 The Redbird football team gathered in the team meeting room Tuesday
morning, awaiting instruction regarding the team scrimmage that was
scheduled to occur later in the day. But, first came a message from
Illinois State University President Al Bowman, presented by Sheahon
Zenger, ISU director of athletics. This scrimmage must be big.
Zenger delivered the message and highlighted the 2006
accomplishments by the Redbird football team: a berth in the NCAA
Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoffs, and team
records in grade-point average and community service hours. After
rattling off the list of achievements, Zenger announced that Tuesday
was officially declared "Water Park Day" by Bowman for the ISU
football team. The room broke into hysterics.
With 16 practices over the last 12 days, not to mention film
sessions, position meetings and special teams meetings, going to the
Fairview Aquatic Center in Normal is definitely a desirable change
of pace for the Redbirds.
"This is a treat well-deserved," Johnson said. "These guys have
worked hard in really some of the worse heat that I can remember in
my tenure here. This is something that we always enjoy doing. There
is a moral boost aspect to it, but there is also a therapeutic
aspect to it as well. It is a welcomed break and one that we are
glad to do for them. Hopefully, we will get back on the field
tomorrow and have some real productive practices.
The Redbirds will return to practice on Wednesday for last
two-a-day of training camp. ISU will take the field for the first
session at 9 a.m.
[Text from file received from Todd Kober,
assistant athletics director, media relations,
Illinois
State University]
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