Illinois State Redbirds
Encyclopedia
The Illinois State Redbirds are the athletic teams that represent Illinois State University
in Normal, Illinois
. Teams play at the NCAA Division I level (I-AA in football
). 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
.http://goredbirds.cstv.com/trads/ilsu-trads-school-songs.html
.
From approximately 1910-1970, Illinois State was affiliated with the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
.
Athletics at Illinois State consists of 19 intercollegiate sports, having won 125 league titles in 23 years.
Today, 17 of the 19 Redbird sports compete in the Missouri Valley Conference
, with the football team playing in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, formerly known as the Gateway Conference.
Conference Title: 1983, 1990, 1993, 1997, 1998
NCAA
Appearances: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1997, 1998
NCAA
Appearances: 1983, 1985, 1989, 2005, 2008
NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs: 1998, 1999, 2006
Bowl Games
Illinois State University
Illinois State University , founded in 1857, is the oldest public university in Illinois; it is located in the town of Normal. ISU is considered a "national university" that grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research; it is also recognized as one of the top ten largest...
in Normal, Illinois
Normal, Illinois
Normal is an incorporated town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. It had a population of 52,497 as of the 2010 census. Normal is the smaller of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
. Teams play at the NCAA Division I level (I-AA in football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
). The football team competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference while most other teams compete in the Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
. The fight song is Go, You Redbirds
Go, You Redbirds
Go, You Redbirds is the fight song for the athletic teams of Illinois State University. It was written in 1932 by Kenyon S. Fletcher. The words have been changed from time to time...
.http://goredbirds.cstv.com/trads/ilsu-trads-school-songs.html
History
Illinois State began its athletics program more than 100 years ago. 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 the Missouri Valley ConferenceMissouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
.
From approximately 1910-1970, Illinois State was affiliated with the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was a college athletic conference that existed from 1908 to 1970 in the United States.-History:...
.
Athletics at Illinois State consists of 19 intercollegiate sports, having won 125 league titles in 23 years.
Today, 17 of the 19 Redbird sports compete in the Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
, with the football team playing in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, formerly known as the Gateway Conference.
Men's Basketball
see: Illinois State Redbirds men's basketballIllinois State Redbirds men's basketball
The Illinois State Redbirds men's basketball team represents the Illinois State University, located in Normal, Illinois, in NCAA Division I basketball competition.-Season by Season Records:-NCAA Tournament Results:...
Conference Title: 1983, 1990, 1993, 1997, 1998
NCAA
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
Appearances: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1997, 1998
- In 2008 they reached the NIT2008 National Invitation Tournament-Semifinals and Final:Played at Madison Square Garden in New York City on April 1 and 3* - Overtime game.-External links:*...
with a 25-10 record, They won their first round game as a 2 seed but ended up losing to DaytonDayton FlyersThe Dayton Flyers are the University of Dayton's intercollegiate athletic teams, which are based in Dayton, Ohio. The Flyers' home arena is the University of Dayton Arena. The name is a reference and homage to Daytonians Orville and Wilbur Wright who pioneered heavier than air flight...
in the 2nd round. - In 2009 they reached the NIT. They faced Kansas State in the first round and lost in overtime.
- In 2010 the Redbirds once again made it to the National Invitation Tournament as a 7 seed. They traveled to Dayton, Ohio to take on the eventual 2010 NIT champion Flyers.
Women's Basketball
Conference Title: 1983, 1989, 2005, 2008, 2009NCAA
NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Women's Division I Championship is an annual college basketball tournament for women. Held each April, the Women's Championship was inaugurated in the 1981–82 season...
Appearances: 1983, 1985, 1989, 2005, 2008
- In 2008 the women made it to the NCAA tournamentNCAA Women's Division I Basketball ChampionshipThe NCAA Women's Division I Championship is an annual college basketball tournament for women. Held each April, the Women's Championship was inaugurated in the 1981–82 season...
with a 26-6 record as a 13 seed but lost first round to the OklahomaOklahoma SoonersThe University of Oklahoma features 19 varsity sports teams. Both men's and women's teams are called the Sooners, a nickname given to the early participants in the land rushes which initially opened the Oklahoma Indian Territory to non-native settlement. They participate in the NCAA's Division I-A,... - During the 2007-2008 season, former Head Coach Dr. Jill Hutchinson was recognized for her pioneering work in the advancement of women’s basketball. A banner was hung from the rafters at Redbird Arena in her honor.
