NORMAL, Ill. – The 2015 spring football practice session is in the books for Illinois State, with Saturday's annual Spring Showcase serving as the culmination of five weeks of hard work at Hancock Stadium.
The Redbirds held an abbreviated workout Friday at Hancock Stadium, the final workout before the team's scrimmage Saturday. Practice started when players broke up into their individual stations for work with their position coaches. Following a short 7-on-7 session, the Red and White teams took opposite sides of the field and worked on packages for Saturday's scrimmage.
Saturday's activities will begin with the fourth-annual Kids Football Fest, which will take place inside Horton Field House. The event is open to all Reggie's Kids Club members ages 12 and under with adult supervision. Registration opens at 9:45 a.m., with the program starting at 10:30 a.m., promptly, running until noon.
Fans can then attend the Redbird Barbecue, which will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., under the East concourse Hancock Stadium. For $6 (cash only), a lunch of a hot dog or hamburger (a vegetarian option will also be available on request), side dish, chips, cookie and a drink will be served prior to the start of the annual Spring Showcase beginning at 1 p.m.
This year's game will be broadcast live on WJBC-AM 1230, with Dick Luedke and Ted Schmitz on the call beginning at 12:30 p.m. Throughout the game, fans will have the chance to hear about offseason workouts and newcomers who have made an impact during spring workouts and also hear from head coach Brock Spack, who will join the broadcast during the fourth quarter. Sideline report Craig Bertsche will also check in, with interviews with players and alumni in attendance.
Here's how this year's Spring Showcase will be played:
- The Redbirds will be equally divided into two teams (Red and White) with the first-team offense and second-team defense making up one team and the second-team offense and first-team defense comprising the other squad
- The game will be played in four, 15-minute quarters with a running clock and a 10-minute halftime period
- There will be no kickoffs, but field position will be attained by punting and receivers calling for a fair catch
- The scrimmage will be "LIVE", meaning everyone is eligible to be tackled except for the quarterbacks
- Extra points and field goals will be kicked by their respective units when necessary
- Points will be tallied at the end of the day, with the team earning the most points being declared the game's winner
For behind-the-scenes Redbird football news, stats, photos and more, log on to GoRedbirds.com and follow the program on Twitter at @RedbirdFB.
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