Passion, Effort, Unity, Gratitude, and Service (WBB)

   

    The women’s basketball program at Illinois State operates under five distinct pillars: Passion, Effort, Unity, Gratitude, and Service. These principles have guided the program to success on the court in regard to basketball wins and individual achievements, while simultaneously inspiring others off the court with philanthropic efforts. The community supports the team, and the team supports the community. This log-rolling style of effort helps produce and maintain a classy program. They emphasize growth for the athletes both on and off the court, applying these principles to all facets of the students’ lives.

    Today at the meet and greet portion of the women’s basketball open practice, more than 180 Redbird fans who attended the event were given the opportunity to talk to coaches and players in a speed dating style format. Coach Gillespie was the first to visit my table and shared a little about how practice has been going. She mentioned that the players participated in a leadership training experience during their “boot camp” and that afterward the trainers complimented the players by saying that the roster lacked individuals who could become locker room problems.

    The next person to stop by my table was Addison Martin, who chatted about her summer. She mentioned that even with the heat wave we’ve had recently, Normal summer weather is much nicer than what she is used to in Louisiana. I asked her what her favorite Missouri Valley venue to play in was, and she said Missouri State because it had a similar look and feel to CEFCU Arena.

    The last person to visit my table was Morgan Bruno. When asked about her favorite Missouri Valley venue to play in besides CEFCU, she explained that she had two favorites: Drake for the environment and UIC because many of her family members are able to come and see her play since she is from Chicago. We chatted about her favorite Chicago foods and sports. She is a Cubs fan (boooooo) and likes deep-dish and tavern-style pizza. Her favorite deep dish pizza place is Lou Malnati’s, and we can both agree on that. In town, she favors BloNo Pizza Co., which incidentally provided pizza for everyone at the open practice. When asked about her favorite sport besides basketball, she mentioned that she enjoys watching baseball and playing volleyball.

    After the meet and greet, fans could observe the team in an open practice as they prepare for the upcoming season. As a Redbird fan, I enjoyed the opportunity to watch the practice and ask players and coaches questions. The program's transparency and mindfulness shine through in events like this. The fans enjoyed the experience, and those I spoke to were optimistic about the upcoming season.

    According to the ISU Athletics page, WBB is scheduled to play in the Puerto Rico Shootout from November 26^th-28^th, including Thanksgiving and Black Friday. They play Rice on Wednesday, East Carolina on Thanksgiving, and Wake Forest on Black Friday. In the meantime, while the Birds aren’t back in action for a few months and Ballin’ on Beaufort is still 94 days away, you can check out the WNBA for lots of great basketball. Have a great rest of the summer and Roll Birds!

RDB1Media.com

 

    As announced this past week on Bird Fans 4 Ever, I have launched another component of RDB1Media--a website to pull together the various aspects of RDB1Media. In addition to serving as the central hub, rdb1media.com will contain a wealth of information about the Redbirds. The website will contain links to information ranging from schedules and scores to media highlight links. Additionally, it will have a gallery of photos from Redbird events. Currently, there are not as many links on the site, given that we are in between seasons. Once the fall seasons kick off, the content will reflect the increase in games.

    In addition to the website, there is an Instagram account, a Facebook page, and this blog. The Instagram account will continue as the primary source for photos and videos, and the Facebook page will be another way to access various Birds information. If you are reading this blog post, you already know about this blog. It will continue to be the primary source of my thoughts and those of other potential guest contributors on the Redbirds, facilities, and interviews with people playing various roles in Redbird athletics. 

    Also, as mentioned on the podcast, I will be offering RDB merchandise, with some items' profits contributing to various aspects of Redbird fundraising. For one of the offerings, I will have a Ty Pence t-shirt jersey. I am also working on a few other ideas.

    So, stay tuned as I look forward to providing you, Redbird fans, with ways of accessing Redbird information. If you have ideas, please send them my way for consideration. 

And as always...roll damn birds!

The Bird Cage- ISU Soccer Supporters Group

June is here, and that means school is out for summer! (cue the Alice Cooper) With classes over, students are home and, for an overwhelming majority, not in Normal. While I am not a student anymore, it certainly feels different without all the Redbirds on campus and in town. With my work for the radio stations, I have been spending a lot of time in Peoria, and my hobbies have brought me there, too, with both Men's and Women's Soccer (Peoria City) playing at Shea Stadium. As a member of the 309 Supporters Group and its respective leadership team, I have found a close-knit group of like-minded people who share similar passions, particularly for soccer! We love the Carp and are unapologetically fanatic in our support! Our Supporters Group founder and president, Drew Clark, sat down with me and answered some questions regarding the 309 and supporters groups as a whole:

Trevor Arbogast- What is a Supporters Group and what is the role of a Supporters Group? 

Drew Clark- “So first off, I think a supporters group is collectively a dedicated community who goes above and beyond of its support for its local club. The role is to independently support the club, its staff, and players off the pitch and on the pitch. But the supporters group is also an embodiment of community, of cohesion.”

“Most clubs in Europe, and their supporters groups are very active in their communities, working together towards common goals. I personally feel a responsibility to bring the community together and create a fun environment where anyone is welcome.”

Trevor Arbogast- What was it like starting a Supporters Group? 

