Illinois State Redbirds Fly to New Heights
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Who says jocks aren’t smart? The 400 student athletes at Illinois State University averaged better than a 3.0 grade point average for the winter 2009 semester.
What’s more, they totaled more than 2,000 hours of community service during the 2008 calendar year.
“Obviously, our goal in the Redbirds athletic department is to have sports success on the fields, courts and tracks, but our academic success and our community involvement is very important to us as well,” says Leanna Bordner, senior associate athletics director and senior women’s administrator at Illinois State University. “We have some upstanding student athletes as well as a lot of other good news on campus these days.”
That good news includes the May 2009 completion of a $3.2 million construction upgrade to Illinois State Baseball Stadium at Duffy Bass Field. The improvements involve chair-back, red-colored seating for 1,000 spectators; new ticket booths, concession stands and restrooms; and upgrades to the dugouts and press box.
“The project started in July 2008, but construction crews were really hampered by a cold winter and rainy spring, yet everything was in place less than a year after the endeavor first started,” says Larry Lyons, executive associate athletic director at Illinois State University. “All of the improvements are great, but I especially like the press box upgrade. There is now room for four radio stations, a TV crew, and working print and online media writers. It is a very comfortable setup.”
Other stadium upgrades include a new front entry arch with wrought iron gates, and enclosed fencing that extends entirely along both foul lines.
“We also sodded and seeded a spacious grass berm down the left field line that will allow lawn seating in time for the 2010 season,” Lyons says.
As for other sports-related activities on campus, the athletic department now organizes a Redbird Fan Fair each August on the Saturday prior to classes convening for the fall semester. The event includes several fun, carnival-type activities and live music, followed by an ISU Red-White football team scrimmage in Hancock Stadium.
“The fair is really aimed at incoming freshmen to get them accustomed and enthused about our athletic program,” Bordner says. “But we also invite all ISU sports fans, season-ticket holders and corporate sponsors to the event. It’s our kickoff to the new sports year at ISU.”
Bordner adds that another action-packed activity on the yearly Illinois State Redbirds sports calendar is football homecoming.
“The weekend is actually several days leading up to our Saturday afternoon homecoming game each October,” says Border, noting a luncheon, bonfire pep rally, tailgating and gala are among the festivities. “Homecoming is always an exciting time at Illinois State.”
Story by Kevin Litwin
