By Eric Stock

NORMAL – If there’s one thing Brock Spack doesn’t want to see from one of his players on the field it’s ‘palms up.’

“It gives your opponent a lot of confidence,” the ninth-year Illinois State football coach said. “There’s no frustration. Never let them see you sweat.”

Spack was referring to Jake Kolby who begins his second season as the Redbirds’ starting quarterback when ISU hosts Butler on Saturday.

“He’s a perfectionist, he wants to be a great player, he wants his team to be great, he wanted to be great three days ago,” Spack said. “That’s jut the way he’s wired. that’s the way you want a kid wired, but sometimes you have to pull the reigns in a little bit.”

Spack knows the Redbirds’ inexperienced offensive line will also be tested.

“I’m not naive to think, I don’t think anybody in the room is naive to think when you are that young or inexperienced in one group you are going to have some issues as you go through the season,” Spack said. “I think our offense is going to get better. as we go through the ceiling, It’s going to be a high ceiling for them.”

WJBC will carry the game starting with a 5:30 p.m. pregame.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].