By Bryan Bloodworth
NORMAL – Find a way could be the theme for Illinois State’s football team these days.
The Redbirds are mired in a four-game losing streak – the longest since the 2004 season – and will be searching for their first Missouri Valley Conference victory in four games when they entertain Southern Illinois at 6 p.m. Saturday at Hancock Stadium.
The Salukis, under first-year coach Nick Hill, are 2-3 overall and winless in two league games despite having the top passing offense in the Valley and the second best overall offensive output.
“It’s another typical Missouri Valley Conference game,” said ISU coach Brock Spack. “There is really no separation, maybe a team or two at the top. We’ll have to play very well to have a chance to win. We put ourselves in position to win several games here in this stretch that we’ve lost because we can’t make plays, we haven’t made plays or enough plays in the fourth quarter. We’re trying to find a way.”
Spack also said losing a new experience for a number of his players.
“A lot of guys playing now have never experienced losing here, not gone through the adversity,” added Spack. “The seniors have done that. Sometimes you have to get knocked down a few times to learn how to respond.
“The players feel the pressure. They’re disappointed and they’re down. You don’t want that to fester, so we try to make the environment one that’s demanding, critical of errors and hold kids accountable, but you also want to make sure it’s fun for them.”
The Salukis are led by fifth-year senior quarterback Josh Straughan, who has more than 1,600 yards in five games. He’s on pace to break his coach’s single-season record set in 2007.
The Redbirds have won three straight from the Salukis, which leads the overall series 40-35-3, and have won six of the last nine meetings.
Bryan Bloodworth can be reached at [email protected]
