A Division I (I-AA in football) athletic program. This is the athletic program at Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. The mascot is Reggie Redbird. The football team competes in the Gateway Football Conference while most other teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference. The first football game played at Hancock Stadium was in 1963 The fight song is Go, You Redbirds[1].

History

Illinois State began it's athletics program more than 100 years ago and the winning began simultaneously. The school, which had already been an NCAA Division I competitor for more than a decade, left behind its independent status during the 1981-82 school year and affiliated itself with conference play.

The men's basketball team has appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1997, & 1998. The football team has appeared in the NCAA Division I Football Championship in 1998, 1999, & 2006. In 1999, the Redbirds won two playoff games in route to appearing the Final Four and finishing 3rd in the final poll. The women's basketball team has appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 1983, 1985, 1989, & 2005.

The Home of Champions

125 and Counting Athletics success at Illinois State is broadbased. With 19 intercollegiate sports, the Redbird program constitutes one of the largest in the Midwest.

With 125 league titles in 23 years, it also represents one of the most successful. Today, 17 of the 19 Redbird sports compete in the Missouri Valley Conference, the oldest collegiate league west of the Mississippi River. Illinois State is recognized for pioneering opportunities for minorities. Individuals of national import and recognition have grown up in the programs here.

Facilities

Redbird Arena -The main indoor arena

Hancock Stadium -Football Stadium

Adelaide Street Field -Soccer Field

McCormick Courts -Tennis Courts

Redbird Field -Baseball Field

Redbird Softball Complex -Softball Field

University Golf Course -Golf Course

Horton Pool -Indoor Pool

Evergreen Racquet Club -Indoor Tennis Court

Notable former athletes:

• Dave Bergman - retired Major League Baseball player and World Series Champion (1984)
• Aveion Cason - National Football League Running back
• Doug Collins - NBA broadcaster, head coach, player and Olympian
• Neal Cotts - MLB baseball player with the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Cubs
• Matt Herges - Major League Baseball pitcher for the Florida Marlins
• Mike Prior - Former National Football League player and part of Green Bay Packers team that won Super Bowl XXXI
• Dennis Nelson - Former National Football League player and part of Baltimore Colts team that won Super Bowl V
• Lorene Ramsey - Former Women's Basketball coach of Illinois Central College, who with a career record of 887-197
• Robinson, Laurent - Current NFL Wide Receiver with the Atlanta Falcons. Selected in the 3rd round (75th overall) in the 2007 NFL Draft.
• Dan Kolb - Major League Baseball relief pitcher
• D. A. Weibring - Professional golfer on the PGA Tour
• Boomer Grigsby - National Football League Linebacker
• Steve Fisher - Current basketball coach at San Diego State, head coach of 1989 National Championship Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team
• Lee "Buzz" Capra - former Atlanta Braves pitcher who led the National League in Earned Run Average in 1973
• Pat Knutson - former cricket all-star and member of the United States Cricket Hall of Fame
• See also http://goredbirds.cstv.com/trads/ilsu-trads-inthepros.html

Three Pointer

Redbird Arena

Free throw

Basketball starters introduced

External links

• Official athletics website

Missouri Valley Conference
Bradley (Braves)• Creighton (Bluejays) • Drake (Bulldogs) • Evansville (Purple Aces)• Illinois State (Redbirds) • Indiana State (Sycamores)• Missouri State (Bears) • Northern Iowa (Panthers) • Southern Illinois (Salukis)• Wichita State(Shockers)

Gateway Football Conference
Illinois State (Redbirds) • Indiana State (Sycamores) • Missouri State (Bears) • Northern Iowa (Panthers) • Southern Illinois (Salukis)• Western Illinois (Leathernecks)• Youngstown State (Penguins)

Public Universities in Illinois

Chicago State University • Eastern Illinois University • Governors State University • Illinois State University • Northeastern Illinois University • Northern Illinois University • Western Illinois University Southern Illinois University Southern Illinois University Carbondale • Southern Illinois University Edwardsville University of Illinois system University of Illinois at Chicago • University of Illinois at Springfield • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Current Basketball Venues in the Missouri Valley Conference

Carver Arena (Bradley men) • Charles Koch Arena (Wichita State) • Hammons Student Center (Missouri State) • Hulman Center (Indiana State) • Knapp Center (Drake) • McLeod Center (Northern Iowa) • Omaha Civic Auditorium (Creighton women) • Qwest Center Omaha (Creighton men) • Redbird Arena (Illinois State) • Roberts Stadium (Evansville) • Robertson Memorial Field House (Bradley women) • SIU Arena (Southern Illinois)

Current Football Stadiums in the Gateway Football Conference
Hancock Stadium (Illinois State) • Hanson Field (Western Illinois) • L. T. Smith Stadium (Western Kentucky) • McAndrew Stadium (Southern Illinois) • Memorial Stadium (Indiana State) • Robert W. Plaster Sports Complex (Missouri State) • Stambaugh Stadium (Youngstown State) • UNI-Dome (Northern Iowa)

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