Welcome Redbirds to The Rock.

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2012 Schedule:

Good the students will be in school, we should have a buzzing crowd compared to a Turkey weekend game.

They are undefeated on the road, including a win over a FBS (kind of) team. We best be ready.

Kind of pleased really. Hopefully a beatable team at home. (Didn't we say that last year also.)

AppinVA wrote:They are undefeated on the road, including a win over a FBS (kind of) team. We best be ready.

That stood out to me as well. They've played well on the road yet lost at home to a mediocre Southern Illinois and awful Missouri State team. Seems a bit bipolar, but then the same can be said for the Apps this year.

Should make for an interesting game.

If we play the way we did against Furman it will be one and done again. Need to get ready and focused on Illinois State, I do believe they are better than Furman if you know what I mean.

WataugaMan wrote:If we play the way we did against Furman it will be one and done again. Need to get ready and focused on Illinois State, I do believe they are better than Furman if you know what I mean.

Agree, but we just came off an emotional win over a highly ranked rival. We were probably spent a little. Just look at what has happened in the last 2 weeks in the country club. Some of the top members lost.

Our best football has been played on the road. The atmosphere at our home stadium is stagnant. We are in the middle of a renovation project that has left us with literally half of a stadium. http://www.goredbirds.com/hancockrenovation/

The SIU and MSU losses were very disappointing. But then we turn around and play well on the road at Northern Iowa and Indy St.

We are healthy. We have the Missouri Valley's all time leading passer in Matt Brown at QB(2676 yds) (10,000+ yds for career). 5 receivers with 20+ catches. Tyrone Walker leading the way with 71 for 995 yards. Dunn is our best RB (889 yds)

The front 7 is our strength on defense. Mike Zimmer 109 tackles. 4 guys with 5+ sacks. Ben Erikson 7 ints for the season. 15 ints as a team.

Special teams. Well I will say this. Yes, we have a punter and yes, we have a kicker. We can be shaky in this area without a doubt. Went up 10-0 against NDSU and then had a KO returned on us for a TD and completely changed the complexion of the game. Our place kicker is 3-3 from 40+ and 8-10 for the season. We have just had some unfortunate blocked punts and returns.

I hear ya. At the same time, hopefully we will not spot Illinois State 21 points like we did Vermin. Sure would be nice to break this one and done crap we have experienced lately.

Yea, and hopefully being from Illinois they don't stop in Chicago and load any player by the last name: Szczur or first name: Matt


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Szczur

I am counting on you guys to beat the Illinois State Redbirds in the opening playoff game.

We call them the "Deadbirds" here.


Western Illinois University: Home of the Fighting Leathernecks

Let's Go 'Necks!

goredbirds wrote:Our best football has been played on the road. The atmosphere at our home stadium is stagnant. We are in the middle of a renovation project that has left us with literally half of a stadium. http://www.goredbirds.com/hancockrenovation/

The SIU and MSU losses were very disappointing. But then we turn around and play well on the road at Northern Iowa and Indy St.

We are healthy. We have the Missouri Valley's all time leading passer in Matt Brown at QB(2676 yds) (10,000+ yds for career). 5 receivers with 20+ catches. Tyrone Walker leading the way with 71 for 995 yards. Dunn is our best RB (889 yds)

The front 7 is our strength on defense. Mike Zimmer 109 tackles. 4 guys with 5+ sacks. Ben Erikson 7 ints for the season. 15 ints as a team.

Special teams. Well I will say this. Yes, we have a punter and yes, we have a kicker. We can be shaky in this area without a doubt. Went up 10-0 against NDSU and then had a KO returned on us for a TD and completely changed the complexion of the game. Our place kicker is 3-3 from 40+ and 8-10 for the season. We have just had some unfortunate blocked punts and returns.

Sounds eerily similar to ASU.... ASU loves to give up a touch down on the KO or a punt return....

If they have shaky special teams, I hope Washington can heal to return kicks.

My feeling about the playoffs is anywhere but EIU. We've been playing them for 101 years so it's nice to travel anywhere else. I would have preferred Wofford since I have a friend who works there.

SDSU got totally hosed by having to go to Fargo for round two. Anyone getting past the Bison will be a worthy champion.

Not like we haven't had a KO returned on us recently.

WataugaMan wrote:Not like we haven't had a KO returned on us recently.

If the Red Birds can make it to the 3rd Down Bell, I'd say they have a good shot at winning, because of APP giving up the big play all year.

New Member from the coast. We've played football every Friday ( highschool ) for the last couple of years and it makes it difficult to drive from the coast to Boone on Sat. Now that's over.
Is calling the school ( App ) the best way to try to buy tickets for the Dec 1st game ? $25 a ticket. What section(s) should I ask for ? will it be sold out ? Parking,, where to park once there, never knowing a game day experience ?

My child is applying to App,, wants to taste the flavor of a football weekend. I do too lol.. Any and all advice is appreciated.. private messages or post.. I didn't want to high jack the Ill St thread, so private messages work great.

Thank you

Black Saturday wrote:

WataugaMan wrote:Not like we haven't had a KO returned on us recently.

If the Red Birds can make it to the 3rd Down Bell, I'd say they have a good shot at winning, because of APP giving up the big play all year.

Yep, and they are a good passing team also. It will be interesting to see if we are playoff ready as far as our attitude is concerned.

Illinois State is a tough first round draw but I think with all the time to rest and prepare, we have a good shot to get the win at home. Although we've got a tough first game on our hands, the overall bracket worked out in our favor. NDSU and both triple option teams are on the other side of the bracket.

In our 8 games against non-option teams, our defense has not been stellar but respectable:
28 PPG (which includes 5 non-offensive TDs), 118 rushing YPG with 4 teams being held under 100 on the ground.

On the other side of the ball, I like the 2012 Mountaineers more than the 2010-2011 versions in the playoffs because we are much more balanced offensively. Steven Miller is running harder than anyone we've had since Devon Moore.

CoastalAPPY wrote:New Member from the coast. We've played football every Friday ( highschool ) for the last couple of years and it makes it difficult to drive from the coast to Boone on Sat. Now that's over.
Is calling the school ( App ) the best way to try to buy tickets for the Dec 1st game ? $25 a ticket. What section(s) should I ask for ? will it be sold out ? Parking,, where to park once there, never knowing a game day experience ?

My child is applying to App,, wants to taste the flavor of a football weekend. I do too lol.. Any and all advice is appreciated.. private messages or post.. I didn't want to high jack the Ill St thread, so private messages work great.

Thank you

Coastal:
I have a son at App (soph) & both wife & I are App grads. Been going to games since early 1980s. OK, 2:00 kickoff. No umbrellas allowed, but bring layers, it could be 5, 40, or 70 degrees, with snow, rain, or sun during the game (FTM, it could be all of the above). Second, get here early to check out the tailgating. Come by Duncan lot, #18 & introduce yourself. I'd say get on campus by 10:30 at the latest, preferably earlier. Parking should not be terrible & just follow the signs.

IMO, best seats are in section 204. Approx. 40 yd. line, on west side. Others prefer the east side. I prefer west side. Be in your seats by 50 minutes before kickoff to see band enter stadium. I NEVER tire of that. Awesome stuff.

We have GREAT seats in section 204, but my son prefers STANDING in the student section the entire game. Students get in free, so to get the best seats (along the front wall), line starts many hours before the game (at least for reg. season games). The student section is truly something else. He tried to camp out in front of West gate the night before the Furman game but was run off by some of Boone's finest. Go figure.

Playoff games are usu. not attended as well as regular season games. But, school is still in session on Dec. 1 & the students should be there in full voice.