Redbirds Open Season, Renew State's Oldest Rivalry with EIU

PLAYER TO WATCH
With ISU's switch to the spread offense, look for senior wide receiver Eyad Salem to have a big season. The Elgin, Ill., native was a 2008 All-Missouri Valley Football Conference First Team selection after totaling 63 catches on the season, which tied for the fourth-most in school history. He led the team in receptions (63), receiving yards (843), touchdowns (8) and receiving yards per game (76.6) and ranked second in the Missouri Valley Football Conference in receptions per game (5.7) and receiving yards per game (76.6).

THE GAME
Illinois State will open the 2009 season and the Brock Spack Era in Redbird Football will officially begin on Thursday at Eastern Illinois. The two teams will meet for the 98th time in school history in on one of the longest-standing rivalries in college football. The Redbirds and Panthers will open the season against each other for the first time since 1988, when EIU defeated ISU by a score of 16-7 at Hancock Stadium when both teams were conference rivals.

THE SERIES
Thursday's game renews the oldest football rivalry in the State of Illinois and the 13th-oldest at the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. ISU and EIU have played 97 times, with the first game being played in 1901. ISU has won six of the last seven games against the Panthers and leads the series, 50-38-9.

THE COACHES
Illinois State: Brock Spack (Purdue, 1983) is entering his first season as the head coach of the Illinois State Redbirds. Prior to taking over the program at ISU, Spack spent 12 seasons as the defensive coordinator at Purdue, where he guided the Boilermakers to the top-ranked defense in the Big Ten Conference in 2002 and the 13th-best defense in the nation in 2003. He coached in 11 bowl games while at Purdue, including a Rose Bowl appearance in 2001. In addition, Spack spent three years as an assistant coach at Eastern Illinois from 1987-90 under head coach Bob Spoo.

Eastern Illinois: Bob Spoo (Purdue, 1960) is in his 22nd season at Eastern Illinois, his only head coaching position, and has compiled a 132-109-1 (.545) career record. He is 9-9-1 against Illinois State.

THE PROGRAM

• Illinois State was home to the Missouri Valley Football Conference's Defensive Player of the Year each season from 2002-06.
• The Redbirds had at least one player selected in the NFL Draft each year from 2005-07.
• In each of the past four years, ISU student-athletes have contributed more than 2,000 hours of community service to the Bloomington-Normal area.
• Redbird student-athletes posted a school-record 3.13 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) during the spring 2009 semester.

  THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT

• Eastern Illinois is located in Charleston, Ill., and has an enrollment of 12,129. The Panthers are members of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC).
• The Panthers return 13 starters, with seven on offense and six on defense.
• Eastern Illinois was picked to finish third in the 2009 OVC Preseason Poll. The Panthers had just one member of the team, offensive guard Chaz Millard, named to the all-conference preseason team. Millard was also tabbed a preseason All-American by the Sports Network and Lindy's.
• The Panthers were among teams receiving votes when The Sports Network released its official preseason FCS poll. EIU was listed as the 13th team receiving votes with 93 total points, which ranks 39th in the nation. The Redbirds also received votes in the annual poll.
• Junior cornerback Rashad Haynes brings a wealth of experience with him to the EIU defense. He has led the Panthers in interceptions that last two seasons and ranks 9th on the EIU career list with 9
  INT's. That number ranks Haynes 19th in the nation in active career interceptions and tied for second on the career interceptions per game list at 0.4.

  TIES WITH THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT

• Illinois State head coach Brock Spack and offensive coordinator Steve Farmer both spent time as assistant coaches at Eastern Illinois under current head coach Bob Spoo. From 1987-90, Spack roamed the sidelines in Charleston and Farmer mentored the Panthers' offensive lineman from
  2001-03.
• Eastern Illinois assistant coach Forrest Jackson (linebackers) lettered at Illinois State in 1998 before transferring to West Georgia. He was the last Redbird to start on the ISU defense as a true freshman, before senior Tom Nelson duplicated the effort in 2005.
• Former ISU basketball star Chad Altadonna is an assistant coach for the EIU men's basketball team, while Mary Wallace, EIU's assistant athletics director/senior woman administrator, used to be the throws coach at Illinois State.
• Secondary coach Bobby Babich, who is in his second season on the sidelines for the Panthers, was a
  four-year letterwinner with one of the Valley Football Conference's newest members, North Dakota State.
• Even though tonight's game will be played in Charleston, Bloomington-Normal will be well represented on the field. The Panthers' Adrian Arrington played with the Redbirds' Brent Holtz at Bloomington High School and Nathan Rebholz suited up for Bloomington Central Catholic. Former Normal Community teammates Austin Davis, Mike Cross, Billy Dickson, Zach Liming, Marcus King and Jake Detmers will also take the field along with Normal West product Cody White.

