During this slow time there have been a lot of lists of Greatest Redbird Games so I thought I’d do my list of Greatest Redbird Football games over the last 40 years. Actually, not the greatest. It’s more like 6 favorites and I want at least one game from every Head Football coach I’ve followed during that time. The list includes Head Coaches Charlie Cowdrey, Bob Otolski, Jim Heacock, Todd Berry, Denver Johnson and Brock Spack. My favorites list will include some games where the team surprised many fans including me, by playing an outstanding game when things had not been going well and there appeared to be little to play for. The list in chronological order:
6) October 11, 1980 – Illinois State 28 Northern Ill 18. This game was played during the last of four seasons under Charlie Cowdrey. Was this road victory at NIU your favorite road win of the Cowdrey era? It would have to be because it was the only one. I don’t know if the refs were more crooked back in those days but if you look at Redbird Football and Basketball in the 70’s to early 80’s there sure weren’t very many road wins. The Redbirds had suffered 3 losing seasons under Cowdrey and they came into this game with a 1-4 record. The idea that ISU would knock off a MAC conference team on the road for win #2 seemed absurd. IIRC Kevin Jones, a speedy freshman back from E. St. Louis (sound familiar), had a good day following blocks to the outside to outrun the NIU defense. 28 points was a LOT in those days. Raise the Banner Redbirds. This was a highlight of the Cowdrey era.
5) September 8, 1984 – Illinois State 35 Southern Ill 7. I remember this one well. SIU was the team to beat at the time. They were the defending 1-AA National Champions from 1983. The ‘Birds had played that championship team close the previous year. They fell just short 28-26 in Carbondale. On this rainy evening the ‘Birds would not be denied. That man- Kevin Jones was still here and along with RB Virgil Winters they ran around and through the Salukis on the slippery turf. Not many fans were on hand at the end, but I was one of them. We had lost 8 straight to the dogs so I wasn’t going to let a little rain bother me. This commanding 28 pt. win was a highlight of the Otolski era.
4) November 13, 1993 – Illinois State 13 Youngstown St. 10. I always cringe when announcers talk about teams not having any incentive after they get knocked out of the playoffs. Real football players don’t think that way. If you’ve recruited the right players you have a team that wants to win every game on the schedule. Period. This was the final game of the ’93 season. Youngstown St. was ranked #1 so they were going back to the playoffs. The Redbirds weren’t going but they didn’t let that, or the cold weather stop them. Coach Jim Heacock had his team ready. The ‘Birds trailed late in the game and they needed a big play from QB Danny Barnett. Barnett was no longer the skinny kid who cried his way through summer camp. He was now a battle-hardened QB ready for a big moment. Barnett reared back and fired a deep pass into the arms of WR Kevin Glenn as he was streaking down the middle of the field for a 71-yard TD. (WR Kevin Glenn was a transfer from U. Florida and he is not to be confused with QB Kevin Glenn of the late 90’s). The ‘Birds held on to win 13-10 as they finished their season with a victory over the top ranked Penguins. Note: YSU went on to win the National Championship.
3) November 27, 1999 Illinois State 56 Colgate 13. A playoff victory! This game changed my thinking towards Redbird Football. I had over 20 years invested as a Redbird Football fan by the time this game was played and I had never been to a playoff game, much less a playoff game the ‘Birds would dominate by a 43-point margin. It changed my perspective and I have always expected a winning team and a playoff contender since that time. When HC Todd Berry left for West Point at the end of the season I was disappointed but not crushed. I thought we would hire another outstanding coach and the playoff streak would continue. I didn’t appreciate the special chemistry that the ’99 team possessed. The 2000 team had just as much talent and more experience, but it couldn’t quite come together. Side Note: After the game we went to Damon’s Grill in Normal. After a while QB Dusty Burk showed up with his family. It’s the closest I ever came to asking a teenager for his autograph. lol
2) October 15, 2005 Illinois State 61 SIU 35. The Redbirds were sitting at 3-3 after suffering back-to back heartbreaking defeats to Youngstown St. and Western Kentucky. Things only looked to get worse as the ‘Birds traveled to Carbondale to face a Southern Ill team that was coached by the great Jerry Kill and ranked #1 at the time. This Redbird team demonstrated some toughness, spirit and character. With the vibrant support of Jbird in attendance they could do no wrong that day. The ‘Birds charged out 21-0 and never looked back. The game was not as close as the 61-35 final score would indicate. For all the Redbird fans that missed the rivalry victory the Redbirds reprised the feat by stomping the skinny canines 37-10 for a Homecoming win the following year in Normal. Back-to Back blowouts over SIU for HC Denver Johnson
1) September 10, 2016 Illinois State 9 Northwestern 7 Probably my favorite Redbird Football game of all-time. It started with a walk along the lake front on a beautiful day and then we settled into good seats of a venerable Big Ten stadium. This certainly wasn’t the best team of the Spack era so I carried only faint hopes for an upset but it soon became clear that this Redbird team was ready to go toe-to-toe with the Wildcats on this late summer afternoon. As the game was winding down the ‘Birds needed a winning FG from the foot of Kicker Sean Slattery. I don’t know who it was. Maybe Coach Spack, maybe Mrs. Spack or maybe Slattery himself. Somebody made a deal with the devil. Just let this kick go through and we’ll give up the next four games. That’s right, four straight losses including some palookas, teams with much less talent than Northwestern. The offer was made and accepted. The kick hit the upright and a demon pushed it through. The Redbirds go on to lose four straight. It was worth it. The Redbirds went to Chicago and beat a bowl winning Big Ten team in dramatic fashion. Yeah, it was worth it.
