[October 11, 2014] #20 Indiana State (4-1) vs. #15 Illinois State (4-0)

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niklz62 said:
i think our 4-1 is about 27% more impressive than their 4-0
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May have been sarcasm, but if you dig deeper into opponents, I'd agree. We're going to be their first true opponent as I believe South Dakota State is still an unknown quantity and the fact they turned the ball over 3 times inside their own 30 in the first quarter made that game a no contest.

Mississippi Valley State 1-5 (Only win against non D1 school)
Eastern Illinois 1-4 (Only win against common opponent Austin Peay)
Austin Peay 0-5 (Statistically the worst overall team in FCS and have been outscored 254-20)
South Dakota State 3-2 (Opponents W/L record of their 3 wins is 3-11)

So a total opponent W/L of 5-16, ours is 11-15 but two of our games were FBS. If you look at their stats, they look amazing but digging deeper I'm not sure how impressive they are when you take a look at their opponents. I hope they rest on their laurels and think back to last year when they boatraced us and we come out energized and punch them in the mouth, too.
 
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the 27% was for comedy but at this point I feel like our wins are better, I am by no means saying we are better.

I am hopeful we are better
 
Here's my strategy to get more attendance:

Get an advertising trade deal with a local earth mover sales company or excavation company. push the hill opposite the stands down and also bring in dirt enough to raise the ground a few feet everywhere inside the old baseball fence, if possible slope it slightly or a lot (i dont care which). If we use that to practice then make more practice area outside the fence. build a fence that you can easily see through behind our team bench. probably needs to be as high as the one in the east endzone. Make that area considered OUTSIDE of the stadium. Open that area up for tailgating and charge admission which also comes with a complimentary ticket or require a Blue Level ticket that costs more to get in that area. if the area is sloped, do not allow tents. Then we would not shut that down during the game. we would have to move the scoreboard to maybe the endzone so people could see that (ground level is not a very good view). thats all i can think of right now but anyone can throw in their 2 cents
 
Sounds like they haven't played anyone of any importance. I'm really hoping we blow them out. Will be my first game of the year!! I'm pumped!
 
According to Sagarin, our strength of schedule is No. 133 and Illinois State's is No. 233. That is all of Div. I football (FBS and FCS). Overall, we are ranked No. 106 while Illinois St is No. 71. If you do his Predictor calculation and add in our home field advantage score they are a one point favorite.
 
I can tell you all about the Redbirds' weaknesses if you feed me before the game.

Can't disagree about 2 of our opponents being weak thus far, but Eastern Illinois and SDSU were both higher ranked and favored when we beat them. Our O-line is playing very well, as are our wide receivers. You already know about our #1 running back and our transfer QB. On D, we have very active OLB's to complement a solid D-line and an experienced secondary. I think any opposing coach will be challenged to find ways to exploit us. But, I see everything through Redbird-colored glasses.

See ya Saturday.
 

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The Redbirds should be a top 5 team at this point, however they (to a lesser extent than us) have to deal with the bias to past years' performance that the polls show each week. Montana, UNI, and a couple of others should be at the bottom, or possibly not even in, the top 25.
 
niklz62 said:
I thought neither team got the respect they deserved after this weeks wins from the 2 main polls
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Agreed. I think both teams would roll several of those ahead of us. I've been looking through the resumes of those teams and very few have anything to hang their hat on.
 
I will admit though that I am super nervous, I'd really like to win this one. I think 5 conference wins gets us in unless we get boned with AQ's not being the best team in their conference. This would take the pressure off of beating 4 teams that are more equal to us

I like the fact that now 5 total wins won't make me happy.
 

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attendance, with good weather I'll guess 8500 and a Sycamore win by 7

bad weather, it could be less than 5500

I agree with 62, am a bit more wary about this game than I was the UNI game, I was confident ISU would somehow beat UNI, but ILS has given us fits lately, so this could go either way, I am sure the players will be fired up and wanting a homecoming win though!
 
