Polls are out; No. 5 'Birds host No. 7 Southern Illinois

[OCT. 10, 2006]  NORMAL -- For only the second time in the 44-year history of Hancock Stadium, the home of Illinois State football will serve as the host for a clash between two teams ranked in the top 10 nationally. With the latest release of The Sports Network I-AA Top 25 Poll, the Redbirds moved up another position and enter the week ranked No. 5, while Southern Illinois is now ranked No. 7.

The No. 5 ranking is the highest for the Redbirds since being ranked No. 3 in the final poll of the 1999 season. That was also the same year ISU played a game between two top-10 teams at Hancock Stadium. On Oct. 2, 1999, No. 10 Illinois State defeated No. 5 Northern Iowa 47-28 on homecoming.

Sandwiched between the 'Birds and Southern Illinois at the No. 6 spot is Youngstown State, giving the Gateway Football Conference three teams ranked in the top 10. In addition, Northern Iowa maintained its No. 14 ranking.

The 2006 homecoming game against Southern Illinois will kick off at 2:30 p.m. Nearly 800 reserved tickets remain unsold, and general admission seats are still available. For more ticket information, contact the ticket office at Redbird Arena, 309-438-8000.

[Pre-game notes]

[Illinois State University news release provided by Todd Kober, assistant athletics director, media relations]

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