FRISCO, Texas -- Illinois State sports information director Mike Williams remembers the moment he knew Tre Roberson was going to be something special for the Redbirds.
It was after the homecoming victory over South Dakota State on Oct. 4 and Williams, Roberson and some ISU teammates were making their way to the postgame press conference. Roberson' s teammates were joking, laughing and generally being goofy in celebrating the win. As they neared the room in which the press conference was to be held, Roberson barked out his orders.
"Hey, guys! Lock in!"
It was something Williams, the longtime SID at ISU, said he' d never seen.
"It was like, 'Whoa, OK.' I mean, I'd seen players do that before, but never a first-year player," Williams said.
Roberson had that effect on the Redbirds program in 2014. The quarterback was named the Indianapolis Star's high school Mr. Football in the state of Indiana 2010 and chose IndianaUniversity of the Big Ten. But he transferred last summer to ISU.
He's has been the difference-maker who has pushed ISU to Saturday's Football Championship Subdivision title game against North Dakota State.
"He's different than anyone we've seen this year. He's a great and unbelievable player. He's a dual-threat guy and playing with an awful lot of confidence. He can beat you with his arm and he can beat you with his legs," Bison coach Chris Klieman said. "He's gotten better since the season has gone on. Especially in the playoffs, he's taken his game to the next level and is playing with a lot of confidence."
It's likely Roberson will be the key factor for the Redbirds against NDSU's outstanding defense. He can run and throw with equal aplomb, and has been on a remarkable plane in the Redbirds' three playoff victories. He's completed 67 percent of his passes and averaged 289 passing yards per game. Roberson has accounted for eight TDs in the playoffs (six passing, two running).
His 47-yard touchdown run midway through the fourth quarter gave ISU the lead against New Hampshire in the semifinals, capping a run of 15 unanswered points in the final quarter.
"It's been impressive to watch. I spent 22 years of my life in the Big Ten and to think that you can come in and play at this level, he's been very humble from the start," Redbirds coach Brock Spack said. "He's a great teammate and he's a hard worker. He's a gym rat and an office rat. He does a great job preparing. He came in as a backup and I told him he has to win the job and he did that."
Roberson is a thickly built 6-foot, 210 pounds. The challenge for the Bison defense will be not only keeping tabs on his arm (Roberson has passed for 3,064 yards and 27 TDs in 14 games), but his legs. Roberson will run effectively at any time. He has 868 yards and 10 rushing scores.
"Roberson, when you watch him, truly is a dual threat guy. He'll escape the pocket. You think he's going to run and he'll make an incredible throw to one of their great receivers," Bison defensive end Kyle Emanuel said. "It's a tough task and they also have a big, athletic offensive line, so defensively we really have a challenge for us."
NDSU has quieted other dual-threat quarterbacks, most notably Coastal Carolina's Alex Ross. Ross was effective in the first half, but struggled in the second half. It should be noted, however, that Ross played with a separated shoulder suffered on the game's first series.
Roberson knows NDSU's defense will be a challenge.
"They're very physical, a tough-minded defense and very sound," Roberson said. "They're going to be a tough team to play against."
(Mike McFeely is a talk-show host on 790 KFGO in Fargo-Moorhead. He can be heard 2-5 p.m.weekdays. Follow him on Twitter @MikeMcFeelyKFGO.)