A Century of Redbird Pride: The Enduring Legacy of Illinois State University Athletics

Illinois State University (ISU) boasts a rich and vibrant athletic history, woven into the fabric of the institution itself. From humble beginnings as the "Teachers" to the iconic "Redbirds," the university's athletic identity has evolved over more than a century, marked by moments of triumph, tradition, and tragedy. This article explores the key milestones, defining figures, and enduring spirit that have shaped Illinois State Athletics into what it is today.

From "Teachers" to "Redbirds": The Birth of a Mascot

Prior to 1923, Illinois State's athletic teams were simply known as the "Teachers" or "Fighting Teachers," a nod to the university's primary mission of training educators. However, a desire for a more distinctive and spirited moniker led to a collaborative effort to rebrand the university's athletic identity.

In 1923, athletics director Clifford E. "Pop" Horton sought to change the university's nickname from "Teachers." Horton wanted "Cardinals" because the colors were cardinal and white (set in 1895-96). However, Fred Young, the sports editor for The Daily Pantagraph in Bloomington, Illinois, suggested "Red Birds" to avoid confusion in the headlines with the St. Louis Cardinals Major League Baseball team. It took roughly 10 years for "Red Birds" to coalesce into a single word: "Redbirds". According to Horton himself, the name change made it easier to identify the team with the University.

Early Logos and the Evolution of Reggie Redbird

The Redbird mascot has undergone several transformations since the 1930s. Early versions of a Redbird logo began appearing in the 1930s. The first renditions either borrowed heavily from the St. Louis Cardinals logo or featured generic, non-distinct birds. By the 1960s, four muscular birds were featured spelling out "ISNU" on their shirts. The bird wearing "N" disappeared after "Normal" was dropped from the University's name in 1964.

In the early 1980s, the "thumbs-up" bird came along and the University settled on a standard redbird logo. Bird mascots were introduced at games in the 1950s. In 1981, the mascot was named when he was coined "Reggie Redbird" by the Junior Redbird Club, naming him after baseball great Reggie Jackson. Over time, Reggie's appearance has been updated to reflect modern aesthetics, but his core identity as a symbol of Redbird pride has remained constant.

Football: A Legacy of Gridiron Glory

The Illinois State Redbirds football program has a storied history dating back to 1887, marking 139 years of competition. As a member of the Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), the team has consistently strived for excellence on the gridiron. The team plays its home games at the 13,391 seat Hancock Stadium.

The Mid-America Classic: A Century-Old Rivalry

The rivalry game between Illinois State and Eastern Illinois, known as the Mid-America Classic, stands as the oldest in the state of Illinois, with its roots tracing back to 1901. To commemorate the 100th game in the series, representatives from both schools officially renamed the contest the Mid-America Classic.

A Memorable 2014 Season

The 2014 season stands out as a particularly remarkable chapter in Redbird football history. Following a 5-6 campaign the previous season, Illinois State charged out of the gate in 2014 with a high-powered offense led by quarterback Tre Roberson and tight end James O’Shaughnessy. The Redbirds beat three ranked teams on the way to a 7-0 record and a No. 7 national ranking before falling, 42-28, at No. 22 Northern Iowa for the only loss of the regular season. The Redbirds beat seven ranked teams in 2014 and shared the Missouri Valley Football Conference title with North Dakota State for the first of two straight years. Illinois State received a first-round playoff bye before rolling over Northern Iowa, 41-21, in a rematch, this time at Hancock Stadium, in the second round. With a 13-2 final record, Illinois State set a school mark for victories.

The season culminated in an appearance in the NCAA Division I FCS National Championship game in Frisco, Texas. The Redbirds faced the North Dakota State Bison, the three-time defending national champions. Despite a valiant effort, the Redbirds fell short, losing 29-27 after a late touchdown by NDSU. This appearance underscored the program's ability to compete at the highest level.

Basketball: Hardwood History at CEFCU Arena

CEFCU Arena serves as the home of both the ISU men’s and women’s basketball teams, as well as Redbird volleyball. The arena marked a new era for both the Illinois State basketball programs as well as the Bloomington-Normal community. In front of a then-record crowd of 9,724, guard Randy Blair scored the first basket in the arena’s history, a 5-footer along the baseline 35 seconds into the game.

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The first women’s basketball home game at the arena was eight days after the men’s opener, on January 19, 1989, against Western Illinois. Illinois State raced to a 45-17 halftime lead in an 89-51 blowout. Five Redbirds scored in double figures as Illinois State shot 50% from the floor while holding Western Illinois to just 29.4%.

The Illinois State basketball programs have provided many moments of excitement and achievement over the years.

Softball: A Legacy of Excellence

Illinois State's softball team has a celebrated history, marked by numerous appearances in the Women's College World Series (WCWS). The Redbirds made eight appearances in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1976, 1978 and 1981. The team finished as runner-up in the first WCWS in 1969, and in 1973, falling to Arizona State, 4-3, in 16 innings in the title game. On the day of the 1973 defeat, Redbirds pitcher Margie Wright heroically hurled 30 innings in three games.