- 2009 Kristi Cirone becomes the all time leading scorer.
- December 28, 2009 Kristi Cirone's No. 10 jersey was retired at Redbird Arena. Redbird Women's Basketball
- Reached Semifinals in the 2009, 2010, and 2011 postseason WNIT.
Football
Missouri Valley Football Conference title: 1999NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs: 1998, 1999, 2006
Bowl Games
| Date played | Bowl | Champion | Runner-Up | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 23, 1950 | Corn Bowl | Missouri-Rolla Missouri University of Science and Technology Missouri University of Science and Technology is an institution of higher learning located in Rolla, Missouri, United States, and part of the University of Missouri System... |
7 | Illinois State | 6 |
| December 4, 1999 | Pecan Bowl Pecan Bowl Pecan Bowl, a postseason college football bowl game, was first played at Shotwell Stadium located in Abilene, Texas. The first game took place in December 1964, and was played there each year until 1968, when the location was moved to Arlington, Texas. One of four regional playoff bowls of the NCAA... |
Illinois State | 37 | Hofstra | 20 |
| December 1, 2006 | Pecan Bowl Pecan Bowl Pecan Bowl, a postseason college football bowl game, was first played at Shotwell Stadium located in Abilene, Texas. The first game took place in December 1964, and was played there each year until 1968, when the location was moved to Arlington, Texas. One of four regional playoff bowls of the NCAA... |
Youngstown State Youngstown State Penguins football The Youngstown State Penguins football team represents Youngstown State University in college football. Youngstown State currently plays as a member of the NCAA at the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision and are a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference... |
28 | Illinois State | 21 |
- The 1999 & 2006 the Midwest Region Championship (FCS Quarterfinal) was referred to as the Pecan Bowl
- In 1999 the Redbirds football advanced Final Four and receiving 3rd in the AP poll.
- Illinois State holds the NCAA Division I-AA record for the most tied football games with 66.
Facilities
- Doug Collins Court at Redbird ArenaRedbird ArenaDoug Collins Court at Redbird Arena is a 10,200 seat multi-purpose arena in Normal, Illinois. Built in 1989, the building is notable for its use of a Teflon-coated roof that gives off a "glow" during night events...
- main indoor arena. - Hancock StadiumHancock StadiumHancock Stadium is a 9,500-seat multi-purpose stadium in Normal, Illinois. It opened in 1963. It is home to the Illinois State University Redbirds football team.- History :...
- football stadium. - Duffy Bass FieldDuffy Bass FieldDuffy Bass Field is a baseball venue in Normal, Illinois, USA. It is home to the Illinois State Redbirds college baseball team of the Division I Missouri Valley Conference...
- baseball field. - Adelaide Street Field - soccer field.
- McCormick Courts - outdoor tennis courts.
- Redbird Softball Complex - softball field.
- Weibring Golf Club - golf course.
- Horton Field House
- Evergreen Racquet Club - indoor tennis court.
Notable former athletes
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, playerPlayer (game)A player of a game is a participant therein. The term 'player' is used with this same meaning both in game theory and in ordinary recreational games....
and OlympianOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
. - Dave BergmanDave BergmanDavid Bruce Bergman was a Major League Baseball first baseman, designated hitter, and outfielder.Born in Evanston, Illinois, Bergman is an alumnus of Maine South High School and Illinois State University...
- retired Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
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and Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona... - Rico HillRico HillRico Hill is an American professional basketball player currently playing for the Chicago Muscle of the Premier Basketball League...
- star guard led ISU to two straight NCAA berths and played for the Los Angeles ClippersLos Angeles ClippersThe Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. They play in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association...
and in Europe - Mike PriorMike PriorMichael Robert Prior , is a former American professional football player who was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 7th round of the 1985 NFL Draft. A 6'0",...
- Former National Football LeagueNational Football LeagueThe National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
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men's basketball team - Lee "Buzz" CapraBuzz CapraLee William "Buzz" Capra was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1971 to 1977 for the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves...
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in 1973 - Kevin GlennKevin GlennKevin Glenn, Jr. is a professional Canadian football quarterback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. He was signed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders as an undrafted free agent in 2001...
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