A Look At Illinois State

[catsfan20012002]

They scored 32.9 points/game last season. QB Luke Drone threw for 2,930 yards last season. WR Laurént Robinson is an All American. He had 1,465 yards (17 yards/catch) and Pierre Rembert rushed for 801 yards. The O-Line lost two starters and OT Barry Hartman has struggled with back injuries.

The star of the defense is LB Cameron Siskowic and they have to stars in the secondary in James Temple and Jesse Caesar. They have no experienced kickers returning.

The Red Birds gave Iowa State all they wanted last year before losing 32-21 but it was a game in the 4th quarter. I expect to win but other then that I don't really know what to expect.

[catinthehat]

I was listening to one of the gopowecat.com writers/editors on the radio and he said that he wouldn't be surprised if we lost this one.  He said he was still picking us to win but a loss wouldn't surprise him.  I don't know what to make of that

[michigancat]

I was listening to one of the gopowecat.com writers/editors on the radio and he said that he wouldn't be surprised if we lost this one.  He said he was still picking us to win but a loss wouldn't surprise him.  I don't know what to make of that

What station?

I must have missed it.

[REALBird]

Well KSU fans little more than 24 hours til the game, and I hope that both teams can walk away from this one injury free.
I'd like to say that so far the KSU fans I've encountered have been nothing short of classy.    Also, the $300K we're getting
for this game doesn't hurt either.     Our AD Dr. Sheahon Zenger (formerly of KSU) has compared ISU to K-State in terms of where you guys were
in athletics, and how far you've coming in the past 20 years.   I hope he can use the K-State blueprint to take Illinois State to the next level.

Our AD, Prez, and countless other boosters/alums will get a nice tour of the K-State facilities and rub elbows.  But when it time for the game,
we can't be friends anymore. 

Good luck in the game.....and in the Big XII.

Here's a game day scouting report per our own athletic site, enjoy:

http://goredbirds.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/083106aab.html

[mjrod]

I was listening to one of the gopowecat.com writers/editors on the radio and he said that he wouldn't be surprised if we lost this one.  He said he was still picking us to win but a loss wouldn't surprise him.  I don't know what to make of that

That was rich.

 

[dmartin]

Does anyone else find it funny that goredbirds.cstv.com can be broken into "go red birds" or "gored birds"?   good luck tomorrow.

[mjrod]

Well KSU fans little more than 24 hours til the game, and I hope that both teams can walk away from this one injury free.
I'd like to say that so far the KSU fans I've encountered have been nothing short of classy.    Also, the $300K we're getting
for this game doesn't hurt either.     Our AD Dr. Sheahon Zenger (formerly of KSU) has compared ISU to K-State in terms of where you guys were
in athletics, and how far you've coming in the past 20 years.   I hope he can use the K-State blueprint to take Illinois State to the next level.

Our AD, Prez, and countless other boosters/alums will get a nice tour of the K-State facilities and rub elbows.  But when it time for the game,
we can't be friends anymore. 

Good luck in the game.....and in the Big XII.

Here's a game day scouting report per our own athletic site, enjoy:

http://goredbirds.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/083106aab.html

Classy guy you are!   Hope you and your fans enjoy the festivities.

You know what cats like to eat?  Birds.  You're this week's meal.  However, having a KSU'er as your AD will help you tremendously in the future.  Ask Texas.


 

[catsfan20012002]

I told you that would be a toughie. I just didn't think it would be that tough. Laurent Robinson is a beast of a WR.

Our offense showed signs of being a very productive offense. It just couldn't finish things off when we had things going our way. Meier showed tremendous heart by having a good game despite the fact that he we being hit by the time he got his feet set. The only knock I can make on him is that I'm not really sure what he was looking for on either of his two INT's. I love the fact that he spread the ball around to 7 different receivers (including getting the TE's involved). The offensive line has to get better if we're going to put a running game together. We'll see how much of a difference Thomas Clayton makes next week.

Yamon Figurs really gave us good field position with a few beautiful kick returns.

[Joker]

We'll see how much of a difference Thomas Clayton makes next week.

If the same O-line for this game shows up next week, Clayton won't make a bit of difference.

Net yards rushing.....49
Rushes...................27
Average per rush....1.8

Is it actually possible that our O-line got worse from last season? 

[Tuggles]

We'll see how much of a difference Thomas Clayton makes next week.

Thomas Clayton has yet to impress me.  He is a bit arrogant and think's he'll be in the NFL come next year, I think he needs an attitude adjustment.  He has yet to do anything against a team of substance.  He'll have a zero impact on the run game although I do think FAU is as bad as they come in D1.  My ultimate prediction is Hollywood will flex his muscles at some point in the game next week.  CHALK IT!!

[Racquetball_Ninja]

I don't know a lot about the O-Line but what I do know is that they're very young and very undersized.  He is at best the size of a TE but no way is he an offensive tackle in the Big 12.  Great kid, hard worker, but really undersized... I hope he's given time to grow into the position.

[swish1]

I don't know a lot about the O-Line but what I do know is that they're very young and very undersized.  He is at best the size of a TE but no way is he an offensive tackle in the Big 12.  Great kid, hard worker, but really undersized... I hope he's given time to grow into the position.

it could just be that im drunk right now but who are  you talking about?

[pissclams]

I don't know a lot about the O-Line but what I do know is that they're very young and very undersized.  He is at best the size of a TE but no way is he an offensive tackle in the Big 12.  Great kid, hard worker, but really undersized... I hope he's given time to grow into the position.

it could just be that im drunk right now but who are  you talking about?

haha - i lol'd

[sonofdaxjones]

Whew KSU catches a break in not playing a D1AA Powerhouse next week, bringing the worst D1A team in FAU.

A week for Coach Parrish and the Kids to get this team ready.

[pissclams]

OLine's don't get coached into being good, either you got it or you don't.

[sonofdaxjones]

Maybe Zenger has a bunch of spies back in Manhattan and that was the problem.

 

[catsfan20012002]

They always say that a team makes its biggest improvements between Weeks 1 and 2. Lets wait and see what happens next week before we all line up to jump off the Tuttle Creek bridge.

[Racquetball_Ninja]

I don't know a lot about the O-Line but what I do know is that they're very young and very undersized.  He is at best the size of a TE but no way is he an offensive tackle in the Big 12.  Great kid, hard worker, but really undersized... I hope he's given time to grow into the position.

it could just be that im drunk right now but who are  you talking about?

My apologies Swish, I think I may have been drunk.  Nick Springer is who I'm talking about.

[catsfan20012002]

I like what kurt Caywood had to say today alot. There are positives to be taken from this game:

1. Yamon Figurs
2. Dylan Meier's toughness. Ok.....He struggled with the INT's but it didn't help that he got hit on virtually every play and even completed some big passes while being hit
3. Prince managed the clock at the end of the first half -- and that he had three time outs left to do it
4. Prince was mature enough, down four points with 8:36 left, to kick the field goal rather than panic and go for it on fourth-and-3 and that he had a workable two-point conversion play ready to put them up seven after the defensive touchdown that put them back in front.

So lets not go jumping off the Tuttle Creek bridge now. A team makes their biggest improvements between Weeks 1 and 2. Lets wait until after the Florida Atlantic game, at least, before we decide where this team is or isn't going.

[catsfan20012002]

I like what ISUHCDJ said in today's Collegian, of course it may be because I know we won.....

"We didn't come here to tie this freaking game"