The Margie Wright Controversy

Ironically, for pitching too many innings in one day, a three-woman Illinois sports commission suspended her from pitching in any game in her upcoming senior season and also banned the softball team from post-season play in 1974. Wright went on to play professional softball, followed by a 33-year head coaching career.

A Program of Broad-Based Excellence

Illinois State University offers a diverse range of athletic programs, with teams competing in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC), Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC), Midwest Independent Conference (MIC; women's gymnastics), and Summit League (men's tennis). This broad-based approach to athletics provides opportunities for student-athletes to excel in a variety of sports, contributing to the overall vibrancy of the university community.

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Affiliations and Conference Alignments

From approximately 1908 to 1970, Illinois State was affiliated with the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and were charter members. The school, which had already been an NCAA Division I competitor for a decade, left behind its independent status in 1980 and affiliated itself with the Missouri Valley Conference. From 1981 to 1992, Redbird women's teams competed under the Gateway Collegiate Athletic Conference banner before women's sports were absorbed into the Missouri Valley Conference.

Tragedy and Remembrance

On 7 April 2015, tragedy struck when a privately owned Cessna 414 carrying Redbirds men's basketball coach Torrey Ward, Deputy Director of Athletics Aaron Leetch, and five community members and athletics supporters crashed, killing all seven on board. The group was returning from Indianapolis, where they attended the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship Final. The plane crashed in a soybean field outside of Central Illinois Regional Airport in McLean County.

The University and Athletics Department memorialized the victims in several ways, including a uniform patch worn by all 19 teams throughout the 2015-16 sports seasons. This tragedy serves as a reminder of the close-knit nature of the Redbird community and the profound impact that athletics can have on the lives of individuals and institutions.

Notable Figures: Shaping the Redbird Legacy

Over the years, numerous individuals have played pivotal roles in shaping the history of Illinois State Athletics. From coaches and administrators to athletes and supporters, these figures have left an indelible mark on the program.

Samuel Moulton

Samuel Moulton is remembered as the state legislator who introduced the bill to found Illinois State Normal in 1857 and spent 19 years on the Illinois State Board of Education, which oversaw the University in its early days. From 1859-76, he served as the board’s president. A Massachusetts native, Moulton studied law in Illinois and settled in Shelbyville in 1849. There, he was a friendly rival to Abraham Lincoln and is one of numerous connections of ISU to the sixteenth president. Politically, he was often on opposite sides with Lincoln. Despite their many differences, as President, Lincoln appointed Moulton as a district enrollment commissioner in the Civil War. Moulton’s loyalty to Illinois State University is unquestioned.

Key Athletes and Coaches

Margie Wright: A former professional softball player and coach for 33 years.
Neal Cotts: Former MLB pitcher with the Chicago White Sox, Chicago Cubs, Texas Rangers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Minnesota Twins.
Paul DeJong: MLB shortstop for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Wahoo: The Unofficial Mascot

Wahoo appeared in the 1924 Index yearbook. The loss ended a long friendship between Wahoo, who was named for one of the school’s early fight songs, and the student body. Wahoo, though, made his way across campus to fill a variety of roles, including as an unofficial greeter. The four-legged friend was there for the entire campus careers of scores of students.

Homecoming was a big deal for Wahoo, who was usually a featured attraction. On November 9, 1921, the Vidette reported that Wahoo was one of the first in line at the “big parade” onto the football field, following just behind the band. He was certainly dressed for the part, “in his beautiful suit of red and white,” and “was the subject of snap shooters (photos) all day long.” The paper summarized that “many of his pictures were carried away for memory books. Sadly, Wahoo was hit by a car near the main entrance of campus.

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. visited Bloomington-Normal and spoke at Illinois Wesleyan University in February 1966. On this date in 1929, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was born. King’s appearance at Illinois Wesleyan University in February 1966 was celebrated by students at both ISU and IWU, as well as the Bloomington-Normal community. Ironically, King was one of 13 candidates in a mock student election at Illinois State in the spring of 1968.

News of the election was carried in the Vidette on March 28, seven days before his assassination. His murder in Memphis on April 4, 1968, was eulogized in poignant words by one writer in the Vidette in the April 23 edition.

“We knew he was destined for martyrdom,” wrote the columnist. “His comparison to Gandhi was all too obvious, and we have seen what happens in this country when someone tries to bring us up to the real events of our time - we have seen, for example, the murders of Abraham Lincoln and Jack Kennedy. King’s legacy has been celebrated at Illinois State ever since.

On April 17, 1969, just over a year after King’s death, civil rights leader Rev. Jackson had been on the second-floor balcony at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, just a few feet away when King was shot. The previous month, on March 18-19, Rev. Members of the Illinois State community also expressed their thoughts on King’s tragedy in artistic ways. On January 20, 1986, the United States celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day as an official holiday for the first time. One of the many notable exercises in the community was the annual memorial march in King’s honor, which was first held around 1980 and was sponsored by the NAACP.

An editorial in the Vidette on Jan. 17, 1986, three days before the holiday, urged the ISU campus to “Remember Dr. Illinois State continues to organize an annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service (scheduled for January 24, 2025, at Midwest Food Bank), and the University hosts the annual Martin Luther King Jr.

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