ISU's athletic director said the university is receiving a lot of attention because of the football team. (WJBC file photo)

By Adam Studzinski

NORMAL – On Jan. 10, the Illinois State University football team will be playing in the FCS Championship game and it's creating a big buzz for the university.

"I think it goes without saying that we're seeing some significant interest, obviously locally, but in this region in the Midwest," said Athletics director Larry Lyons. "We're starting to see some national interest as well."

Lyons said he's enjoyed watching the number of ISU watch parties around the country go up with each Redbird victory.

"There was like a handful of watch parties the first round game. Then we went to Eastern Washington and there was another number," said Lyons. "New Hampshire there was a bigger number and I'm sure the number on Championship Saturday on Jan. 10 (will) be a really big number."

The football team's success doesn't just help the athletics department, it adds to an already successful university, as Lyons explained.

"It certainly helps the mission of the institution. That's one of the reasons we're here, is to help further the mission of this place," said Lyons. "It helps their recruiting. It can't hurt our recruiting at all."

Lyons said this is a great thing to go through and he hopes ISU gets to do it more than once. Not unlike the Redbird's opponent, the Bison of North Dakota State University. NDSU is the three-time defending national champion and is preparing to play in its fourth consecutive national title game.

Adam Studzinski can be reached at [email protected].