6) October 11, 1980 – Illinois State 28 Northern Ill 18. This game was played during the last of four seasons under Charlie Cowdrey. Was this road victory at NIU your favorite road win of the Cowdrey era? It would have to be because it was the only one. I don’t know if the refs were more crooked back in those days but if you look at Redbird Football and Basketball in the 70’s to early 80’s there sure weren’t very many road wins. The Redbirds had suffered 3 losing seasons under Cowdrey and they came into this game with a 1-4 record. The idea that ISU would knock off a MAC conference team on the road for win #2 seemed absurd. IIRC Kevin Jones, a speedy freshman back from E. St. Louis (sound familiar), had a good day following blocks to the outside to outrun the NIU defense. 28 points was a LOT in those days. Raise the Banner Redbirds. This was a highlight of the Cowdrey era.
5) September 8, 1984 – Illinois State 35 Southern Ill 7. I remember this one well. SIU was the team to beat at the time. They were the defending 1-AA National Champions from 1983. The ‘Birds had played that championship team close the previous year. They fell just short 28-26 in Carbondale. On this rainy evening the ‘Birds would not be denied. That man- Kevin Jones was still here and along with RB Virgil Winters they ran around and through the Salukis on the slippery turf. Not many fans were on hand at the end, but I was one of them. We had lost 8 straight to the dogs so I wasn’t going to let a little rain bother me. This commanding 28 pt. win was a highlight of the Otolski era.
4) November 13, 1993 – Illinois State 13 Youngstown St. 10. I always cringe when announcers talk about teams not having any incentive after they get knocked out of the playoffs. Real football players don’t think that way. If you’ve recruited the right players you have a team that wants to win every game on the schedule. Period. This was the final game of the ’93 season. Youngstown St. was ranked #1 so they were going back to the playoffs. The Redbirds weren’t going but they didn’t let that, or the cold weather stop them. Coach Jim Heacock had his team ready. The ‘Birds trailed late in the game and they needed a big play from QB Danny Barnett. Barnett was no longer the skinny kid who cried his way through summer camp. He was now a battle-hardened QB ready for a big moment. Barnett reared back and fired a deep pass into the arms of WR Kevin Glenn as he was streaking down the middle of the field for a 71-yard TD. (WR Kevin Glenn was a transfer from U. Florida and he is not to be confused with QB Kevin Glenn of the late 90’s). The ‘Birds held on to win 13-10 as they finished their season with a victory over the top ranked Penguins. Note: YSU went on to win the National Championship.
3) November 27, 1999 Illinois State 56 Colgate 13. A playoff victory! This game changed my thinking towards Redbird Football. I had over 20 years invested as a Redbird Football fan by the time this game was played and I had never been to a playoff game, much less a playoff game the ‘Birds would dominate by a 43-point margin. It changed my perspective and I have always expected a winning team and a playoff contender since that time. When HC Todd Berry left for West Point at the end of the season I was disappointed but not crushed. I thought we would hire another outstanding coach and the playoff streak would continue. I didn’t appreciate the special chemistry that the ’99 team possessed. The 2000 team had just as much talent and more experience, but it couldn’t quite come together. Side Note: After the game we went to Damon’s Grill in Normal. After a while QB Dusty Burk showed up with his family. It’s the closest I ever came to asking a teenager for his autograph. lol
2) October 15, 2005 Illinois State 61 SIU 35. The Redbirds were sitting at 3-3 after suffering back-to back heartbreaking defeats to Youngstown St. and Western Kentucky. Things only looked to get worse as the ‘Birds traveled to Carbondale to face a Southern Ill team that was coached by the great Jerry Kill and ranked #1 at the time. This Redbird team demonstrated some toughness, spirit and character. With the vibrant support of Jbird in attendance they could do no wrong that day. The ‘Birds charged out 21-0 and never looked back. The game was not as close as the 61-35 final score would indicate. For all the Redbird fans that missed the rivalry victory the Redbirds reprised the feat by stomping the skinny canines 37-10 for a Homecoming win the following year in Normal. Back-to Back blowouts over SIU for HC Denver Johnson
1) September 10, 2016 Illinois State 9 Northwestern 7 Probably my favorite Redbird Football game of all-time. It started with a walk along the lake front on a beautiful day and then we settled into good seats of a venerable Big Ten stadium. This certainly wasn’t the best team of the Spack era so I carried only faint hopes for an upset but it soon became clear that this Redbird team was ready to go toe-to-toe with the Wildcats on this late summer afternoon. As the game was winding down the ‘Birds needed a winning FG from the foot of Kicker Sean Slattery. I don’t know who it was. Maybe Coach Spack, maybe Mrs. Spack or maybe Slattery himself. Somebody made a deal with the devil. Just let this kick go through and we’ll give up the next four games. That’s right, four straight losses including some palookas, teams with much less talent than Northwestern. The offer was made and accepted. The kick hit the upright and a demon pushed it through. The Redbirds go on to lose four straight. It was worth it. The Redbirds went to Chicago and beat a bowl winning Big Ten team in dramatic fashion. Yeah, it was worth it.