Drew Clark- “I vividly remember starting the supporters group after the first ever Peoria City match, when I witnessed a hollow environment, I decided to change that. I made a Facebook page with a goal of 250 members by 2025. I figured that was an aggressive goal, but today we stand at 907 members that are worldwide and all over the country.”

Trevor Arbogast- What's your favorite thing about leading/finding a supporters group?

Drew Clark- “My favorite thing about running this supporters group is the ability to see people develop the same amount of energy and passion that I have for the beautiful game while creating meteorites and experiences that will last for a lifetime.”

I was also lucky enough to talk to 3 members of the inaugural Peoria City Women's Soccer Team, who also play for ISU in Normal, IL. Here's what Aniya Seymore, Erika Wells, and Sammi Cenek had to say about Supporters Groups, The 309, and ISU Soccer. 

Trevor Arbogast- 

1) What does playing in front of the 309 mean to you as a player?

2) What's your favorite ISU experience on or off the field?

3) What would having a Supporters Group for Redbird matches mean to you? 

Aniya Seymore- 

1) “Playing in front of the 309 means everything. There’s something powerful about hearing familiar voices cheering us on, especially when the game gets tough. It makes you want to give everything you’ve got, not just for your teammates but for the people who show up, rain or shine, to support us. It’s a reminder that we’re not just playing a game, we’re representing something bigger than ourselves. The 309 brings the energy, and we feel it every time we step on the field.”

2) “It’s hard to choose just one, but some of my favorite memories come from the little moments with the team like late night bus rides after away games, celebrating a goal on the field, blasting music in the locker room before games and after a win, or even just laughing through hard practices. One of the best moments, though, was walking out onto Adelaide for the first time after returning from injury. That feeling of finally being back with my team, in our home stadium, is something I’ll never forget.”

3) “Having a dedicated supporters group would be incredible. It would mean more noise, more energy, and more community. It would show that people are truly invested in what we’re building here, and it would push us to fight even harder every game. Knowing that there’s a group of people who are behind us not just as athletes but as people, that kind of support means the world. It would make match days feel even more special and help create a culture that lasts beyond just one season.”

Erika Wells- 

1) “Playing in front of the 309 means everything to me. Wearing Illinois State on my jersey isn’t just about the school but about the people, coaches, family, and supporters that have made this dream and this sports team at ISU possible. Wearing the crest and hearing the 309 cheering makes every little moment feel so much bigger. Playing for this community and for the people who love us, soccer, and Illinois State is incredible! Playing in front of the 309 creates the best atmosphere! Soccer isn’t just about the game but it’s about everything else that comes with it! So  thankful for the people who bring passion and excitement to our games!”

2) “My favorite ISU soccer experience on the pitch would have to be scoring the game winning goal in the 2024 MVC tournament against UNI to send us on to the 2nd round against UIC! It was my favorite moment for many reasons- it was the first time I scored a collegiate goal but also it was a moment where time truly slowed down. I felt as if I was truly helping connect Redbird soccer back to the past and some of the alumni greats that wore the ISU crest. Also getting to get that tournament win after not having one in a long time felt amazing- the celebrations after the game and with my teammates, coaches, alumni, and family was awesome!”

 3) “Having a supporters group for Redbird matches would mean the world to me and my teammates! It’s not just about “filling the stands” or having people stay for a free shirt but it means so much more to have people that root for us through the good and the bad. Having Supporters that show up and cheer for us day in and day out makes all the difference. These supporters aren’t just spectators they are people that have the ability to help change the momentum in a game. These are the people whose cheers and chants allow us to push through when we think we have nothing left. Having a supporters group would truly help Redbird soccer keep climbing to the next level!”

Sammi Cenek- 

1) “Coming from a kid who is from Peoria and has grown up playing here my whole life. Staying in the 309 to play colligate soccer was an easy choice for me. I knew I wanted to stay closer to home and play in front of familiar faces. It’s a true blessing getting to play in front of the 309 on my college team but also now throughout the summer. The support from my family, friends, and community is something special and not everyone can say they are this supported. Soccer is more than just a sport and our support systems reminds us of that everyday. We are very lucky and I am beyond grateful to play in front of such a supportive community.”

2) “I would say my favorite ISU experience so far was getting named captain Spring of my sophomore year. The role I have on our team is something I will cherish long after my soccer career and has been a true blessing. Being named a leader of such a great group has definitely been the most memorable memory and experience for me and I will never forget this opportunity I’ve been given.”

3) “Growing up in a community where only men’s sports were highlighted was very hard. Men’s high school and college games in the 309 would be sold out and the women’s games would barely have enough to fill a row in the stands. Having a supporter group for my colligate team would mean so much to me because this support is something I have waited for, for my entire life. Playing a sport that isn’t the most popular to watch, along with being a woman is very hard. Women’s soccer is overlooked time and time again so having a consistent supportive group at our games and throughout our season would mean the world to my teammates and I. This is something I have wanted since I started my sport and I would be so grateful and excited if it were to happen.”

Trevor Arbogast- I am excited to announce effective immediately that The Bird Cage is officially the first Supporters Group in ISU Soccer History! Free to join and no obligatory meetings, anybody who has an interest can be a part of the Supporters Group; The Bird Cage! We will make our official debut this fall at the first match and would love to see you join us behind the north goal. Everyone is welcome! Follow the Instagram account, stay tuned, and ROLL DAMN BIRDS!!!