Illinois State football fans gathered at Hancock Stadium on Friday to cheer on the team as they left for Nashville for the FCS national championship game.
Dozens of fans in red used signs, noisemakers and chants to show support as players walked through the stadium concourse on the way to their buses.
“We're just letting the team know that we've got their back showing up in the cold,” said Trevor Arbogast, a Bloomington-Normal resident and recent ISU graduate who plans to go to the game. “Letting them know at home that we're here, we're proud of them, and that we're confident that they're going to go down and get a good result.”
Arbogast was a season-ticket holder for football this year. He has been attending ISU games across all sports since he was 3.
“I'm just really happy to see my hometown team in the national championship game,” said Arbogast. “To be able to play for all the marbles and represent the 309 is just a blessing.”
Kathy and Paul Thomason are also season ticket holders. Their daughter graduated from Illinois State and their son-in-law is Mike Williams, an associate athletic director at ISU.
“We are very excited for them. We're going to watch the game. I wish we could be there,” said Kathy.
Jeff Dodge of Normal took his kids to the sendoff event. They do not plan to attend the game, but wanted to support the team in-person.
“I remember the last time they went to the national championship game, they couldn't quite bring it home, but this is a different team this year,” said Dodge. “They've been a lot of fun to watch, so hopefully they can finish the job.”
Dodge’s son, Beckett, was most excited to cheer for senior linebacker Mason Kaplan. Beckett attends Parkside Junior High School and swims twice a week with Kaplan at Normal West high school.
“This is our best way to come out and wish him good luck and cheer them on,” said Dodge.
Kaplan has done numbers for the ISU defense throughout the playoffs, including two interceptions in the opening round game against Southeastern Louisiana and a seven-tackle showing the following round against North Dakota State.
Another shot at a national championship game puts the university as a whole, as well as the Athletics program, in the national spotlight.
“It's hard to overemphasize just how important that is,” said Aondover Tarhule, ISU president. “For our program and for the national visibility that it gives us and for the confidence that it gives prospective students in the program.”