My thoughts are that we have faced a couple fantastic runners and kept them to fairly low yardage. Liberty's/UNI's QB couldn't do much against our defense and their offense was supposed to roll our defense. Ball State QB was new and I wouldn't necessarily say he had what it took yet so he wasn't the biggest test for our defense. I think the moral of my story is that our defense will either win us, or lose us this game. Our offense has been rather consistent and we kind of know what we're going to get out of Perish, Johnson, and Taylor. Our running game improved when we put Dimitri Taylor in and I hope he earns more reps this week. I know we can win this game.
 
After reading some things about ILSU, I'm quite concerned about this game. They have offensive weapons all over the place. They have an awesome running game and a great passing attack. Their defense is as good as any in the nation. They have a ton of talent, much of which came from top flight FBS programs like Oregon and Ohio State. This is going to be a very, very difficult game. I'm not sure we have the horses to compete.

Of course, I could have cut and pasted those comments from a scouting report on UNI, too.

Once again, I just want our guys to do what they've done all year - make plays. They keep making plays, we keep winning. It's really that simple.

Of course, our o-line needs to step their game up and protect Perish better this week. The book on us is going to be throw the kitchen sink at Perish and hope to get him rushed and confused. That hasn't been terribly effective yet this year, but Liberty went to that scheme in the second half and it kinda worked, and UNI tried to do it all day, which worked better when they had the wind.

Again, Tree-men, just make plays. You guys keep making plays, we keep winning!
 
Since I'm a sap, here's the first installment of inspiration that I'm going to post leading up to this HUGE game on Saturday. Listen up, Sycamore Nation!!!

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/X7ymriMhoj0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

By the way, could we just offer this kid a scholarship now?
 
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Greetings Sycamore fans. Congrats on the great start to your season. Just a little more perspective from a Redbird fan on our team. I've stated over on AGS (Any Given Saturday) that what I like most about our team are the athletes. I know you guys have seen Roberson before, but the game against SDSU was about as good as he could have played, minus a bad throw here or there. We got the transfer kid Barnett from Iowa State last year and I think our coaching staff was trying to find the next Matt Brown and forced him into being more of a pocket passer instead of an athlete. Roberson showed me a lot last week in taking what the defense gave him. When they dropped back in two deep, he ran...when they put 8 in the box he threw. When SDSU put a spy on him, then he ran the read option to perfection.

You guys are used to having a stud RB in years past in Shakir Bell, so watching Marshaun Coprich go for 174 yards and 4 TD's last week was amazing. 10 TD's on the year is phenomenal. Lecheen Neblett has a total of 16 receptions, but 5 TD's already with at least 4 over 20 yards, and a 69 yard TD in his resume already. He can be a possession receiver, but he and Tre have developed quite the long ball relationship. Last week SDSU decided to roll the double coverage over to Neblett, and Tre just started hitting his other big WR target Cam Meridith 6'3" 200. 5 different receivers have caught a TD this year. We've combined for 11 receiving TD's, 13 Rushing TD's and 1 DEF TD and 1 Special Teams TD.

Those FBS transfers on DEF, David Perkins (DE) Ohio State transfer has 18 tackles, 4.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 FF. Oshay Dunmore (DE/OLB) has 25 tackles, 4.0 for a loss, 1 sack, 2 INT, 1 FF. And the highlight of the year, even though it was called back for an illegal formation penalty. A hail mary touchdown with no time at the end of the first half against SDSU. This kid is a PURE athlete. I think if we needed him to play QB he could. Colin Keoshian (Community College, by way of BYU) was our backup RB and second on the team in TD's last year with 6. This year he has 15 tackles, 3 TFL, 3.0 Sacks.

