1979 Illinois State Redbirds football
ConferenceIndependent
Record3–8
Head coach
MVPBill Fenn
Home stadiumHancock Stadium
Seasons
← 1978
1980 →
1979 NCAA Division I-A independents football records
Conf Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 6 Florida State   –   –   11 – 1 – 0
No. 7 Pittsburgh   –   –   11 – 1 – 0
UNLV   –   –   9 – 1 – 2
No. 17 Temple   –   –   10 – 2 – 0
Tulane   –   –   9 – 3 – 0
Rutgers   –   –   8 – 3 – 0
Tennessee State   –   –   8 – 3 – 0
East Carolina   –   –   7 – 3 – 1
No. 20 Penn State   –   –   8 – 4 – 0
South Carolina   –   –   8 – 4 – 0
Navy   –   –   7 – 4 – 0
Notre Dame   –   –   7 – 4 – 0
Southern Miss   –   –   6 – 4 – 1
Syracuse   –   –   7 – 5 – 0
Colgate   –   –   5 – 4 – 1
Boston College   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Holy Cross   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Memphis State   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Miami (FL)   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
North Texas State   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Villanova   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Virginia Tech   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
West Virginia   –   –   5 – 6 – 0
Georgia Tech   –   –   4 – 6 – 1
Louisville   –   –   4 – 6 – 1
William & Mary   –   –   4 – 7 – 0
Illinois State   –   –   3 – 8 – 0
Northeast Louisiana   –   –   3 – 8 – 0
Army   –   –   2 – 8 – 1
Air Force   –   –   2 – 9 – 0
Cincinnati   –   –   2 – 9 – 0
Richmond   –   –   0 – 11 – 0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1979 Illinois State Redbirds football team represented Illinois State University as an independent during the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by third-year head coach Charlie Cowdrey, the Redbirds compiled a record of 3–8.[1] Illinois State played home games at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 8at Youngstown State
L 27–336,012[2]
September 15Fort Hays State
W 35–74,753[3]
September 22Eastern Michigan
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
W 24–154,949[4]
September 29at No. T–4 North Dakota
L 0–205,700[5]
October 6at Southern Illinois
L 0–78,100[6]
October 13at Ball State
L 14–4218,136[7]
October 20Northern Illinois
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
L 7–332,921[8]
October 27at Indiana State
L 21–2314,117[9]
November 3Western Illinoisdagger
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
W 35–713,397[10]
November 10Eastern Illinois
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL (rivalry)
L 0–2410,272[11]
November 17Chattanooga
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Normal, IL
L 31–422,742[12]
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[13]

Roster

1979 Illinois State Redbirds football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
QB 7 Bruce Monaghan Sr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
S 8 Jeff George Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

References

  1. ^ "2021 Redbird Football Media Guide" (PDF). Illinois State University Athletics Department. p. 68. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  2. ^ Barnhart, Jim (September 9, 1979). "Youngstown spoils Redbird football opener". The Pantagraph – via Newspapers.com. open access
  3. ^ Wellwood, Mark (September 16, 1979). "Redbirds devour Fort Hays; 'entitled to one' - Cowdrey". The Pantagraph. p. B3. Retrieved December 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ Flick, Bill (September 23, 1979). "'Best ISU defense' trips Eastern Michigan". The Pantagraph. p. B2. Retrieved December 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ "Undefeated Sioux post fourth shutout of year". Sioux City Journal. Associated Press. September 30, 1979. p. C10. Retrieved December 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ Chamness, Mike (October 7, 1979). "Shhh! Saluki win quiet but sweet". The Southern Illinoisan. p. 15. Retrieved December 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Walters, Bob (October 14, 1979). "Ball State scores 'refreshing' 42-14 victory over Redbirds". Kokomo Tribune. p. 26. Retrieved December 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ Schrock, Cliff (October 21, 1979). "Northern Illinois runs past Redbirds". The Pantagraph. p. B1. Retrieved December 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ "Interceptions fatal for Illinois State Redbirds". The Rock Island Argus. Associated Press. October 28, 1979. p. 29. Retrieved December 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ Bloodworth, Bryan (November 4, 1979). "Fenn carries Redbirds to 35-7 win". The Pantagraph. p. B1. Retrieved December 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ "Eastern romps 24-0; Cobb runs to record". Herald and Review. November 11, 1979. p. 16. Retrieved December 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ Kindred, Randy (November 18, 1979). "Chattanooga rally defeats Redbirds". The Pantagraph. p. B1. Retrieved December 18, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ "1979 Illinois State Redbirds Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
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