Open Dates Posted

[Reggie Redbird]

This is one of the closest FCS games to Las Vegas. The Mrs. and I have said this would be a great trip to make out - fly to Vegas on a Friday, drive over for the game in St. George, and then drive back to fly out on Sunday/Monday. Perfect weekend trip!

 

[redbirdfan04]

Oh Goodness - I am fortunate in my job to travel a lot, primarily in Illinois, but also in the Midwest. I run into many ISU alums - almost with NO exceptions - the questions I get are: Why has ISU not moved up in Football? Why is the basketball team getting so bad from what it used to be?

Answer - An ineffective Board of Trustees when it comes to Athletics and Leadership that does not have the guts to take a risk in moving forward. They let Fear of Failure override and keep the status quo - which makes you actually fall behind without knowing. Then when it is pointed out - you get people like 04 who is total denial.

Yes, I donate and have for almost 30 years, I have season tickets in the double digits, I went to two road games this year, I hosted friends to watch all three playoff games - but, does not excuse inept leadership from the Administration in the past and present.

Birds win we are going to have to agree to disagree. I am not in total denial as you say. Would it be awesome and exciting to move to FBS? Yes, for you, me, and the few die hard football fans it would be. Even if we were to move to FBS the people you talk to around the midwest are not showing up to games! You and I both know unless it is Homecoming and family weekend empty seats are aplenty! I just know it is not going to happen so I don't look at as a possibility and that is where I think we differ. I understand you think we could get to the FBS level with a change in leadership. The biggest reason I don't think we can get to the FBS level is money. We do not have enough big time donors to get us to that level. I also do not think it is fear over failure. We are not going to agree and that's fine with me. I care more about you being a season ticket holder for 30 years and having the same passion for ISU that I do. I also attended all the home games and the NIU game this year.
I also hosted an awesome party for the SIU game at my house. I put the game on a projector facing my garage and invited over the neighborhood plus a former SIU player. It was a great win and better next to a former Saluki. I had a jumpy house for the kids and made food all day in my smoker! I also tailgate every game and brought people with to almost every home game. I'm not going to touch the current state of our basketball program as it is less than bad, but the scary thing is it is still better than when I was at ISU! So here's to hoping it gets better quick!

 

[redbirdfan04]

:text-+1:

Matt, it's people like yourself, Santa Cason, DWRedbird, Total Red, bb fan... I'm sorry but I'm sure I'm leaving some out

The goal here is a National Championship in football which is something that has never happened so it clearly isn't status quo.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

This is one of the closest FCS games to Las Vegas. The Mrs. and I have said this would be a great trip to make out - fly to Vegas on a Friday, drive over for the game in St. George, and then drive back to fly out on Sunday/Monday. Perfect weekend trip!

I have been to St. George but only for a one night stop over. The scenery is beautiful with the mountains and valleys. I never heard of Dixie State before they ended up on the ISU schedule but they are moving up and have to play someone the first time. The opponent may as well be ISU! My brother lives in Las Vegas and that is a little less than a two hour drive to St. George, Utah. Come to think of it...I have not visited him in a long time. Las Vegas and Redbird Football all in one long weekend...sounds perfect! (Yeah, I will spend a few minutes with my brother too)

 

[redbirdfan04]

This is one of the closest FCS games to Las Vegas. The Mrs. and I have said this would be a great trip to make out - fly to Vegas on a Friday, drive over for the game in St. George, and then drive back to fly out on Sunday/Monday. Perfect weekend trip!

Reggie, that is what we did for the Northern Arizona game a few years back. We flew into Phoenix on Friday. Drove to the game Saturday morning and then drove straight to Vegas for two nights after that brutal loss! It was a beautiful drive and great trip the Birds just forgot to win! The NAU dome is pretty amazing and that campus is gorgeous.

 

[TheTruth]

Oh Goodness - I am fortunate in my job to travel a lot, primarily in Illinois, but also in the Midwest. I run into many ISU alums - almost with NO exceptions - the questions I get are: Why has ISU not moved up in Football? Why is the basketball team getting so bad from what it used to be?

