NORMAL, Ill. – The 2016 spring football practice session is rapidly coming to an end for Illinois State, with Saturday's annual Spring Showcase serving as the culmination of five weeks of hard work at Hancock Stadium for the Redbirds.
The 'Birds held an abbreviated workout Friday afternoon, their final one before the scrimmage. 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 the showcase.
Saturday's activities will begin with the fifth-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 a.m., with the program starting at 9:30 a.m., promptly, running until 11 a.m. on the turf at Hancock Stadium.
Fans can then attend the Redbird Barbecue, which will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., on the east concourse of 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 noon.
Once again, this year's game will be broadcast live on WJBC-AM 1230, with Dick Luedke and Ted Schmitz on the call beginning at 11 a.m. Throughout the game, fans will have the chance to hear about offseason workouts and newcomers who have made an impact during spring practice and also hear from head coach Brock Spack, who will join the broadcast during the fourth quarter. Â Sideline reporter Craig Bertsche will also check in, with interviews with players and football 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 first two quarters will consist of 12 minutes each, with stoppages on change of possession only
•   Following at 10 minute halftime, during which Redbird 4 Life alumni in attendance will be recognized, two 10-minute running clock quarters will end the scrimmage
•   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, but will not be live
•   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.
GoRedbirds.com: Â Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
