Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Last updated
Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
FormerlyIllinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Conference NCAA
Founded1908
Ceased1970
DivisionCollege Division (Small College)
No. of teams8 (start), 4 (final), 29 (total)
Region Midwest

The Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) was a college athletic conference that existed from 1908 to 1970 in the United States.

Contents

At one time the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, or IIAC, was a robust league that claimed most of the Illinois institutions of higher education. It was nicknamed the "Little Nineteen," but in 1928 had a membership of 23 schools. Former Illinois State University track coach Joseph Cogdal, associated with the IIAC for 43 years of its 62-year history, noted that the league had roots in the 1870s when a number of schools banded together for oratorical contests. Their first intercollegiate football game was played in 1881 between Illinois State University and Knox College, and by 1894 a football association was established.

History

The IIAC was formed in April 1908 with eight charter members: Illinois State Normal University (now Illinois State University), Illinois Wesleyan University, Bradley Polytechnic Institute (now Bradley University), Millikin University, Monmouth College, Knox College, Lombard College and Illinois College. The first track meet was held on May 22, 1908. The group quickly expanded. Eastern Illinois State Teachers College (now Eastern Illinois University) and Western Illinois University joined in 1912 and 1914 respectively.

In 1920, the name "Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference" was adopted, providing the initials IIAC. Conference membership reached a peak of 23 member schools in 1928, when virtually all of the small colleges in Illinois were included.

Private schools withdrew during much of the 1930s, until in 1942 only the five state schools remained: Illinois State University, Eastern Illinois University, Northern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University Carbondale and Western Illinois University. In 1950, the league name became the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, when Central Michigan University and Eastern Michigan University brought the membership to seven. In 1961-62, Eastern Michigan University and Southern Illinois University Carbondale withdrew; Northern Illinois University followed in 1965-66. The conference disbanded at the end of the 1969–70 academic year.

Member schools

Final members

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftCurrent
conference		Current
association
Central Michigan University Mount Pleasant, Michigan 1892Public21,705 Chippewas 1950–511969–70 Mid-American (MAC) Division I
Eastern Illinois University Charleston, Illinois 1895Public8,626 Panthers 1912–131969–70 Ohio Valley (OVC) Division I
Illinois State University Normal, Illinois 1857Public20,706 Redbirds 1908–091969–70 Missouri Valley (MVC) Division I
Western Illinois University Macomb, Illinois 1899Public7,624 Leathernecks 1914–151969–70 Ohio Valley (OVC) Division I

Former members

InstitutionLocationFoundedAffiliationEnrollmentNicknameJoinedLeftCurrent
conference		Current
association
Augustana College Rock Island, Illinois 1860Private2,513 Vikings 1912–131936–37 Illinois–Wisconsin (CCIW) Division III
Blackburn College Carlinville, Illinois 1837Private590 Beavers 1914–151922–23 St. Louis (SLIAC) Division III
Bradley University Peoria, Illinois 1897Private5,451 Braves 1908–091936–37 Missouri Valley (MVC) Division I
Carthage College Carthage, Illinois 1847Private2,374 Redmen [lower-alpha 1] 1912–131940–41 Illinois–Wisconsin (CCIW) Division III
Eastern Michigan University Ypsilanti, Michigan 1849Public18,838 Hurons [lower-alpha 2] 1950–511961–62 Mid-American (MAC) Division I
Elmhurst College [lower-alpha 3] Elmhurst, Illinois 1871Private2,748 Pirates [lower-alpha 4] 1929–301940–41 Illinois–Wisconsin (CCIW) Division III
Eureka College Eureka, Illinois 1855Private680 Red Devils 1910–111941–42 St. Louis (SLIAC) Division III
Hedding College [lower-alpha 5] Abingdon, Illinois 1855PrivateN/A Orangemen 1910–111925–26N/AN/A
Illinois College Jacksonville, Illinois 1829Private1,105 Blueboys &
Lady Blues 		1908–091936–37 Midwest (MWC) Division III
Illinois Wesleyan University Bloomington, Illinois 1850Private2,113 Titans 1908–091936–37 Illinois–Wisconsin (CCIW) Division III
Knox College Galesburg, Illinois 1837Private1,399 Prairie Fire 1908–091936–37 Midwest (MWC) Division III
Lake Forest College Lake Forest, Illinois 1857Private1,395 Foresters 1919–201936–37 Midwest (MWC) Division III
Lincoln College [lower-alpha 5] Lincoln, Illinois 1865Private800 Lynx 1910–111927–28N/AN/A
Lombard College [lower-alpha 5] Galesburg, Illinois 1853PrivateN/A Golden Tornado,
Olive		1908–091928–29N/AN/A
McKendree College [lower-alpha 6] Lebanon, Illinois 1828Private1,702 Bearcats 1912–131937–38 Great Lakes Valley (GLVC) Division II
Millikin University Decatur, Illinois 1901Private2,118 Big Blue 1908–091936–37 Illinois–Wisconsin (CCIW) Division III
Monmouth College Monmouth, Illinois 1853Private1,300 Fighting Scots 1908–091936–37 Midwest (MWC) Division III
Mount Morris College [lower-alpha 5] Mount Morris, Illinois 1839PrivateN/A Mountaineers,
Mounders 		1922–231930–31N/AN/A
North Central College Naperville, Illinois 1861Private2,490 Cardinals 1927–281936–37 Illinois–Wisconsin (CCIW) Division III
Northern Illinois University DeKalb, Illinois 1895Public17,169 Huskies 1920–211965–66 Mid-American (MAC) Division I
Shurtleff College [lower-alpha 5] Alton, Illinois 1827PrivateN/A Pioneers,
Bison 		1910–111936–37N/AN/A
Southern Illinois University Carbondale Carbondale, Illinois 1869Public11,695 Maroons,
Salukis 		1913–141961–62 Missouri Valley (MVC) Division I
St. Viator College [lower-alpha 5] Bourbonnais, Illinois 1865PrivateN/A Irish,
Green		1916–171937–38N/AN/A
Wheaton College Wheaton, Illinois 1860Private2,282 Crusaders [lower-alpha 7] 1919–201936–37 Illinois–Wisconsin (CCIW) Division III
William & Vashti College [lower-alpha 5] Aledo, Illinois 1908PrivateN/Aunknown1910–111916–17N/AN/A
Notes
  1. ↑ Carthage changed its nickname from Redmen to Firebirds in 2021.
  2. ↑ Eastern Michigan changed its nickname from Hurons to Eagles in 1991.
  3. ↑ Currently known as Elmhurst University since 2020.
  4. ↑ Elmhurst changed its nickname from Pirates to Bluejays in 2000.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Defunct institution.
  6. ↑ Currently known as McKendree University since 2007.
  7. ↑ Wheaton changed its nickname from Crusaders to Thunder in 2000.