  NEEDING A COUGH SUPPRESSANT
  Downing the OVC As of late, the Redbirds have been "naughty by nature" when facing members of the Ohio Valley Conference. Illinois State has won 11 of its last 12 games against members of the OVC, including five-straight wins against Murray State and six out the last seven versus Eastern Illinois, this week's opponent. The 'Birds have a chance to add to their success against the OVC later in the season as well, when they play Austin Peay in the home-opener on Sept. 19.

  WHO ARE THOSE GUYS?
  Fans used to seeing ISU player names on the back of the uniforms may have to rely more on their game program this year, as the names were removed from the newly-designed Nike jerseys. Head coach Brock Spack wanted his team to play for the name on the front of the jersey that says "Redbirds" instead of the ones on the back.

  THREES COMPANY
  Despite being picked eighth in the 2009 Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll, the league's coaches, media and sports information directors thought enough of the Redbirds to place three players on the preseason all-conference team. Senior wide receiver Eyad Salem, senior running back Geno Blow (pictured) and junior defensive back Kelvyn Hemphill were all honored as first-team selections in the annual vote.

  ALL-AMERICA U
  ISU has produced at least one all-American player in 22 of its last 26 seasons. Over the last eight seasons, 30 players from 12 different positions have been honored. Former linebacker and current Saskatchewan Roughrider, Kye Stewart, was the last Redbird to earn All-America honors in 2007 when he was honored by The Sports Network and the Walter Camp Foundation. That number may go up this season, as senior wide receiver Eyad Salem received 2009 Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) preseason All-America recognition from Consensus Draft Services.

  TEN TALES OF A 108-YEAR-OLD RIVALRY

• Oct. 27, 1906 - Illinois State's six-hour bus drive to Charleston, Ill., only made worse by an 11-6 defeat.
• Oct. 27, 1906 - Illinois State's six-hour bus drive to Charleston, Ill., only made worse by an 11-6 defeat.
• Nov. 3, 1915 - Both teams fumbled inside each other's 10-yard line in this 0-0 game played at EIU.
• Nov. 11, 1916 - EIU visits Normal, Ill., for the first ever Homecoming game on Illinois State's campus. ISU scored its only points on a 45-yard blocked punt by Ritter in a 24-7 loss.
• Nov. 5, 1921 - ISU rolls to a 42-3 victory in its Homecoming game, which was the first of the annual tradition, as five different ISU players scored a touchdown (Brown, Stewart, Clark, Jensen, Frkyman).
• Nov. 14, 1959 - Illinois State linemen wear gloves for the first time on a snowy, icy day, as Dave Babcock scores the only Illinois State touchdown in a 6-6 tie.
• Sept. 30, 1961 - Illinois State's Keith Reiger's touchdown pass to Bill Monken "probably set an IIAC record for the shortest TD pass: 18 inches" in the Redbirds' 18-0 win.
• Sept. 29, 1962 - Paul Whitmore's 91-yard punt return remains the longest in Illinois State history and it was the only score in this 6-0 Redbird victory.
• Oct. 10, 1981 - ISU reserve Andy Fladung comes off the bench to intercept a school-record four passes in the Redbirds' 25-3 win.
• Sept. 16, 2006 - First time in the history of the Illinois State-Eastern Illinois series where both teams are nationally ranked. Redbirds enter game No. 7 and Panthers are No. 18. ISU trailed, 10-0, after the first quarter, but a 23-point second quarter put the 'Birds in control of a 44-30 win. Pierre Jackson had a career-high 132 receiving yards on six catches.
• Nov. 25, 2006 - Two months after facing each other in the regular season, ISU and EIU meet each other in the first round of the 2006 NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs. ISU's Jason Tate (41 yards) and Jesse Caesar (45 yards) each return interceptions for touchdowns in the 24-13 Redbird win.