Answer - An ineffective Board of Trustees when it comes to Athletics and Leadership that does not have the guts to take a risk in moving forward. They let Fear of Failure override and keep the status quo - which makes you actually fall behind without knowing. Then when it is pointed out - you get people like 04 who is total denial.

Yes, I donate and have for almost 30 years, I have season tickets in the double digits, I went to two road games this year, I hosted friends to watch all three playoff games - but, does not excuse inept leadership from the Administration in the past and present.

I also get to travel quite a bit and can often schedule it in accordance with away games. Almost every time, I'll get to talking to some of the locals and talk about their school/athletic program. I can't count how many times, after I've explained about the type & size of school Illinois State is, the type and size of community that B-N is, people have asked "how are you still 1-AA?" I remember years ago at a game in Athens, OH, they were damn near speechless.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

https://fbschedules.com/dixie-state-adds-future-football-series-with-northern-iowa-illinois-state/

Dixie State home and home :

The Trailblazers will travel to take on the Illinois State Redbirds at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Ill., on November 18, 2023. Illinois State will return the game to Trailblazer Stadium three seasons later on September 12, 2026.

Dixie State is moving up to FCS as an Independent and have to play somebody...no reason why it can't be ISU. If ISU was moving up to FBS we would be looking for teams to play. I don't see any issue here. I would rather have a brand new FCS team on the schedule than an NAIA team. I looked at the Dixie State website (I never heard of Dixie State before they landed on the Redbirds schedule) and it seems they are doing some aggressive scheduling. Besides the Redbirds in 2020 they have scheduled SDSU, Weber State, Montana State, Sacramento State and South Dakota. 3 MVFC teams (counting ISU) and 4 FCS playoff teams from 2019. Nobody knows how good those teams will be in 20 & 21 but that is a healthy opposition schedule for anyone in FCS. In 2021 they have listed Montana, Weber State and SDSU. In 2022 they travel to Provo, Utah to take on Brigham Young University. Dixie State does not appear to be ducking much as they enter the FCS. We have the Illini to start the year and then the MVFC gauntlet. I don't see any problem with scheduling the Trailblazers.

 

[TheTruth]

Dixie State is moving up to FCS as an Independent and have to play somebody...no reason why it can't be ISU. If ISU was moving up to FBS we would be looking for teams to play.

If Illinois State were to ever get their act together and move up, would Michigan, Iowa or Missouri sign a home&home with them in those first five years? If they did, would their fans not be in an uproar?

I don't see any problem with scheduling the Trailblazers.

You don't see any problem with Illinois State aligning themselves with schools you'd (and many others) never even heard of? Illinois State already has a problem with relevance on the football field and you want to add to that irrelevance? WOW!

 

[DaveBird10]

Dixie State is moving up to FCS as an Independent and have to play somebody...no reason why it can't be ISU. If ISU was moving up to FBS we would be looking for teams to play.

If Illinois State were to ever get their act together and move up, would Michigan, Iowa or Missouri sign a home&home with them in those first five years? If they did, would their fans not be in an uproar?

I don't see any problem with scheduling the Trailblazers.

You don't see any problem with Illinois State aligning themselves with schools you'd (and many others) never even heard of? Illinois State already has a problem with relevance on the football field and you want to add to that irrelevance? WOW!

Truth, my question is where do you see isu football as a success. Playing for an FCS national championship, The Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl or FBS playoffs?

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

 

[Birdswin]

It is a non-ending debate on what comes first - the chicken or the egg. I would contend the schools that move forward, do not wait on alumni financial support. That is not an absolute. Alumni support, for the most part is a lagging indicator - it does not take place until there is some type of success over a period of time or there is a BIG event - like a national championship (even applies to Clemson). Fan attendance is more of a tradition - takes time and it has to be enjoyable - which is different for different people. I can guarantee there is a huge difference between what is an enjoyable tailgate/football game experience by me versus my wife. Weather and who shows up is what my wife determines as good or bad - has nothing to do with the outcome of the game.