Membership timeline

Eastern Michigan UniversityCentral Michigan UniversityElmhurst CollegeNorth Central CollegeMount Morris CollegeNorthern Illinois UniversityLake Forest CollegeWheaton CollegeSt. Viator CollegeBlackburn CollegeWestern Illinois UniversitySouthern Illinois University CarbondaleAugustana CollegeMcKendree UniversityCarthage CollegeEastern Illinois UniversityWilliam %26 Vashti CollegeHedding CollegeLincoln College (Illinois)Shurtleff CollegeEureka CollegeLombard CollegeIllinois CollegeKnox College (Illinois)Monmouth CollegeMillikin UniversityBradley UniversityIllinois Wesleyan UniversityIllinois State UniversityInterstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Football champions

Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin</span> Athletic conference in the NCAA

The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) is a college athletic conference which competes in the Division III level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Millikin Big Blue</span> Athletic programs of Millikin University

The Millikin Big Blue are the intercollegiate athletic programs of Millikin University (MU) located in Decatur, Illinois, United States. The Big Blue athletic program is a member of the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) and competes at the NCAA Division III level.

The 1946 Northern Illinois State Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois State Teachers College—now known as Northern Illinois University—as a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1946 college football season. Led by 18th-year head coach Chick Evans, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 9–2 with a mark of 4–0 in conference play, winning the IIAC title. Northern Illinois State was invited to the Turkey Bowl, where they lost to Evansville. The team played home games at the 5,500-seat Glidden Field, located on the east end of campus, in DeKalb, Illinois.

The 1941 Northern Illinois State Huskies football team represented Northern Illinois State Teachers College—now known as Northern Illinois University—as a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1941 college football season. Led by 13th-year head coach Chick Evans, the Huskies compiled an overall record of 7–1–1 with a mark of 3–1 in conference play, sharing the IIAC title with Illinois State Normal. The team played home games at the 5,500-seat Glidden Field, located on the east end of campus, in DeKalb, Illinois.

The 1942 Southern Illinois Maroons football team was an American football team that represented Southern Illinois Normal University in the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1942 college football season. Under fourth-year head coach Glenn Martin, the team compiled a 2–4 record.

The 1955 Southern Illinois Salukis football team was an American football team that represented Southern Illinois University in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1955 college football season. Under first-year head coach Albert Kawal, the team compiled a 4–4–2 record. The team played its home games at McAndrew Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.

The 1956 Southern Illinois Salukis football team was an American football team that represented Southern Illinois University in the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1956 NCAA College Division football season. Under second-year head coach Albert Kawal, the team compiled a 4–5 record. The team played its home games at McAndrew Stadium in Carbondale, Illinois.

The Illinois College Conference (ICC) was an college athletic conference that operated from 1938 to 1946 in the U.S. state of Illinois. The league was proposed in the spring of 1937 and formed later that year at a meeting in Peoria, Illinois. The ten charter members were Augustana College, Bradley University, Illinois College, Illinois Wesleyan University, Knox College, Lake Forest College, Millikin University, Monmouth College, North Central College, and Wheaton College, all of which had previously been members of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC), nicknamed the "Little Nineteen". The conference was disbanded in the spring of 1946 and replaced with a new league, the College Conference of Illinois, which was later renamed the College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW).

