Redbird fans flocked to CEFCU Arena Wednesday evening to celebrate the football team’s historic run to the FCS Championship game.
ISU Athletics hosted the event to commemorate the record-breaking season and a feat that has only been achieved once before in school history. At the Jan. 5 title game, No. 2 Montana State bested the Redbirds 35-34 in overtime in Nashville.
Along with the free food and posters for Redbird fans in attendance, there was an on-the-court interview with some members of the team.
Quarterback Tommy Rittenhouse, who ended the season with 40 passing touchdowns, expressed his gratitude to the fans.
“The City of Bloomington [and] Normal, it’s been great. Just a great community overall,” he said. “I appreciate all the support and love that we have gotten throughout every year I’ve been here. But this year specifically has been truly special.”
During the entire Redbird season, the defense only allowed 7 points in a third quarter, which came when Montana State scored in the championship game.
Linebacker Tye Niekamp said everything clicked at the right time as the team moved into the playoffs, leading to multiple on-the-road wins before the title game.
“I think the big thing for us is this group is really a family. We enjoy going on the road together. I think some teams probably don’t want to leave and want to stay home, but we don’t really mind it,” he said. “It’s 70 guys, however many it is, and we’re just hanging out for two days. It’s awesome.”
Head Coach Brock Spack said he was surprised by the outpouring support of fans and the Bloomington-Normal community after the team returned from Nashville.
“This has been an unbelievable experience, in my opinion,” he said. “The City of Nashville, Vanderbilt University, our fans, I think they had a little practice, and they were a lot better this time around. ... I was really pleased with how we ended the season.”
Spack said he knew the Redbirds had the potential to win a national title after their win against South Dakota State in October.
“If you remember back in [2014], our last time, South Dakota State came in and had a good team ... but this time we did it in their stadium,” he said. “We were getting better on defense that time of year and our offense really started to click.”
As the season has come to an end, ISU Athletics has received an influx in financial support to help maintain the program's momentum.
- In December, ISU received a record-breaking $2.5 million donation from an anonymous former quarterback.
- On Tuesday, ISU Athletics announced it will increase revenue of Name, Image and Likeness [NIL], and the assistant coach salary pool to find and retain top-level assistants.
- On Wednesday, the department announced an anonymous donation of $500,000.
