NORMAL, Ill. - It's been 10 years since the Illinois State football team advanced to the semifinals of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) playoffs. To honor that milestone, members of the championship team will be recognized at halftime Illinois State's Nov. 7 game against Western Illinois.
The day will begin with a meet-and-greet with current head coach Brock Spack and his staff, before the returning players take a tour of the Kaufman Football Building and the Owen Strength and Conditioning Center. The attendees will then gather for a pre-game tailgate prior to the game with the Fighting Leathernecks.
Current Illinois State offensive coordinator Steve Farmer was an assistant coach on the 1999 team and is looking forward to reuniting with several of his former teammates and players.
"The accomplishments of the 1999 team are what got this program going in the right direction," Farmer said. "That was a special group of players who all came together to achieve something that had never been done in school history and almost realized the ultimate dream of becoming national champions. I'm thrilled to be here now as a coach, as I was back then, and can't wait to see everyone again and have the Redbird fans recognize them for their accomplishments."
The 1999 season was the most successful in the history of the Redbird football program, with the squad recording a school-record 11 wins on way to the school's second playoff berth in two seasons. The Redbirds stormed through the regular season on way to their first-ever Gateway Conference (now Missouri Valley Football Conference) championship and advanced to the semifinals of the playoffs.
The run came to an end in Statesboro, Ga., when the Redbirds fell to eventual national champion Georgia Southern and Walter Payton Award winner Adrian Peterson. The Redbirds finished the season ranked No. 3 in the country by the Sports Network, tying the highest rank in school history with the 2006 team that advanced to the quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs.
Former players from the 1999 team who have not already responded wishing to be a part of the day's festivities can contact Illinois State Director of Special Event Tracie Brown at (309) 438-3636 or by email at tjbrown3@ilstu.edu.
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