Tailback news split; Thompson out, Rembert
day-to-day         

[OCT. 25, 2005]  NORMAL -- With large victories over back-to-back nationally ranked football teams, Illinois State suffered its first taste of bad news in recent weeks, when the magnetic resonance imaging report showed that senior Brian Thompson suffered a tear of the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, ending the season for the Redbirds' leading rusher.

"I'm just heartbroken for B.T.," head coach Denver Johnson said. "What a great kid. He has worked extremely hard and was having a great season. I'm just sick to my stomach and heartbroken for him that his senior season has to end this way."

Thompson is the leading rusher among the Redbirds' trio of tailbacks. On the season, the Iowa State transfer has gained 609 yards on 120 carries for six touchdowns. He finishes his Illinois State career just 25 yards shy of becoming the 14th running back in school history with 1,500 career yards.

On the flip side, Johnson and the Redbirds did get some good news in that junior running back Pierre Rembert's MRI report revealed a only medial collateral ligament sprain of his right knee. Rembert, who is listed as day-to-day, is the team's second-leading rusher, with 444 yards on 90 carries and five touchdowns.

"After hearing the news on B.T., I was obviously relieved that Pierre had only suffered a sprain and that we will have him back sometime this season," Johnson said. "We still aren't sure when, but it is comforting to know that at least we will have him back -- hopefully sooner rather than later."

Junior college transfer Rafael Rice is the heir-apparent to start at the tailback position for the Redbirds against Western Illinois this Saturday. Rice, who missed the game at Southern Illinois due to an ankle sprain, is also recovering from injury. Johnson indicated that in addition to Ansu Kpandeyenge adding depth, talks about pulling Rice's younger brother, Cortes Rice, out of his redshirt season have also been discussed.

On Saturday at 1:30 p.m., Illinois State looks for its third straight win at Hancock Stadium, against the Leathernecks.

[Illinois State University news release]

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