By Bryan Bloodworth
NORMAL – The pursuit of the FCS national championship begins today for Illinois State’s football team as it opens training camp for the upcoming season.
Brock Spack welcomes back the core of last year’s national runner-up team and the seventh-year coach likes the attitude.
SEE ALSO: ISU ranked No. 2 in FCS preseason poll.
“They are very focused right now,” said Spack. “From what I see, this is a team that I think that has a little bit of a chip on its shoulder. It’s a team that knows they are going to have a bulls-eye on their chest every Saturday.
“But they can’t control that. What they can control is their performance. I think it’s a team that is driven by the process. They understand the process and they know they have work to do yet. I think they have a chance to be pretty good. I like where we’re at right now. We’ve had a very good summer.”
The Redbirds, who shared the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title with North Dakota State a year ago and came up just short against the Bison in the FCS national title game, also understands the expectations are very high.
“No one puts higher expectations on us than us,” added Spack. “Everyone understands around here there is only one thing that’s good enough and that’s winning a national championship. If we don’t do that, it’s not good enough.”
Spack also senses added enthusiasm and excitement surrounding the upcoming campaign.
“You can feel the excitement,” he continued. “I’ve not seen so much red around Bloomington-Normal. I’ve seen more ISU bumper stickers, football bumper stickers and a lot more people wearing ISU stuff than when I came here seven years ago. You can feel there is a sense of community pride in our football team and our athletic program as a whole.”
ISU opens the season Sept. 5 at the University of Iowa in an 11 a.m. nonconference game.
Bryan Bloodworth can be reached at [email protected].
