Redbird football scores big again      

[OCT. 24, 2005]  NORMAL -- Many fans were pleased with Illinois State's 61-35 win over No. 1 Southern Illinois last Saturday, but that wasn't even the team's biggest output of the week. On Friday, the Redbird football team delivered 1,721 pounds of canned goods and nonperishable food items, earning the top prize for the ISU Credit Union's "Drive for Life" food drive.

"I think it is fantastic what the Redbird football team did," said Thom Ewen, president of the university's credit union. "The food is much-needed and appreciated. Not only did they have the most this year, but they had the highest total in the last two years of this drive."

All items collected during the food drive will be donated to the Harvest of Hope. The items will be distributed to local Bloomington-Normal food pantries and shelters, where individuals and families in need throughout the community will benefit.

Head coach Denver Johnson continues to be impressed with the character of his football team on and off the field.

"That is just indicative of the kind of young men that we have in our program and their awareness of the world around them," Johnson said. "We ask our kids to embrace the four cornerstones of our program, which are academic integrity, social responsibility, personal accountability and competitive excellence. Being involved in a cause such as this, again, is just indicative of the kind of guys we have."

Sophomore linebacker Kye Stewart spoke for the team and made it clear that this was a total team effort.

"This was a team project from the very beginning," Stewart said. "Our original goal was 500 pounds, and we obviously exceeded that. This is just a great cause and an opportunity for all the guys to give back to the community."

The Redbirds accomplished a lot during the week, and Stewart put the last seven days in perspective.

"I would have to say delivering 1,700 pounds of food (feels better), because it is such a good cause and we are helping people … but it did feel pretty good to score 61 points too," he said with a smile. [Game report: Redbirds vs. Southern Illinois 61-35]

[Illinois State University news release]

LDN sports sponsored by: