Parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and the like were aplenty on the ISU campus this weekend to partake in the Family Weekend festivities and they were able to witness a pair of home Redbird victories.

The ISU football team came away with a 31-7 win over the WIU Leathernecks Saturday. This victory marked the fifth straight and the third opponent in a row where the 'Birds got payback from a loss last season.

Junior running back Cliffton Gordon led ISU’s rushing attack with 15 carries for 78 yards. Ashton Leggett is usually the top rusher in a game, but he sat the first half, giving Gordon the chance to get more touches and he certainly took advantage of the opportunity.

As far as the defensive end, one particular play that really got the crowd riled up was a hit by junior linebacker Austin Davis on WIU quarterback Josh Hudson. Hudson had to be taken out of the game after the play.

It is nice to see this great level of success from our football squad, just one win away from a potential Football Championship Subdivision playoff bid at 7-3 overall and 5-2 in the Missouri Valley Football Conference.

If ISU wins in its final regular-season game against Northern Iowa, it would propel the 'Birds into second place in the MVFC and puts the 'Birds in an extremely favorable position to make the playoffs. ISU has to wait until the FCS selection show on Sunday, Nov. 20 to figure out its fate for the playoffs.

Although most students tend to leave prior to Saturday to begin Thanksgiving break, I encourage all students to stay to see Redbird football take on UNI.

On the court, the ISU men’s basketball team opened its 2011-12 campaign with an exhibition contest against the Division II Quincy Hawks Sunday, coming out victorious, 102-63.

The balanced scoring for the Redbirds was impressive to witness, and I would like to see it continue in ISU’s first regular season game at Fresno State Friday at 9 p.m.

After ISU struggled with shooting the basketball last year, it was refreshing to see the squad shoot 58 percent from the floor against Quincy. Though you don’t want to get too excited about a solid shooting performance in one game, it is a sign that there could be good things to come.

When it comes to fans, students should note that the Red Alert seating policy changed to general admission this season. Students can still pick up tickets from the Redbird Arena Ticket Office or The Alamo II starting on the Monday prior to the game at 10 a.m. and continuing throughout the week, but no assigned seating will be given at the time of ticket pickup, as was the case in past years.

Instead, the earliest arriving students on gameday get first pick of seats in the student section.

Also, the Redbird men’s basketball squad is hosting open practice today from 3:45-5:15 p.m. It would be nice to see many students in attendance to show support for our ISU men’s basketball team.

Red Alert members will earn 10 reward points for attending and the first 150 students will receive a voucher at the door for free food from the concession stand. Attendees will also be able to enjoy a meet and greet with the team post-practice.

On a different note, two ISU squads won Missouri Valley Conference titles, as the soccer team defeated Missouri State, 5-0 Sunday to win its conference tournament. In addition, the Redbird women’s cross country team won its first ever league title Oct. 30.

Things are looking up in Redbird Country, so I would like to see many ISU students out at upcoming Redbird athletic events, including football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball. Go 'Birds!