Reggie Redbird is the mascot for Illinois State University located in Normal, Illinois. Reggie is present at all home football games, women's volleyball matches, men's basketball games, women's basketball games, and appears at various other athletic events. Reggie also does numerous of appearances at schools and events within the Twin Cities, the state of Illinois, and the country.
Reggie Redbird is a student bedecked in costume. Reggie was named in 1980 after a contest among Junior Redbird Club Members. The first suit was donated by Rick Percy, general manager of Clemens and Associates Insurance and a longtime member of The Redbird Club. [1]
The nickname "Redbirds" for the sports teams (replacing the unofficial mascot "Pedagogs" or "Fighting Teachers") [2] was adopted by the then Illinois State Normal University in 1923 by the athletic director Clifford E. "Pop" Horton, with an assist from The Daily Pantagraph sports editor Fred Young. [3]
Horton liked "Cardinals" because the school colors, established in 1894–95, were cardinal and white, and the University teams were known by that nickname for a short period of time. Young recommended the change to "Red birds" to avoid confusion in the headlines with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, and the two words were joined to "Redbirds" by the 1930s. [4]
The mascot is named after MLB Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, who has no connection to the university or the state of Illinois. [5]
Chief Illiniwek was the mascot of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), associated with the university's intercollegiate athletic programs, from October 30, 1926, to February 21, 2007. Chief Illiniwek was portrayed by a student to represent the Illiniwek, the state's namesake, although the regalia worn was from the Sioux. The student portraying Chief Illiniwek performed during halftime of Illinois football and basketball games, as well as during women's volleyball matches.
CEFCU Arena, formerly known as Redbird Arena, is a 10,200-seat multi-purpose arena located in Normal, Illinois, on the campus of Illinois State University. Built in 1989, the building is notable for its use of a Teflon-coated roof that gives off a "glow" during night events. Three Illinois State Redbirds athletic teams use the facility as their home court: men's basketball, women's basketball, and women's volleyball.
The Houston Cougars are the athletic teams representing the University of Houston. Informally, the Houston Cougars have also been referred to as the Coogs, UH, or simply Houston. Houston's nickname was suggested by early physical education instructor of the university and former head football coach, John R. Bender after one of his former teams, Washington State later adopted the mascot and nickname. The teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and the Football Bowl Subdivision as members of the Big 12 Conference.
The Montana Grizzlies and Lady Griz are the nicknames given to the athletic teams of the University of Montana, located in Missoula. The university is a member of the Big Sky Conference and competes in NCAA Division I, fielding six men's teams and nine women's teams. The football team has won the university's only two NCAA championships.
The Illinois State Redbirds are the athletic teams that represent Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Teams play at the NCAA Division I level. The football team competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference while most other teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The fight song is Go, You Redbirds.
The Ball State Cardinals are the athletic teams that represent Ball State University, located in Muncie, Indiana. The Cardinals are part of the NCAA Division I Mid-American Conference. Charlie Cardinal is the team mascot.
The Eastern Michigan Eagles, formerly known as the Normalites and the Hurons, are the athletic teams for Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Michigan, United States. The Eagles compete in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) at the Division I level as members of the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The only exception is the women's rowing program, which is a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. Altogether, the Eagles have won three NCAA Division II national championships and 13 NAIA Division I national championships in five different sports ; moreover, EMU has been NCAA Division I national runner-up twice. In 1940, the men's cross country team finished second to Indiana University at the national meet hosted by Michigan State University.
The Western Illinois Leathernecks are the teams and athletes that represent Western Illinois University, located in Macomb, Illinois, in NCAA Division I sports. The school's primary conference affiliation is with the Ohio Valley Conference; its football team is a member of the Division I FCS Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) and its men's soccer team plays in the Summit League, in which the school had been a member since that conference's formation in 1982.
The Binghamton Bearcats are the NCAA Division I athletics teams at Binghamton University located in Binghamton, New York. United States. They are one of four Division I programs in the SUNY system. A member of the America East Conference, Binghamton University, SUNY sponsors teams in eleven men's and ten women's NCAA sanctioned sports. The men's golf, men's tennis, and women's tennis teams are affiliate members of the Northeast Conference, and the wrestling team is a member of the Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association.
The Illinois State Redbirds football program is the intercollegiate American football team for Illinois State University located in the U.S. state of Illinois. The team competes in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) as a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC). The school's first football team was fielded in 1887. The team plays its home games at the 13,391 seat Hancock Stadium. They are coached by Brock Spack.
The New Mexico State University teams are called the Aggies, a nickname derived from the university's agricultural beginnings. The mascot is known as "Pistol Pete". NMSU's colors are crimson and white. Since 2023 the Aggies have competed in Conference USA in all men's and women's sports. New Mexico State sponsors six men's and ten women's teams in NCAA sanctioned sports. The athletic director is Mario Moccia, who has held the position since January 2015.
The Northern Illinois Huskies are the athletic teams that represent Northern Illinois University (NIU). The Huskies are a member of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I and the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The athletic program is made up of seven men's sports and 10 women's sports. The football team competes in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS).
The Arkansas State Red Wolves are the athletic teams of Arkansas State University. They are a member of the Sun Belt Conference in all sports except women's bowling, a sport not sponsored by that league, competing at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level. As of the next NCAA bowling season in 2023–24, the bowling team will compete in Conference USA, which absorbed the single-sport Southland Bowling League after the 2022–23 season.
The Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represents Illinois State University, located in Normal, Illinois, in NCAA Division I basketball competition. They are currently led by head coach Ryan Pedon and play their home games at CEFCU Arena as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference. They have the distinction of earning the most National Invitation Tournament berths (14) without making the semifinals, and also have the longest current NCAA tournament drought among Missouri Valley Conference members.
Campbell A. "Stretch" Miller was an American sportscaster who worked for eight years as a play-by-play announcer for the St. Louis Cardinals. Earlier in his career, Miller broadcast Illinois State Normal University athletics and other local sports on WJBC radio in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois.
The 1971–72 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represented Illinois State University during the 1971–72 NCAA University Division men's basketball season. The Redbirds, led by second-year head coach Will Robinsion, played their home games at Horton Field House in Normal, Illinois as members of the Conference of Midwestern Universities. They finished the season 16–10, 6–2 in conference play to finish in second place.
The 1972–73 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represented Illinois State University during the 1972–73 NCAA University Division men's basketball season. The Redbirds, led by third-year head coach Will Robinson, played their home games at Horton Field House in Normal, Illinois and competed as an independent. They finished the season 13–12.
The 1973–74 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represented Illinois State University during the 1973–74 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Redbirds, led by fourth-year head coach Will Robinson, played their home games at Horton Field House in Normal, Illinois and competed as an independent. They finished the season 17–9.
The 1974–75 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represented Illinois State University during the 1974–75 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Redbirds, led by fifth-year head coach Will Robinson, played their home games at Horton Field House in Normal, Illinois and competed as an independent. They finished the season 16–10.
The 1975–76 Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represented Illinois State University during the 1975–76 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Redbirds, led by first-year head coach Gene Smithson, played their home games at Horton Field House in Normal, Illinois and competed as an independent. They finished the season with a 20–7 record.