Over 100 fans packed the parking lot near the Kaufman Football Building as the Illinois State football team left for New Hampshire Friday. (Joe Ragusa/WJBC)
By Joe Ragusa
NORMAL – Illinois State University's football team left for New Hampshire and the NCAA FCS Semifinals Friday morning. Over 100 fans cheered the team on as they left for the airport.
Mike Biggs is a longtime season-ticket holder. He said this season has been exciting so far.
"There's been some games where they've put us on edge, some teams keep coming back on us," Biggs said. "There was the one game where, unfortunately, we didn't win, but it just goes to show that when you look at the preseason polls and they say you're No. 6 (in conference), it's just the coaches and the guys determination to prove the other coaches and the other schools wrong."
Illinois State was picked to finish sixth in the Missouri Valley Football Conference preseason poll. The Redbirds finished the regular season with a share of the MVFC title with North Dakota State, a team that will also play in the NCAA FCS Semifinals against Sam Houston State Friday.
ISU President Larry Dietz said the university's administration is very proud of the team.
"They're doing great work on the field and off the field. They're also great students," Dietz said. "They've got a great coaching staff, and they just bring a lot of pride to the institution. The fan base has been terrific, and we just want (the team) to go out and finish the job."
Illinois State has only appeared in the FCS Semifinals one other time – a 28-17 loss to eventual national champion Georgia Southern in 1999. Our coverage begins at noon Saturday with the pregame show on WJBC 1230 AM and 93.7 FM NASH Icon.
Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].