When you mix that in with the homegrown talent recruited by Spack, 6' 5" 280 pound DE - Teddy Corwin is a beast (32 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT). Pat Meehan (LB ) has 30 Tackles, 4.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 INT. Our DEF has 8 players with 15 tackles or more. 13 with at least 10 tackles. We've already eclipsed our season total of 6 INT's all year with 8 INT so far, and 1 run back for a TD. The Defense has forced at least 5 fumbles this year.

Probably the BEST and most balanced Redbird football team I've seen in years. That being said....anyone can have a bad game, and we've been blessed to escape the injury bug so far this season (knock on wood). As long as they keep taking the games one at a time as the players keep alluding to, then I think they'll be focused and up for a challenge. This game will be the biggest test of the program this year, and probably the last few years.

Hope everyone is able to escape healthy, and good luck Tree fans. I would make the trip, but unfortunately I came down to TH on two occassions in recent years. One was the game where you guys handed Spack his only loss against Ind. State. The other was for a men's/women's double header where my beloved Redbirds lost both games. I will be watching from my couch, as I am very superstitious. LOL.
 
REALBird said:
Greetings Sycamore fans. Congrats on the great start to your season. Just a little more perspective from a Redbird fan on our team. I've stated over on AGS (Any Given Saturday) that what I like most about our team are the athletes. I know you guys have seen Roberson before, but the game against SDSU was about as good as he could have played, minus a bad throw here or there. We got the transfer kid Barnett from Iowa State last year and I think our coaching staff was trying to find the next Matt Brown and forced him into being more of a pocket passer instead of an athlete. Roberson showed me a lot last week in taking what the defense gave him. When they dropped back in two deep, he ran...when they put 8 in the box he threw. When SDSU put a spy on him, then he ran the read option to perfection.

You guys are used to having a stud RB in years past in Shakir Bell, so watching Marshaun Coprich go for 174 yards and 4 TD's last week was amazing. 10 TD's on the year is phenomenal. Lecheen Neblett has a total of 16 receptions, but 5 TD's already with at least 4 over 20 yards, and a 69 yard TD in his resume already. He can be a possession receiver, but he and Tre have developed quite the long ball relationship. Last week SDSU decided to roll the double coverage over to Neblett, and Tre just started hitting his other big WR target Cam Meridith 6'3" 200. 5 different receivers have caught a TD this year. We've combined for 11 receiving TD's, 13 Rushing TD's and 1 DEF TD and 1 Special Teams TD.

Those FBS transfers on DEF, David Perkins (DE) Ohio State transfer has 18 tackles, 4.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, 2 FF. Oshay Dunmore (DE/OLB) has 25 tackles, 4.0 for a loss, 1 sack, 2 INT, 1 FF. And the highlight of the year, even though it was called back for an illegal formation penalty. A hail mary touchdown with no time at the end of the first half against SDSU. This kid is a PURE athlete. I think if we needed him to play QB he could. Colin Keoshian (Community College, by way of BYU) was our backup RB and second on the team in TD's last year with 6. This year he has 15 tackles, 3 TFL, 3.0 Sacks.

When you mix that in with the homegrown talent recruited by Spack, 6' 5" 280 pound DE - Teddy Corwin is a beast (32 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks, 1 INT). Pat Meehan (LB ) has 30 Tackles, 4.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 INT. Our DEF has 8 players with 15 tackles or more. 13 with at least 10 tackles. We've already eclipsed our season total of 6 INT's all year with 8 INT so far, and 1 run back for a TD. The Defense has forced at least 5 fumbles this year.

Probably the BEST and most balanced Redbird football team I've seen in years. That being said....anyone can have a bad game, and we've been blessed to escape the injury bug so far this season (knock on wood). As long as they keep taking the games one at a time as the players keep alluding to, then I think they'll be focused and up for a challenge. This game will be the biggest test of the program this year, and probably the last few years.

