1978 Illinois State Redbirds football team

1978 Illinois State Redbirds football
Conference	Independent
Record	2–9
Head coach	Charlie Cowdrey (2nd season)
Home stadium	Hancock Stadium

1978 NCAA Division I-A independents football records

v t e	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		T			W		L		T
No. 4 Penn State		–		–				11	–	1	–	0
North Texas State		–		–				9	–	2	–	0
East Carolina		–		–				9	–	3	–	0
Navy		–		–				9	–	3	–	0
No. 7 Notre Dame		–		–				9	–	3	–	0
Rutgers		–		–				9	–	3	–	0
Florida State		–		–				8	–	3	–	0
Tennessee State		–		–				8	–	3	–	0
Temple		–		–				7	–	3	–	1
Pittsburgh		–		–				8	–	4	–	0
Holy Cross		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
Louisville		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
UNLV		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
Southern Miss		–		–				7	–	4	–	0
Northeast Louisiana		–		–				6	–	4	–	1
Georgia Tech		–		–				7	–	5	–	0
Hawaii		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
Miami (FL)		–		–				6	–	5	–	0
South Carolina		–		–				5	–	5	–	1
William & Mary		–		–				5	–	5	–	1
Cincinnati		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Villanova		–		–				5	–	6	–	0
Army		–		–				4	–	6	–	1
Memphis State		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Tulane		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Virginia Tech		–		–				4	–	7	–	0
Air Force		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Colgate		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Richmond		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Syracuse		–		–				3	–	8	–	0
Illinois State		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
West Virginia		–		–				2	–	9	–	0
Boston College		–		–				0	–	11	–	0
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1978 Illinois State Redbirds football team represented Illinois State University as an independent during the 1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by second-year head coach Charlie Cowdrey, the Redbirds compiled a record of 2–9.

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Site	Result	Attendance	Source
September 9	at Western Michigan	Waldo Stadium Kalamazoo, MI	L 17–27	19,500	[1]
September 16	Western Kentucky	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	L 6–28	12,000	[2]
September 23	at Kent State	Dix Stadium Kent, OH	L 3–34	4,108	[3]
September 30	at Northern Illinois	Huskie Stadium DeKalb, IL	L 21–49		[4]
October 7	Southern Illinois	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	L 0–26	13,500	[5]
October 14	at Central Michigan	Perry Shorts Stadium Mount Pleasant, MI	L 7–45		[6]
October 21	Ball State	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	L 7–14	8,500	[7]
October 28	at Western Illinois	Hanson Field Macomb, IL	L 20–26		[8]
November 4	at No. 9 Eastern Illinois	O'Brien Stadium Charleston, IL (rivalry)	L 7–42	9,000	[9]
November 11	Indiana State	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	W 27–14	4,500	[10]
November 18	Eastern Michigan	Hancock Stadium Normal, IL	W 14–13	2,600	[11]
Rankings from Associated Press Poll released prior to the game

^[12]

References

1. "Little paces Western Michigan over Illinois State, 27–17". The Muskegon Chronicle. September 10, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
2. "Western Kentucky beats ISU, 28–6". The Pantagraph. September 17, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
3. "Kent scores first TD, wins first game of '78". The Plain Dealer. September 24, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
4. "Northern wins run-in with Ill. State". Chicago Tribune. October 1, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Williams powers Salukis". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. October 8, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Todd sparks Chippewas' 45–7". The Times Herald. October 15, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
7. "Ball State holds on for 14–7 win". Chronicle Tribune. October 22, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
8. "Western outlasts ISU, 26–20". The Pantagraph. October 29, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "Eastern rips Illinois State". The Decatur Daily Review. November 5, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Redbirds on Cook's tour". The Pantagraph. November 12, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Illinois State turns back Eastern Michigan". Herald and Review. November 19, 1978. Retrieved October 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "1978 Illinois State Redbirds Schedule and Results". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved October 21, 2024.