Take a look at the business world. There are reasons why management teams, in the same industry, advance and grow their businesses, while their competitors sit idly by, waiting for a perfect situation to make a big move - and when that opportunity shows itself - then look for reason not to do it. Those businesses are able to survive, but not grow, and soon, are not much competition. Same with a college sports - the programs with the most support - have the best management.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

Dixie State is moving up to FCS as an Independent and have to play somebody...no reason why it can't be ISU. If ISU was moving up to FBS we would be looking for teams to play.

If Illinois State were to ever get their act together and move up, would Michigan, Iowa or Missouri sign a home&home with them in those first five years? If they did, would their fans not be in an uproar?

I don't see any problem with scheduling the Trailblazers.

You don't see any problem with Illinois State aligning themselves with schools you'd (and many others) never even heard of? Illinois State already has a problem with relevance on the football field and you want to add to that irrelevance? WOW!

To some extent you are talking apples and oranges. I have been to about 20 games at the Big House in Ann Arbor and it holds over 100,000 fans. It would not make economic sense to do a home and home with ISU regardless. I am still amazed the University of Miami agreed to travel to Boone, NC a few years ago to play at App State. I don't know what the size of the stadium is at Dixie State but I will go out on a limb and speculate that neither Normal or St. George will deliver a big gate. Second question is no, I don't see any problem with scheduling an FCS team to play another FCS team and neither does South Dakota State, South Dakota, Montana State or Montana. ISU plays in the toughest conference (IMO) in FCS. They just pushed the reigning National Champions to the limit in their own house. I think that makes them relevant not whether they play a new FCS team or not. The St. Xavier game I was not a fan of. Would I rather see the Birds play JMU or a CAA team...yes. But scheduling an FCS team when you are an FCS team, no I don't see a problem because there is not one.

 

[Total Red]

It is a non-ending debate on what comes first - the chicken or the egg. I would contend the schools that move forward, do not wait on alumni financial support. That is not an absolute. Alumni support, for the most part is a lagging indicator - it does not take place until there is some type of success over a period of time or there is a BIG event - like a national championship (even applies to Clemson). Fan attendance is more of a tradition - takes time and it has to be enjoyable - which is different for different people. I can guarantee there is a huge difference between what is an enjoyable tailgate/football game experience by me versus my wife. Weather and who shows up is what my wife determines as good or bad - has nothing to do with the outcome of the game.

Take a look at the business world. There are reasons why management teams, in the same industry, advance and grow their businesses, while their competitors sit idly by, waiting for a perfect situation to make a big move - and when that opportunity shows itself - then look for reason not to do it. Those businesses are able to survive, but not grow, and soon, are not much competition. Same with a college sports - the programs with the most support - have the best management.

Some make bold moves and advance and some make daring ventures that fall flat on their face. The key is to make wise decisions on growth based on the interest that is our there. The gross size of your market doesn't tell the story. It's the size of the market that is interested in participating in a real and financial way. If you don't rely on alumni financial support just where is the money supposed to come from??? The students already built RA and Hancock 2.0. I guess they can build the IPF but that would be a long wait.

Btw Clemson is an example of a school where the fans demonstrated their desire to support football before the team hit it big in the modern era. Go back to 1976 when the Clemson football team was 3-6-2. They were 2-9 the season before in '75 and they had suffered losing seasons in 8 of the previous 9 years. Despite all this a school with an enrollment just over 11,000 had an average football attendance of over 44,000 in 1976. Of course when they started winning it went up from there but you had tangible proof of the interest and support before the championships.

You're a great Redbird Fan Birdswin there's no doubt about that. If we had more like you we would be FBS but we don't have enough. They've had opportunities to step up and they've taken a pass. We'll forge ahead as a FCS power and maybe a NC in football will be the spark that finally lights the fuse. That would be great.

 

[fourthandshort]

Dixie State is moving up to FCS as an Independent and have to play somebody...no reason why it can't be ISU. If ISU was moving up to FBS we would be looking for teams to play.

If Illinois State were to ever get their act together and move up, would Michigan, Iowa or Missouri sign a home&home with them in those first five years? If they did, would their fans not be in an uproar?

I don't see any problem with scheduling the Trailblazers.

