2005 Illinois State Redbirds football team

The 2005 Illinois State Redbirds football team represented Illinois State University as a member of the Gateway Football Conference during the 2005 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Denver Johnson, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 7–4 with a mark of 4–3 in conference play, tying for fourth place in the Gateway.^[1] The team was ranked No. 22 in The Sports Network's postseason NCAA Division I-AA rankings.^[2] Illinois State played home games at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois.

2005 Illinois State Redbirds football
Conference	Gateway Football Conference
Ranking
Sports Network	No. 22
Record	7–4 (4–3 Gateway)
Head coach	Denver Johnson (6th season)
Offensive coordinator	Justin Fuente (2nd season)
MVP	Brent Hawkins, Laurent Robinson
Captain	Game captains
Home stadium	Hancock Stadium
Seasons ← 2004 2006 →

2005 Gateway Football Conference standings

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 2 Northern Iowa +^		5	–	2					11	–	4
No. 7 Southern Illinois +^		5	–	2					9	–	4
No. 14 Youngstown State +		5	–	2					8	–	3
No. 22 Illinois State		4	–	3					7	–	4
Western Kentucky		4	–	3					6	–	5
Western Illinois		3	–	4					5	–	6
Missouri State		2	–	5					4	–	6
Indiana State		0	–	7					0	–	11
+ – Conference co-champions ^ – NCAA Division I-AA playoff participant Rankings from The Sports Network poll

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 3	6:00 p.m.	at Iowa State*		Jack Trice Stadium Ames, IA	L 21–32	44,058	[3]
September 10	6:30 p.m.	Drake*		Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	W 56–19	8,188	[4]
September 17	6:00 p.m.	at Eastern Illinois*		O'Brien Stadium Charleston, IL (rivalry)	W 27–6	6,785	[5]
September 24	6:30 p.m.	Murray State*		Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	W 42–0	7,233	[6]
October 1	6:00 p.m.	at Youngstown State		Stambaugh Stadium Youngstown, OH	L 20–17	16,809	[7]
October 8	2:30 p.m.	No. 3 Western Kentucky		Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	L 34–37 OT	10,416	[8]
October 15	6:00 p.m.	at No. 1 Southern Illinois		McAndrew Stadium Carbondale, IL	W 61–35	11,381	[9]
October 22	1:30 p.m.	No. 13 Northern Iowa		Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	W 38–3	12,626	[10]
October 29	1:30 p.m.	Western Illinois	No. 18	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	L 17–31	9,007	[11]
November 5	1:00 p.m.	at Missouri State		Plaster Sports Complex Springfield, MO	W 48–23	7,155	[12]
November 12	1:30 p.m.	Indiana State		Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	W 70–28	7,034	[13]
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from The Sports Network Poll released prior to the game All times are in Central time

^[14][15]

References

1. "2022 Redbird Football Media Guide" (PDF). Illinois State University Athletics. p. 68. Retrieved November 27, 2022.
2. "Sports Network NCAA Div. I-AA Poll". Journal Gazette. Mattoon, Illinois. December 20, 2005. p. C1. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
3. Sullivan, Jim (September 4, 2005). "Redbirds a handful for Cyclones". Globe Gazette. p. B1. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
4. Cleaver, Brandon (September 11, 2005). "Redbirds drop Drake to 0-2". Des Moines Register. p. 10C. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
5. Nielsen, Brian (September 18, 2005). "ISU shuts down Panthers offense". Herald & Review. p. C5. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
6. Reinhardt, Randy (September 25, 2005). "Long drive sends ISU on way". The Pantagraph. p. D1. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Reinhardt, Randy (October 2, 2005). "ISU pays price for mistakes". The Pantagraph. p. D1. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "James' field goal lifts Western in OT, 37-34". The Courier-Journal. October 9, 2005. p. C12. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
9. Reinhardt, Randy (October 16, 2005). "Redbirds rock No. 1 team". The Pantagraph. p. D1. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
10. Newhoff, Doug (October 23, 2005). "True colors". The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier. p. C2. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
11. Reinhardt, Randy (October 30, 2005). "Western keeps ISU off its game". The Pantagraph. p. D1. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
12. Scranton, Lyndal (November 6, 2005). "Rembert deep-sixes MSU". The Springfield News-Leader. p. 1D. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
13. Reinhardt, Randy (November 13, 2005). "ISU waits after record romp". The Pantagraph. p. D1. Retrieved November 27, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Illinois State Redbirds Schedule 2005". ESPN. Retrieved November 29, 2022.
15. "2005 Football Schedule". Illinois State University. Retrieved November 29, 2022.