1998 Illinois State Redbirds football team

The 1998 Illinois State Redbirds football team represented Illinois State University as a member of the Gateway Football Conference during the 1998 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by third-year head coach Todd Berry, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 8–4 with a mark of 4–2 mark in conference play, placing second in the Gateway. Illinois State received an at-large bid to the NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship playoffs, losing to Northwestern State in the first round.[1] Illinois State was ranked No. 16 in The Sports Network's postseason ranking of NCAA Division I-AA teams.[2] The team played home games at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois.

1998 Illinois State Redbirds football
ConferenceGateway Football Conference
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 16
Record8–4 (4–2 Gateway)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJohn Bond (3rd season)
Offensive schemeSpread
Defensive coordinatorDennis Therrell (3rd season)
Base defense4–4
MVPKevin Glenn, Galen Scott
CaptainSteve Farmer, Kevin Glenn, Jacob Niete, Chad Pegues
Home stadiumHancock Stadium
Seasons
← 1997
1999 →
1998 Gateway Football Conference standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 4 Western Illinois $^   5 1     11 3  
No. 16 Illinois State ^   4 2     8 4  
Northern Iowa   3 3     7 4  
Youngstown State   3 3     6 5  
Southwest Missouri State   3 3     5 6  
Indiana State   2 4     5 6  
Southern Illinois   1 5     3 8  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 12St. Francis (IL)*W 47–37,951[3]
September 19at Kansas*Memorial StadiumL 21–6331,100[4]
September 26Southern Illinois 
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
W 41–38 OT9,611[5]
October 3at Indiana StateW 24–205,174[6]
October 106:30 p.m.at Northern IowaW 38–238,369[7]
October 17at No. 14 Eastern Illinois*W 36–229,064[8]
October 24at No. 3 Western IllinoisNo. 18L 10–3716,741[9]
October 31Southern Utah*No. 24
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
W 42–1410,238[10]
November 7Southwest Missouri StateNo. 21
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
L 42–495,297[11]
November 14Youngstown State
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
W 48–145,962[12]
November 21Kentucky State*
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
W 48–104,637[13]
November 28at No. 2 Northwestern State*No. 21L 28–488,118[14]

References

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  1. ^ "2021 Redbird Football Media Guide" (PDF). Illinois State University Athletics Department. p. 70. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  2. ^ "Final Div. I-AA poll". The Tennessean. Nashville, Tennessee. December 22, 1998. p. 7C. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Reinhardt, Randy (September 13, 1998). "Glenn Fires ISU Past St. Francis". The Pantagraph. p. F1. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Bechard, Harold (September 20, 1998). "KU Routs Illinois State For First Victory". The Salina Journal. p. D1. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Reinhardt, Randy (September 27, 1998). "ISU Flies High In OT". The Pantagraph. p. F1. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Reinhardt, Randy (October 4, 1998). "98-Yard Pass Lifts Redbirds". The Pantagraph. p. F1. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Jacobs, Dennis (October 11, 1998). "Illinois State Overpowers UNI, 38-23". The Des Moines Register. p. 6D. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Illinois St. Tops Eastern For 4th Straight Victory". Chicago Tribune. Associated Press. October 18, 1998. p. 3:9. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Jauss, Bill (October 25, 1998). "Western Blitzes Ill. St". Chicago Tribune. p. 3:11. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Reinhardt, Randy (November 1, 1998). "Garrett, Glenn Torch Southern Utah". The Pantagraph. p. F1. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Jensen, Defense Rally SMS To Victory". The Springfield News-Leader. November 8, 1998. p. 1C. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Redbirds Thaw Penguins". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. Associated Press. November 15, 1998. p. D2. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "Illinois State Rolls Over Kentucky State". Herald and Review. Associated Press. November 22, 1998. p. C2. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ Dubois, Carl (November 29, 1998). "NSU Bombs Way Past Illinois State". The Times. p. 1D. Retrieved October 3, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.