Hope everyone is able to escape healthy, and good luck Tree fans. I would make the trip, but unfortunately I came down to TH on two occassions in recent years. One was the game where you guys handed Spack his only loss against Ind. State. The other was for a men's/women's double header where my beloved Redbirds lost both games. I will be watching from my couch, as I am very superstitious. LOL.
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Thanks for the insight on your team. I like how well balanced you guys have played this year. I just question your SOS. The teams you have played and beaten just haven't been tough yet. I get this info from above
May have been sarcasm, but if you dig deeper into opponents, I'd agree. We're going to be their first true opponent as I believe South Dakota State is still an unknown quantity and the fact they turned the ball over 3 times inside their own 30 in the first quarter made that game a no contest.

Mississippi Valley State 1-5 (Only win against non D1 school)
Eastern Illinois 1-4 (Only win against common opponent Austin Peay)
Austin Peay 0-5 (Statistically the worst overall team in FCS and have been outscored 254-20)
South Dakota State 3-2 (Opponents W/L record of their 3 wins is 3-11)
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Considering we have home crowd advantage, I'm surprised we're considered an under dog. I hope everyone comes out healthy and I think it should be a fantastic game. I think we can come out on top but I wouldn't be totally surprised with the talent level you guys have if we lost. Good luck to you and have a safe trip if you're traveling out to the game.

Edit: Also, I didn't realize how little passing yards you guys have compared to us. You rely much more on your ground game. Outside of the IU game, we have done very well against the run but we haven't faced a QB that can move outside the pocket like Tre this year. Will be an interesting game for sure.
 
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Illinois State is the real deal and we all know that. However, whenever I read bout their rushing attack I can't help but to think about the running back's we've already faced. Is this guy better than Tevin Coleman or that Johnson Kid from UNI? Are their WR's better than IU's or that kid from Liberty. I'm not even saying that Illinois State couldn't beat the FBS schools we've played but I will say that we have been battle tested and as far as talent, size, and speed goes It's hard for me to belive that Illinois state has something we haven't already seen outside of Roberson. Roberson will be the true test on Saturday. Liberty had a duel threat QB but he never ran? It will be interesting to see how we play Roberson schematically.
 
GuardShock said:
Thanks for the insight on your team. I like how well balanced you guys have played this year. I just question your SOS. The teams you have played and beaten just haven't been tough yet. I get this info from above

Considering we have home crowd advantage, I'm surprised we're considered an under dog. I hope everyone comes out healthy and I think it should be a fantastic game. I think we can come out on top but I wouldn't be totally surprised with the talent level you guys have if we lost. Good luck to you and have a safe trip if you're traveling out to the game.
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GuardShock, all very valid points. At some point I even questioned how good this team is and kept saying, EIU will show if we're for real. Then I felt less optimistic about that because they were destroyed by SIU, and then beaten soundly buy the Redbirds. I left thinking, well we really didn't get a guage on this team because EIU was overrated. Then I felt SDSU would be a great test, #9 in the Nation. Played a competitive second half @ Mizzou. But the score of 45-10 suddenly makes SDSU look inferior and overrated as well.

Had they not called back one of the two last second hail mary TD's thrown before the end of the half. Had we not pissed down our leg and had to settle for a FG in the second quarter, and adding the 3rd quarter TD that game should have been 49-3 at halftime and 56-10 for the final score. Honestly, SDSU's lone TD drive was a result of one good series. Beyond that, they were HANDLED in all phases of the game.

I'm with you in that I am still skeptical as all of the W's have come at the friendly confines of Hancock Stadium. But at some point, every team has a letdown or doesn't play all out for 4Q. I'm a believer this team is legit (Austin Peay, Miss. Valley State aside) the true test was against EIU who's no huddle spread offense was neutralized, and SDSU's 3 yards and a cloud of dust offense was neutralized. Most of Zenner's yards came late in the 3rd Q and well into the 4th Quarter when the game was decided. He got banged up pretty good too, had a noticable limp for a few possessions, but the kids a warrior and wouldn't use that as an excuse.

Once again, should be a very good game and good test for both teams to determine where they are in regard to contending for the MVFC crown.
 
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