You don't see any problem with Illinois State aligning themselves with schools you'd (and many others) never even heard of? Illinois State already has a problem with relevance on the football field and you want to add to that irrelevance? WOW!

agree with Truth on the first point, but i also wonder how it is they got same H&H deals with 4 other top programs. They must be making it worth our while financially.

So while I don't get it and don't like it ... 4 other programs did same thing .. and lall 4 made playoffs, 3 made quarters ....which including us means 4 made quarters ... has to be a reason all 5 agreed.

 

[StLRedbird]

Redbird athletics got onto my radar as a local teenager in the early 70s, mainly because of Doug Collins. You have to have been around in the 70s, 80s, and 90s to understand the level of I-dont-give-a-shit-about-football that was predominant at ISU. Anyone who suggests that the administrations at those times failed is flat, dead wrong. Very few people cared.

Myself, I was in the drop football camp. Hancock was an eyesore and I just didn't see a way to turn football into an asset here. Todd Berry got me to attend football games for the first time since I was attending the university. Bowman and Zenger hooked me with their vision - that our situation was similar to Kansas St in that there was a football void in the state. That opportunity remains.

Given our situation, the only way to FBS is to win and build momentum in the program. Those heady days in 2014 and 2015 are fading into memories. We really needed the playoff run this year. And we really need to build on it next year. So I'm gonna keep doing what I think is the best way for me to support the effort. Show up at as many games as I can and shout like an idiot on defensive 3rd down situations.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

Dixie State is moving up to FCS as an Independent and have to play somebody...no reason why it can't be ISU. If ISU was moving up to FBS we would be looking for teams to play.

If Illinois State were to ever get their act together and move up, would Michigan, Iowa or Missouri sign a home&home with them in those first five years? If they did, would their fans not be in an uproar?

I don't see any problem with scheduling the Trailblazers.

You don't see any problem with Illinois State aligning themselves with schools you'd (and many others) never even heard of? Illinois State already has a problem with relevance on the football field and you want to add to that irrelevance? WOW!

agree with Truth on the first point, but i also wonder how it is they got same H&H deals with 4 other top programs. They must be making it worth our while financially.

So while I don't get it and don't like it ... 4 other programs did same thing .. and lall 4 made playoffs, 3 made quarters ....which including us means 4 made quarters ... has to be a reason all 5 agreed.

The first point I really felt was ludicrous. No school that plays in an 80,000+ stadium is likely to schedule a home and home with any team, FBS or FCS, that plays in a small stadium. Not going to happen so their fan base would not have to worry about it. NIU is an FBS team and there is no way...no way... Michigan is playing in their stadium...absolutely no way under any circumstances. They have more people in the concession stands at Michigan Stadium than in attendance at NIU's stadium. It was an absurd argument in my opinion that would never, ever happen.
The second point, well, I will give the AD's at the schools the benefit of the doubt that they probably know more about this than we do. It is a pretty good chance that this is an FCS win for the Redbirds, at the end of the season that will count for the playoff total. Quite a few good FCS teams have agreed to play Dixie State. The Birds are playing the Illini to start the season and a tough schedule in the MVFC. I think our strength of schedule will be fine. I have been to St. George, Utah and it is a beautiful place. As a poster said above...hit Las Vegas and then drive a couple of hours to the game. It sounds like a great road trip to me!

 

[fourthandshort]

Virginia .. I didn't mean I sgree with his argument, I agreed we shouldn't be giving a new program like Dixie St a h&h .. especially while we're already locked into another weak FCS EIU in a h&h series. Seems like were settling for less ... and why would we travel to play a patsy game .. those should be all home games.

I like scheduling one patsy.. but not if we have to travel. Which is also why I think they gave us $$ ... because were losing a home game every other year. I thought that was needed to make budget.

 

[Total Red]

Just so everybody is clear we have a 2 for 1 with Dixie St. They play here next season 2020 and again in 2023. We travel to Utah to play them in 2026.

