ISU Football Opts Out Remainder Of 2021 Spring Season

Image courtesy of goredbirds.com

NORMAL- After picking up a victory against Western Illinois on Saturday, head coach Brock Spack announced Sunday that the Redbirds will forgo the rest of the season. Spack says the decision came down to the health and safety of the players and certify their readiness for the fall season.

“I have wrestled with this decision for a couple weeks now, but I feel like it’s a necessary move to protect our player’s health and safety and their ability to be ready come this fall,” Spack said. “Injuries at key positions, especially on the defensive line where we suffered two more setbacks yesterday, have made it nearly impossible for us to play this week and extremely difficult for us to compete in the remaining four games. We appreciate all the support and hard work put in by so many in the ISU Athletics Department and on-campus to get us to this point during these challenging times.”

After announcing a $2 million donation in proceeds to a new indoor practice facility, ISU Director of Athletics Kyle Brennan wants the best experience for every Redbird athlete.

“I fully support Brock and his decision to cut the season short, especially when it comes to the health, safety and development of our student-athletes,” Brennan said. “The University, staff, donors and fans have dedicated their time and resources to make the previous four games this spring a success. In addition, we recognize that there has been much hard work by the Big Red Marching Machine, color guard, twirlers, Redline Express dance and cheer teams to prepare for the spring season. In the end, the health and safety of our student-athletes must always be our top priority. We look forward to getting healthy in the coming months and are excited for what should be a memorable fall 2021 campaign.”

The Redbirds were slated to face South Dakota State next weekend and information on the ruling of that game has yet to be released.