Redbirds have the potential to rekindle 2014 glory, Spack says

Illinois State made its FCS national championship game appearance in Frisco, Texas in January 2015. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)

By Dan Verdun

NORMAL – This year’s Illinois State football team might just be ready to return the Redbirds to a lofty playoff perch, according to Brock Spack.

In fact, the veteran head coach believes this fall could conjure up comparisons and memories from 10 years ago when ISU won 13 games and came within 98 seconds of an FCS national championship.

“That (2014) was a great football team,” Spack told Prairie State Pigskin. “I think this (year’s) team could challenge them.”

Let the comparisons begin

A decade ago, Spack’s Redbirds were picked to finish sixth in the then 10-team Missouri Valley Football Conference. ISU had only one player – long snapper Chris Highland – on the league’s preseason all-conference team. 

Last month, Illinois State was predicted to finish sixth in the now 11-team MVFC preseason poll. The Redbirds landed four players – three offensive and one defensive – on the preseason all-league team.

Those four players – running back Mason King, receiver Daniel Sobkowicz, guard Hunter Zambrano and linebacker Amir Abdullah – also have been tabbed as Phil Steele preseason All-Americans.

The 2014 Redbirds, also coached by Spack, would end up winning a school-record 13 games while sharing the MVFC title with No. 1 ranked North Dakota State. 

Those two teams did not meet in the regular season because of an unbalanced MVFC schedule. 

They did, however, meet in the national championship game. And Illinois State came within an eyelash of taking the trophy back to Normal.

Quarterback Tre Roberson, now a cornerback in the Canadian Football League, broke free for a career-long, 58-yard touchdown run with 1 minute, 38 seconds remaining in the game.

After the extra point, Illinois State held a five-point lead. Visions of raised index fingers symbolically illustrating the Redbirds at No. 1 danced in fans’ heads.

Those hopes, however, were dashed when NDSU pulled out a 29-27 win.

NDSU All-American quarterback Carson Wentz, the future No. 2 pick in the NFL Draft, led the Bison on the game-winning drive and scored the deciding touchdown with 37 seconds remaining.

A tough act to follow

Like their predecessors a decade earlier, this year’s Illinois State team will not face the defending national champion and preseason No. 1 FCS team. Back then, it was North Dakota State; this fall, it’s South Dakota State.

The Redbirds also will not play nationally ranked South Dakota as part of the MVFC’s scheduling rotation.

Spack, who is Illinois State’s career leader in coaching wins, is cautiously optimistic. 

“These guys have a chance to do something pretty special, but we’ll see. We don’t know at this point, but we think we’re pretty good,” he said.

Redbirds reunion

Illinois State will honor the 2014 team during the weekend of the Sept. 21 home game when in-state rival Eastern Illinois comes to Hancock Stadium.

An ISU spokesperson said that more than 40 former players have committed to attending thus far. Former Redbirds and Illinois natives Cameron Meredith and James O’Shaughnessy, both of who played key roles in 2014, are expected to be ISU’s honorary captains that day.

“This (2024 team) is a good one for that (2014) team to come watch and say are we going to pass the torch,” Spack said. “I’m not saying we’ll win 13 games, but you never know. You’re going to have to play really, really well in the league. The league has gotten better and better.”

When North Dakota State nipped ISU 10 years ago, it marked four straight FCS titles for the Bison.

In the seasons since, the Missouri Valley has won seven more championships:  five by NDSU and the past two by SDSU.

Seven of this year’s Top 25 in the Stats Perform FCS preseason poll are from the MVFC. 

South Dakota State and North Dakota State are ranked No. 1 and 2, respectively. 

South Dakota, led by former Western Illinois head coach Bob Nielsen, stands at No. 5. 

Southern Illinois, which hosts the Redbirds Oct. 5 in Carbondale, is No. 10.

ISU lands at No. 19 on the list. North Dakota (24) and Youngstown State (25) round out the poll.

“We’ll see how it plays out with injuries or if anything comes up that derails it, but this team could really be something,” Spack said.

Dan Verdun is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin. He has written four books: NIU Huskies Football, EIU Panthers Football, ISU Redbirds Football and SIU Salukis Football.

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