Illinois State boasts ‘unique’ defense

BY JEREMY HOECK

Joe Glenn uses words like “mobile” and “chaotic.” Brock Spack calls it “resilient.”

Any way the two coaches slice it, the defense Illinois State will bring to Vermillion on Saturday figures to provide the University of South Dakota with a significant challenge in its Missouri Valley Football Conference debut.

Illinois State (4-0, 1-0), which moved up to No. 12 in the FCS coaches poll and No. 13 in The Sports Network poll, boasts one of the league’s stingiest defenses — ranking first in takeaways (plus 8) and second in sacks (13).

“This is probably a unique defense that we’ll see,” USD coach Glenn said during Tuesday’s media teleconference. “You don’t see many other teams who will stunt over 60 percent of the time, but that’s the way they do it.

“They can make a lot of confusion; very chaotic if you let it get to you,” he added. “You have to find a way to burn it. You have to go after them with the same mentality.”

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