By Eric Stock

NORMAL – Illinois State rekindles its 106-year football rivalry with Eastern Illinois in Charleston this Saturday.

Brock Spack’s Redbirds are playing to take back the Mid-America Classic trophy.

“Ever since they brought in a trophy, made this a trophy game, I think our kids get excited about that,” Spack said. “Anyone time you are playing an instate rival, I think you should get excited about that.

But Spack suggested games likes shouldn’t require any additional incentive.

“If you have to do all these quirky things to get a team ready to play a game like this you are in deep trouble,” Spack said.

Spack added he suspects his guys have been looking forward to the game after last year’s loss to EIU.

“I think there’s some players in here that are looking forward to the game and they should. They didn’t play particularly well last year,” Spack said. “Some of those guys want looking to redeem themselves and play better, especially if they are seniors,” Spack said.

Temperatures are expected to reach the mid-to-upper 80s on Saturday afternoon at O’Brien Field. Spack said with proper diet and hydration, his players should be well conditioned to play in the heat.

“There’s nothing you can do (to prepare), you can’t turn the furnace on I guess,” Spack said. You just go out and do what you normally do, you don’t make a big deal about. These guys are pretty young – in their 20s and late teens, they should be able to handle it.

WJBC will have coverage Saturday starting at 1 p.m.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].