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
NCAA Division I-AA First Round, L 28–48 vs. Northwestern State
Conference	Gateway Football Conference
Ranking
Sports Network	No. 16
Record	8–4 (4–2 Gateway)
Head coach	Todd Berry (3rd season)
Offensive coordinator	John Bond (3rd season)
Offensive scheme	Spread
Defensive coordinator	Dennis Therrell (3rd season)
Base defense	4–4
MVP	Kevin Glenn, Galen Scott
Captain	Steve Farmer, Kevin Glenn, Jacob Niete, Chad Pegues
Home stadium	Hancock Stadium
Seasons ← 1997 1999 →

1998 Gateway Football Conference standings

v t e	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

Date	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 12	St. Francis (IL)*		Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	W 47–3	7,951	^[3]
September 19	at Kansas*		Memorial Stadium	L 21–63	31,100	^[4]
September 26	Southern Illinois		Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	W 41–38 ^OT	9,611	^[5]
October 3	at Indiana State		Memorial Stadium Terre Haute, IN	W 24–20	5,174	^[6]
October 10	at Northern Iowa		UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, IA	W 38–23	8,369	^[7]
October 17	at No. 14 Eastern Illinois*		O'Brien Field Charleston, IL (rivalry)	W 36–22	9,064	^[8]
October 24	at No. 3 Western Illinois	No. 18	Hanson Field Macomb, IL	L 10–37	16,741	^[9]
October 31	Southern Utah*	No. 24	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	W 42–14	10,238	^[10]
November 7	Southwest Missouri State	No. 21	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	L 42–49	5,297	^[11]
November 14	Youngstown State		Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	W 48–14	5,962	^[12]
November 21	Kentucky State*		Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	W 48–10	4,637	^[13]
November 28	at No. 2 Northwestern State*	No. 21	Harry Turpin Stadium Natchitoches, LA (NCAA Division I-AA First Round)	L 28–48	8,118	^[14]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game

References

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.