
FINAL TALLY: This guy knows his stuff! He got every Redbird Athletics trivia question right, and did it with some style.
