Top Stories 2011: ISU gets new AD, Cards win Series

Illinois State University plans to have a $20 million renovation of Hancock Stadium complete by 2013. (Photo courtesy GoRedbirds.com)

Illinois State University ushered in a new era in its athletics department, while the St. Louis Cardinals celebrated another World Series title and said goodbye to two of its mainstays.

Those were just a few of the sports headlines from the past year as WJBC’s Eric Stock reports in one of the top 10 stories of 2011.

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Illinois State started the year launching a national search for a new athletic director following Sheahon Zenger’s departure to Kansas and in May found Gary Friedman.

“Gary possesses what I consider to be the perfect combination of talent, experience, energy and work ethic,” ISU President Al Bowman said when he introduced Friedman.

One of Friedman’s first tasks has been overseeing the largest renovation project in Hancock Stadium’s history, a $20 million project that’s targeted for completion in 2013.

“With additional seats and certainly the exterior side on Main Street, the ‘wow’ factor that will create and just the impact that will portray with regards to Illinois State University, bringing it up with the rest of the institution will be, I think, immeasurable,” Friedman said.

The rebuilding of the Redbird football continued – with the team’s winningest season in five years, but the Redbirds were shocked to find out that it wasn’t good enough to get a playoff bid.

“It’s just stunning, I couldn’t believe it,” coach Brock Spack said as his team had gathered for the playoff announcement.

Stephanie Glance kept Redbird women’s tradition going strong, leading ISU to a fifth straight 20-win season, while the ISU men – hit hard by graduation, struggled to a ninth-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Cardinals fans spent much of the year worried about the future, would Albert Pujols re-sign or leave St. Louis, but it was the present that that gave them plenty to cheer about.

Cardinals win World Series

The St. Louis Cardinals won their 11th World Series title in 2011. (Photo by Getty Images)

The Cardinals overcame huge odds to win the franchise’s 11th World Series title. Manager Tony LaRussa announced his retirement three days later.

“It’s time to do something different,” LaRussa said.

In early December, Albert Pujols announced he was leaving St. Louis to play for the Los Angeles Angels.

“I believe they are going to continue to love me in the city of St. Louis,” Pujols said after signing a 10-year, $254 million contract with the Angels.

New, revamped franchises in Bloomington-Normal

The local pro sports landscape changed dramatically with the addition of two new franchises – the Bloomington Blaze, which replaced the Prairie Thunder – and a new basketball team, the Central Illinois Drive, whose owner Jim Morris also bought the Extreme that had been for sale for months. The Extreme would later become and Edge. The CornBelters also fired the team’s first manager Hal Lanier and replaced him with Chad Parker.

IWU advances to Final Four

The Illinois Wesleyan women earned their first Final Four appearance, which they hosted. The Titan men made a second straight NCAA tournament appearance and for the second year in a row got bumped by the eventual national champions.

Redbird wins national championship

It was also a year of great personal achievement for Illinois State sophomore Tim Glover. He won a national championship in the javelin throw.

Check out WJBC’s other Top Stories of 2011.

Eric Stock can be reached at eric@wjbc.com.