By Blake Haas

NORMAL – While answers are still slim on Illinois State football, ISU’s Athletic Director says discussions are still underway on how and when the season will take place.

Speaking with WJBC’s Scott Miller, ISU athletic director Larry Lyons said those conversations are happening throughout the league.

“The plan is that we are going to play. We don’t have our first scheduled game with the announcement by the University of Illinois and the Big Ten that football-wise, they are only going to play a conference schedule so that game is off the calendar. We are still having really good discussions with kind of the same folks; its the AD’s, the Presidents, and the Missouri Valley Football staff about the best way to move forward. There are still some decisions to be made across the county.”

The NCAA Board of Governors will meet next week to make a final decision on football.

“There is some thought that there may be some discussions coming out of that or decisions coming out of that meeting that will affect fall sports, including football for us on the FCS level. We’re taking a wait-and-see attitude in terms of where some of those decisions are coming down. We have some plans in place to possibly react to that.

LISTEN: Illinois State University athletic director Larry Lyons speaks with WJBC’s Scott Miller about ISU football in the fall. 

“We’re planning on football. Our first day in our calendar would be Sept. 12, a home game against Eastern Illinois (University). For what we know right now, that is what we are going to plan for.”

Under the ‘Restore Illinois’ guidelines, no tailgating is allowed. Additionally, Hancock Stadium will be limited to a 20% capacity.

Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].