2000 Illinois State Redbirds football team

The 2000 Illinois State Redbirds football team represented Illinois State University as a member of the Gateway Football Conference during the 2000 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by first-year head coach Denver Johnson, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 4–2 in conference play, tying for second place in the Gateway.[1] Illinois State was ranked No. 24 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.

2000 Illinois State Redbirds football
ConferenceGateway Football Conference
Ranking
Sports NetworkNo. 24
Record7–4 (4–2 Gateway)
Head coach
MVPRyan Szokola, Willie Watts
Home stadiumHancock Stadium
Seasons
← 1999
2001 →
2000 Gateway Football Conference standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
No. 12 Western Illinois $^   5 1     9 3  
No. 11 Youngstown State ^   4 2     9 3  
No. 24 Illinois State   4 2     7 4  
No. 19 Northern Iowa   3 3     7 4  
Southwest Missouri State   2 4     5 6  
Southern Illinois   2 4     3 8  
Indiana State   1 5     1 10  
  • $ – Conference champion
  • ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant
Rankings from The Sports Network poll

In their opening game against West Virginia Tech an NCAA Division II team, the Redbirds scored 75 points, the most the team had scored in a game since 1937.[3]

Schedule

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DateTimeOpponentRankSiteTVResultAttendanceSource
August 316:30 p.m.West Virginia Tech*No. 5W 75–1010,126[3]
September 96:35 p.m.at Northern Illinois*No. 5L 0–5224,682[4]
September 166:00 p.m.at Southeast Missouri State*No. 17L 25–288,125[5]
September 304:00 p.m.at No. 25 Northern IowaNo. 23Gateway TVL 28–3413,088[6]
October 73:30 p.m.No. 3 Youngstown State 
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
Gateway TVL 12–1411,938[7]
October 141:30 p.m.at Indiana StateW 21–05,287[8]
October 211:00 p.m.Prairie View A&M*
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
W 64–07,841[9]
October 281:00 p.m.Southern Illinois
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
W 27–1713,011[10]
November 41:05 p.m.at No. 4 Western IllinoisW 25–1810,147[11]
November 111:00 p.m.No. 20 Eastern Illinois
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL (rivalry)
W 44–41 2OT8,540[12]
November 181:00 p.m.Southwest Missouri State
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
W 40–76,527[13]

References

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  1. ^ "2021 Redbird Football Media Guide" (PDF). Illinois State University Athletics Department. p. 70. Retrieved January 22, 2022.
  2. ^ "I-AA poll". The Greenville News. Greenville, South Carolina. December 19, 2000. p. 4C. Retrieved January 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b Reinhardt, Randy (September 1, 2000). "Redbirds put boot to foe". The Pantagraph. p. B1. Retrieved January 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Narang, Bobby (September 10, 2000). "Huskies silence I-AA Redbirds". Daily Chronicle. p. B1. Retrieved January 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Reinhardt, Randy (September 17, 2000). "SEMO drops Redbirds". The Pantagraph. p. F1. Retrieved January 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Logue, Andrew (October 1, 2000). "Red-hot receivers perk up Panthers". Des Moines Register. p. 11C. Retrieved January 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Reinhardt, Randy (October 8, 2000). "Turned over". The Pantagraph. p. F1. Retrieved January 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Reinhardt, Randy (October 15, 2000). "Redbirds' offense comes alive". The Pantagraph. p. F1. Retrieved January 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Reinhardt, Randy (October 22, 2000). "ISU storms past Prairie View". The Pantagraph. p. F1. Retrieved January 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Reinhardt, Randy (October 29, 2000). "Big plays spark ISU". The Pantagraph. p. F1. Retrieved January 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Reinhardt, Randy (November 5, 2000). "Beshel's TD carries ISU to upset". The Pantagraph. p. F1. Retrieved January 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Redbirds recover for 2 OT victory". The Rock Island Argus. Associated Press. November 12, 2000. p. C2. Retrieved January 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Reinhardt, Randy (November 19, 2000). "After rout, ISU roots for more". The Pantagraph. p. F1. Retrieved January 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.