Tight end Alex Herrera (13), who scored the winning touchdown in the Redbirds’ 28-24 win at Northern Illinois, transferred to Illinois State following two seasons at Eastern Illinois. (Photo by GoRedbirds.com)
By Dan Verdun
Brock Spack has been on both sides of the Mid-America Classic rivalry.
“I’ve sat in both locker rooms, which is unusual,” said the 18th-year Illinois State head coach who was an Eastern Illinois assistant for four seasons early in his career.
This time around, however, Spack will be joined by tight end Alex Herrera, who played two seasons at EIU before transferring to ISU this past offseason.
The two teams will lock horns for the 114th time when the Redbirds (3-0) host the Panthers (1-2) at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hancock Stadium in Normal.
“When I came to ISU, it just felt like home, and they were just coming off a national championship appearance,” Herrera said after scoring the game-deciding touchdown in ISU’s 28-24 win at FBS Northern Illinois.
The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Herrera has five receptions for 68 yards and two touchdowns this season.
“He brings a very good athlete to that position, which is nice to have. He’s a tight end/H-back basically for us. He does a lot of good things for us,” Spack said. “He’s grown quite a bit since he’s been here. He’s worked hard on the physicality of his game. That plays a big part in his growth.”
Herrera still keeps in touch with former EIU teammates, particularly fellow tight ends Alex Ginniver and Max Lovell along with former roommates Nick Vecchiarelli and Noah Williams.
Herrera said he talked to those Panthers on Monday, but both sides have been silent the rest of the week.
“We’re all doing our own thing,” Herrera said. “Nothing before the game, but hopefully a chat after the game.”
Herrera, a California native, arrived at EIU after playing a season of junior college football in his home state.
“I have nothing against the guys at Eastern. I still have a bunch of friends there, but you’ve got to be where your feet are and I’m at ISU now and I love it,” he said.
The Redbirds remained No. 4 in the American Football Coaches Association rankings and No. 5 in the Stats Perform FCS poll.
Eastern Illinois has lost two straight games after defeating Murray State of the Missouri Valley Football Conference in its opener. EIU’s losses are to Minnesota of the Big Ten and Indiana State of the MVFC.
Herrera’s EIU-ISU memories harken back to 2024 – his first as a Panther – when the Redbirds reclaimed the Mid-America traveling trophy after losing it the prior year.
“It was sitting on a table on our sideline. Right after the game (a 31-7 Illinois State win), about 30 ISU guys ran over and grabbed it,” Herrera said. “That just encapsulates how important that trophy is.”
Spack’s EIU days
Spack was an assistant on Bob Spoo’s Eastern Illinois staff (1987-90). He earned a master’s degree from EIU.
“I enjoyed my time there,” said Spack, who recruited EIU head coach Chris Wilkerson in 1989.
Spoo was the quarterbacks coach at Purdue when Spack played linebacker for the Boilermakers (1980-84). Spoo is EIU’s all-time leader in coaching wins. He passed away in 2018 at age 80.
“Coach Spoo was a stickler for time. Being on time for him was 10 or 15 minutes early. That’s rubbed off on me. I’m a ‘if you’re on time, you’re late kind of guy,’”Spack said.
Kickoff: 2 p.m.; TV: ESPN-Plus; Radio: WJBC.com
Key matchup to watch
ISU run defense vs. EIU run game
The Redbird defensive front has been active thus far this season, which allows players such as linebackers Mason Kaplan and Tye Niekamp to make plays.
Eastern’s main ballcarrier is running back Charles Kellom, who has rushed for 297 yards and four touchdowns on 40 carries.
Illinois State intends to stop Kellom and force the Panthers into a passing game which averages 12.17 yards per completion.
What’s at stake
An ISU win keeps the rivalry’s traveling trophy in Normal and would mark three straight wins against EIU.
Quick hits
Illinois State has dominated the series of late. The Redbirds have won seven of the last eight meetings. The last Eastern victory came at Charleston’s O’Brien Field in 2022 when the Panthers tipped the Redbirds, 14-13. … The schools first played Nov. 25, 1901, with Eastern winning, 28-0. … ISU leads the series, 61-43-9. … Asked if the rivalry means more to players or coaches, Spack said, “It’s about the same. The longer I’ve been here, the more intense the rivalry gets for me.” Spack is 11-5 vs. Eastern. … Defensive coordinator Travis Niekamp and linebackers coach Kye Stewart are both ISU graduates who played against EIU. “I didn’t play here, but I get very excited about this game,” Spack said. “We play it up quite a bit. It’s a lot of fun. Rivalries are what makes college football.”… Linebacker Tye Niekamp was the Stats Perform National FCS Defensive Player of the Week. In addition, Niekamp was honored as Missouri Valley Football Conference Defensive Player of the Week. … Junior quarterback Gage Roy, a transfer from USC, was selected as the MVFC Newcomer of the Week. … Both players were instrumental in ISU’s win at FBS Northern Illinois. … EIU quarterback Cole LaCrue and linebacker Ja’Wuan Nickson were both selected as Ohio Valley Conference Players of the Week following the Panthers’ 42-35 loss to Indiana State. EIU trailed, 35-7, with 11 minutes left in the third quarter. … Defensive lineman Pat Wertz was the last player to appear on both teams’ rosters. The Andrew High School graduate spent two years at Illinois State before transferring to Eastern. Wertz led the 2013 FCS quarterfinalist Panthers in sacks.
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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