  A QUARTER CENTURY OF GREATNESS
  To kick off the league's 25th Year Celebration, the Missouri Valley Football Conference is paying tribute to its all-time greats - those who have had stellar careers or played with distinction in the National Football League. Three former Redbirds were selected to the "All-Select NFL Team" that included former NFL Most Valuable Players, Pro-Bowl selections and Super Bowl participants. Linebacker Boomer Grigsby, offensive lineman Mark Rodenhauser and running back/kick returner Aveion Cason represented Illinois State on the roster of Valley Football greats. During the season, fan voting will also be conducted to help select a "Silver Anniversary Team," recognizing the league's all-time greats. Voting can be accessed at www.valley-football25.org.

  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 all but one 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:
  2002 - Boomer Grigsby (LB) - Third
  2003 - Boomer Grigsby (LB) - Second
  2004 - Boomer Grigsby (LB) - Third
  2005 - Brent Hawkins (DE) - Second; Cameron Siskowic (LB) - 13th
  2006 - Cameron Siskowic (LB) - Fifth
  2007 - Kye Stewart (LB) - Fourth

  WHO'S GOT NEXT?
  For six of the last eight 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 in 2007 with 131 stops.

  IT'S A HARD KNOCK LIFE
  Former Illinois State safety Tom Nelson was signed as a non-drafted free agent in the offseason by the Cincinnati Bengals and because of that he is getting some national attention. Nelson and his new teammates are being featured on HBO's annual training camp documentary Hard Knocks. In the third installment of the series, Nelson was featured and interviewed after a couple strong performances in game action for the Bengals. In the team's second preseason game, Nelson recorded a sack, broke up a pass in the secondary and forced a fumble late in the game that sealed the team's win over the New England Patriots.

  NOTABLE NEWCOMERS
  Since the Gateway began recognizing an all-newcomer team in 1994, 49 Redbirds have been cited for achievement in their first season. In 2008, linebacker Paul Wright and running back Walter Mendenhall added their names to the list.

  GIMMIE A I-A ... ER, FBS
  When the Redbirds travel to Illinois Sept. 12, it will be the 15th-straight season that Illinois State has played a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent. The last time the 'Birds didn't schedule an FBS game was in 1994. It will also mark the first of two-consecutive games against the Big Ten Conference. ISU will play at Northwestern in 2010.

  WHAT A RUSH
  In 2008, the Redbirds averaged 4.5 yards per rush attempt. The per-carry average ranked as the seventh-best average in school history.

  GARRETT'S GRAND ENTRANCE
  Due to a roster shift, junior Chris Garrett found himself as a first-tier kick returner last year in ISU's Nov. 1 game against Youngstown State. Garrett probably made himself a mainstay by returning four kickoffs for 150 yards, including a 93-yard touchdown return in the fourth quarter. It was the first Redbird kickoff returned for a touchdown since LaShawn Bullock did it, also against Youngstown State, Oct. 23, 2004. Look for Garrett to be huge factor in the ISU return game this season with the loss of Tom Nelson.

  IT'S BEEN 10 YEARS ALREADY?
  The 1999 season was the most successful in the history of the Illinois State football program. That team, led by head coach Todd Berry, recorded a school-record 11 wins on way to the school's second playoff berth in two seasons. The Redbirds stormed through the regulars season on way to a conference championship and advanced to the semifinals of the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) playoffs. To honor that season, members of the team will be honored on Nov. 7 at Hancock Stadium in commemoration of its 10-year anniversary.

  2008 NEWS AND NOTES

• Illinois State went 3-8 overall and 2-6 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. The Redbirds ended the season on a three-game losing skid, but the last two games were lost in overtime.
• On Dec. 17, 2008, Brock Spack became Illinois State's 20th head football coach.
• During the course of the season, the Redbirds totaled four player of the week honors.
• Eyad Salem (WR) was the only Redbird to earn first-team All-Valley Football accolades. Salem totaled 63 catches for 843 yards last season, and as a result, went over 1,000 receiving yards for his career. He is the 17th player in Illinois State football history to post 1,000 or more receiving yards in a career.
• Illinois State finished the season with 2,169 rushing yards, which marked the fourth-straight season the Redbirds rushed for more than 2,000 yards.
• The Redbirds returned three special teams kicks during the 2008 season - two kickoffs and one punt.
• The Redbirds ranked No. 4 nationally in punt returns with 16.25 yards per return. ISU was also No. 31 in kickoff returns with 21.61 yards per return.
• Offensively, the Redbirds ranked No. 18 nationally in rushing offense with 197.18 yards per game. ISU was No. 44 in the country for total offense with 369.36 yards per contest.
• The Redbirds led the conference and ranked No. 8 in the nation in net punting. ISU averaged 35.74 yards per punt last season.

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