In the FCS Huddle: Illinois State’s knockout punch

Frisco, TX (SportsNetwork.com) – They answered question after question from the media on Thursday, calm as can be even as they moved onto a stage that’s bigger than the nation’s best FCS conference.

It didn’t figure to be any other way, however, because Illinois State quarterback Tre Roberson and running back Marshaun Coprich have provided all the right answers this season while leading the Redbirds into Saturday’s NCAA Division I Football Championship Game.

“It feels like we’ve been here before,” Roberson said matter-of-factly.

The reality is Illinois State will be appearing in the FCS title game for the first time, while its opponent, North Dakota State, is seeking a fourth straight national title, which would be a first in the FCS and has been accomplished only once in NCAA history, ironically by a school from Illinois, Augustana College from 1983-86.

But the Redbirds feel they’re ready to move out of North Dakota State’s long shadow. The two teams tied for the Missouri Valley Football Conference title after not playing each other in the regular season.

“Now we meet in the national championship,” Coprich said. “Winner takes both trophies.”

Illinois State (13-1) has much more than a puncher’s chance against the NDSU dynasty. In fact, its offense features a sensational 1-2 knockout punch. Whether Roberson or Coprich is 1 and the other is 2 seemingly changes from week to week, and they feed off each other in winning fashion.

Coprich, lightly recruited coming out of a California high school, goes by “Little Bull” as he patterns himself after Barry Sanders, a compact 5-foot-9, 205-pound bruiser with speed and a downhill running style. The model of consistency, the junior was the Missouri Valley’s offensive player of the year and a first-team All-American. He leads the FCS with 2,168 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns.

Roberson, who wears a Superman T-shirt under his jersey, was Indiana’s Mr. Football in 2010 and stayed home to attend Indiana University. He became the first Hoosier quarterback to start a game as a true freshman in 2011, then missed most of his sophomore season with a broken leg before returning to make four starts in 2013. He transferred to Illinois State last June, got better throughout his redshirt junior campaign and was named the Missouri Valley’s newcomer of the year and its first-team quarterback. He’s been at his best during the postseason and has accounted for 37 touchdowns (27 passing, 10 rushing) while leading the conference in total offense (280.9 ypg) this season.

“His accuracy and him just being able to get the plays and being able to hurry up and react and get the ball out. His percentage rating is pretty good, obviously,” Coprich said of Roberson.

Countered Roberson about Coprich, “He has the ability to take the ball with one carry and score a touchdown. That takes a lot of pressure off us offensively. All we have to do is our job and we know he will come out and do his job.”

Both players have gained immensely from the addition of Kurt Beathard to Illinois State’s coaching staff this season as offensive coordinator. The son of former NFL general manager Bobby Beathard is well-versed to success on the FCS level, now an offensive coordinator at his fifth different school.

Beathard has designed the offense to its players’ skills, bringing cohesion while maximizing the run-pass threat of Roberson, which in turn makes Coprich even more dangerous. Coprich rushed for over 100 yards in each of Illinois State’s first 13 games. When New Hampshire stopped the streak in the national semifinals, Roberson took over the game. But, fittingly, both standouts scored touchdowns in the fourth quarter as the Redbirds rallied to the win.

Now Illinois State, which has good size at wide receiver and even more size on the offensive line with four starters over 300 pounds, will try to take down the best defense in the FCS for four years running. No doubt the Redbirds will turn to their 1-2 punch for the right answers against North Dakota State.

“If you want to be the champ, you’ve got to beat the champ,” Roberson said.

Categorized in: NCAA Football