It was difficult to be sure Friday morning, what with fog and haze hanging over the Illinois State campus. Yet, to the naked eye, no large birds appeared to be circling Hancock Stadium. Consider that a good sign for ISU sophomore safety Brent Holtz.… more »

NORMAL -- Their position coach pushes around a walker with a built-in seat to take an occasional load off the aching joints. But don’t get the impression of vulnerability for Illinois State assistant coach Chris Patton or the troops he commands.… more »

Sycamores’ new football coach not concerned with team’s place in conference pecking order. ST. LOUIS — “New name, same game” says the slogan for the newly-named Missouri Valley Football Conference on its media guide. Same game indeed when it comes… more »

ST. LOUIS — It didn't take long for one of the two new teams in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, to become the hunted. North Dakota State was picked by coaches, media and sports information directors to finish first in the nine-team league. T… more »

ST. LOUIS -- Most of the time, the new kid has to earn respect. North Dakota State already has respect in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. That surprises Tyler Roehl, a returning all-American running back for the Bison. "I feel that we hav… more »

ST. LOUIS --- North Dakota State hasn't made its first tackle as an active member of the newly christened Missouri Valley Football Conference. Nonetheless, Corey Lewis took a minor hit here Tuesday, thanks to the Bison. Lewis, Northern Iowa's star… more »

ST. LOUIS — North Dakota State’s introduction to the Missouri Valley Football Conference came with a bit of a catch on Tuesday. As coaches and conference officials welcomed league newcomers North Dakota State and South Dakota State to the former Gate… more »

ST. LOUIS - Five years and 43 wins later, North Dakota State University's football team is finally eligible for the playoffs. The Missouri Valley Football Conference's coaches, media and sports information directors think the Bison will get there, to… more »

NORMAL -- Illinois State football coach Denver Johnson liked what he saw of former Redbird Stafford Davis as an offensive lineman from 2002 to ’05. Johnson also liked what he saw of Davis as a graduate assistant coach, so much so that Davis has been… more »

HUNTINGTON — Reporter’s questions sometimes can be leading, albeit unintentionally. Marshall University tight end Lee Smith recently was answering a series of routine offseason questions. How are players meshing with two new coordinators? How about w… more »

Effective immediately, the Gateway Football Conference - South Dakota State's new home - will be known as the Missouri Valley Football Conference by virtue of a vote of member presidents on Friday. Founded in 1985, the Gateway has been a separate LLC… more »

ST. LOUIS -- Northern Iowa won the Gateway Football Conference championship last fall with a 6-0 record. It will be the last Gateway title handed out after presidents of the nine Gateway institutions and 10 Missouri Valley Conference schools approved… more »

Like the river that bears its first name, the issue that will confront the Missouri Valley Conference on Friday has its share of depth and twists. At stake is changing the name of the Gateway Football Conference to the Missouri Valley Football Conferenc… more »

Rider draftee Jonathan St-Pierre has another season of NCAA eligibility REGINA -- Jonathan St-Pierre isn't getting too caught up in being the 10th overall selection by the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the CFL draft. That's because St-Pierre knows i… more »

NORMAL, Ill. -- Luke Drone has been beating the odds since he left high school. So he thinks he can do it again with the Buffalo Bills. The former Illinois State quarterback is back in central Illinois following his first 3-day rookie NFL mini-camp.… more »