 

[Virginia Redbird]

Virginia .. I didn't mean I sgree with his argument, I agreed we shouldn't be giving a new program like Dixie St a h&h .. especially while we're already locked into another weak FCS EIU in a h&h series. Seems like were settling for less ... and why would we travel to play a patsy game .. those should be all home games.

I like scheduling one patsy.. but not if we have to travel. Which is also why I think they gave us $$ ... because were losing a home game every other year. I thought that was needed to make budget.

No problem fourth. We don't travel there until 2026...who knows what their program will look like then. Look at the progress App State has made in FBS in just a few short years. I also like the idea of getting some exposure in a different area of the country. Not that Utah is a hotbed of high school football but it does not hurt the program IMO to play games outside the midwest and Dakotas. I like the tradition of the EIU game but I think the program would get more out of traveling outside Illinois than playing EIU every year. Frankly, most people here in Virginia have never heard of ISU. I wear a Redird lanyard at work around my neck. This past week I had a co-worker from North Carolina come up to me and ask it that was my team playing on ESPN last Saturday. The ISU v NDSU game was the only game on until Army v Navy later on. He was watching the game and very impressed with the teams defense. His comment was "You guys have a pretty good team there." Exposure is good for a program...get those Reggie Redbirds on the helemts out there! It cant hurt recruiting to get the team out to the southwest. This year the team played nine straight games in Illinois before they ventured out to SDSU. Good for the travel budget I guess. Besides we get two home games for one away game. On a purely selfish note, my brother lives in Las Vegas, a two hour drive from St. George. I am already thinking I have not visited my brother in a long time and 2026 may be a great time to go see him...and drive to the game!

 

[fourthandshort]

Virginia .. I didn't mean I sgree with his argument, I agreed we shouldn't be giving a new program like Dixie St a h&h .. especially while we're already locked into another weak FCS EIU in a h&h series. Seems like were settling for less ... and why would we travel to play a patsy game .. those should be all home games.

I like scheduling one patsy.. but not if we have to travel. Which is also why I think they gave us $$ ... because were losing a home game every other year. I thought that was needed to make budget.

No problem fourth. We don't travel there until 2026...who knows what their program will look like then. Look at the progress App State has made in FBS in just a few short years. I also like the idea of getting some exposure in a different area of the country. Not that Utah is a hotbed of high school football but it does not hurt the program IMO to play games outside the midwest and Dakotas. I like the tradition of the EIU game but I think the program would get more out of traveling outside Illinois than playing EIU every year. Frankly, most people here in Virginia have never heard of ISU. I wear a Redird lanyard at work around my neck. This past week I had a co-worker from North Carolina come up to me and ask it that was my team playing on ESPN last Saturday. The ISU v NDSU game was the only game on until Army v Navy later on. He was watching the game and very impressed with the teams defense. His comment was "You guys have a pretty good team there." Exposure is good for a program...get those Reggie Redbirds on the helemts out there! It cant hurt recruiting to get the team out to the southwest. This year the team played nine straight games in Illinois before they ventured out to SDSU. Good for the travel budget I guess. Besides we get two home games for one away game. On a purely selfish note, my brother lives in Las Vegas, a two hour drive from St. George. I am already thinking I have not visited my brother in a long time and 2026 may be a great time to go see him...and drive to the game!

it just doesn't square with us settling for STX game, presumably done for budgetary purposes to get an easy home game where we make money to offset what we pay them to play.

With Dixie St game, we will be flying to a patsy game .... again, which is why I have to wonder if there was a financial incentive offered by Dixie St to all these quality programs .. they got 5 good programs to do same. But who flys to a patsy game given budgetary constraints of FCS football ?

 

[redbirdfan04]

I know we are split and argue over moving up to the FBS level hourly! I wanted to throw this into the conversation. Idaho moved back to the FCS two years ago. They went up to the fbs level for from I what can figure out 22 years and are now back at the fcs level. The article talks about how many fcs schools have made the jump and more have recently than ever before. They talk about how a few have found success but many are not winning at all. I found the article very interesting and talks to both sides of the fbs vs fcs conversation.

https://saturdayblitz.com/2019/06/23/college-football-more-schools-take-idaho-path-fbs-fcs/