The 1950 Illinois State Normal Redbirds football team represented Illinois State Normal University—now known as Illinois State University—as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1950 college football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Edwin Struck, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 7–1–2 with a mark of 5–0–1 in conference play, winning the IIAC. Illinois State Normal lost to Missouri Mines in the postseason Corn Bowl. The team played home games at McCormick Field in Normal, Illinois.

The 1937 Illinois State Normal Redbirds football team represented Illinois State Normal University—now known as Illinois State University—as a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1937 college football season. Led by seventh-year head coach Howard Hancock, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 5–1–2 with a mark of 4–0–2 in conference play. Illinois State Normal claimed a share of the IIAC championship along with Bradley and Illinois College, although the latter teams did not have any ties. The team played home games at McCormick Field in Normal, Illinois.

The 1967 Illinois State Redbirds football team represented Illinois State University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1967 NCAA College Division football season. Led by third-year head coach Larry Bitcon, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 8–2 with a mark of 2–1 in conference play, sharing the IIAC title with Central Michigan. Illinois State played home games at Hancock Stadium in Normal, Illinois.

The 1953 Illinois State Normal Redbirds football team represented Illinois State Normal University—now known as Illinois State University—as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1953 college football season. Led by 11th-year head coach Edwin Struck, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 3–4–2 with a mark of 2–3–1 in conference play, tying for fourth place in the IIAC. Illinois State Normal played home games at McCormick Field in Normal, Illinois.

The 1959 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1959 NCAA College Division football season. They were led by third-year head coach Lou Saban and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a perfect 9–0 record overall and a 6–0 record in conference play, winning the IIAC title. Despite its record, the team was unable to participate in a postseason bowl game, as the Illinois state teachers college board banned its schools from participating in postseason sporting events.

The 1953 Western Illinois Leathernecks football team represented Western Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1953 college football season. They were led by fifth-year head coach Vince DiFrancesca and played their home games at Hanson Field. The Leathernecks finished the season with a 8–2 record overall and a 5–1 record in conference play, placing second in the IIAC. They were invited to the postseason Corn Bowl, where they defeated Iowa Wesleyan 32–0.

The 1948 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team represented Eastern Illinois State College—now known as Eastern Illinois University—as a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1948 college football season. Led by third-year head coach Maynard O'Brien, the Panthers finished the season with a 7–3 record overall and a 4–0 mark in conference play, winning the IIAC. They were invited to the postseason Corn Bowl, where they lost to Illinois Wesleyan, 6–0.

The 1927 Bradley Indians football team was an American football team that represented Bradley Polytechnic Institute as a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1927 college football season. Led by eighth-year head coach Alfred J. Robertson, the Indians compiled and overall record of 6–3 with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, winning the IIAC title for the third consecutive season.

The 1962 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team represented Eastern Illinois University as a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1962 NCAA College Division football season. The team was led by sixth-year head coach Ralph Kohl and played their home games at Lincoln Field in Charleston, Illinois. The Panthers finished the season with a 1–7 record overall and an 0–4 record in conference play.

The 1946 Illinois State Normal Redbirds football team represented Illinois State Normal University—now known as Illinois State University—as a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during 1946 college football season. In their second year under head coach Edwin Struck, the Redbirds compiled an overall record of 6–3 record with a mark of 2–2 in conference play, finished third in the IIAC, and outscored opponents by a total of 106 to 53. Illinois State Normal played home games at McCormick Field in Normal, Illinois.

The 1947 Eastern Illinois Panthers football team represented Eastern Illinois University as a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1947 college football season. The team was led by second-year head coach Maynard O'Brien and played their home games at Schahrer Field in Charleston, Illinois. The Panthers finished the season with a 2–6 record overall and a 2–2 record in conference play.

The 1928 Bradley Indians football team represented Bradley Polytechnic Institute—now known as Bradley University—as a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (IIAC) during the 1928 college football season. Led by ninth-year head coach Alfred J. Robertson, the Indians compiled and overall record of 7–2 with a mark of 6–1 in conference play, placing third in the IIAC.

References

  1. ↑ "Illinois Wesleyan "Little 19" Championships". Illinois Wesleyan University Athletics. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  2. ↑ "EIU Football History" (PDF). Eastern Illinois University Athletics. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  3. ↑ "Championship to Millikin". Herald & Review . Decatur, Illinois. December 13, 1919. p. 4. Retrieved July 19, 2020– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  4. ↑ "Bradley Joins I.I.A.C. At Annual Conference". The Daily Pantagraph. December 9, 1922. p. 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Colorful Year For Little 19 Ends Thursday". Herald & Review . Decatur, Illinois. November 26, 1927. p. 17. Retrieved July 18, 2020– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  6. ↑ "3 Elevens Claim Little 19 Crown And All Are Good". Alton Evening Telegraph . Alton, Illinois. November 24, 1931. p. 10. Retrieved July 16, 2020– via Newspapers.com Open Access logo PLoS transparent.svg .
  7. ↑ "Football Athletic Honors". Central Michigan Athletics. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Nick Manych - Class of 1955 - E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame -". Eastern Michigan Athletics. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  9. ↑ "Red Miller: I Tackled the Thing". Western Illinois University. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.