Illinois State Redbirds
University	Illinois State University
Conference(s)	Missouri Valley Conference
NCAA	Division I
Athletics director	Gary Friedman
Location	Normal, IL
Varsity teams	17 (7 men's, 10 women's)
Football stadium	Hancock Stadium
Basketball arena	Redbird Arena
Baseball stadium	Duffy Bass Field
Mascot	Reggie Redbird
Nickname	Redbirds
Fight song	Go, You Redbirds
Colors	Red and White
Homepage	GoRedbirds.com

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.[1]

Teams [edit]

Illinois State University sponsors eight men's and eleven women's teams in NCAA sanctioned sports:^[1]

• Note = The football team competes in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and the gymnastics team competes in the Midwest Independent Conference.

History [edit]

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 Conference.

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.

Accomplishments [edit]

Men's Basketball [edit]

Conference Title: 1983, 1990, 1993, 1997, 1998 NCAA Appearances: 1983, 1984, 1985, 1990, 1997, 1998

• In 2008 they reached the NIT with a 25-10 record, They won their first round game as a 2 seed but ended up losing to Dayton 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.
• In 2012 the Redbirds made it to the NIT Tournament. They defeated Ole Miss in the first round, but lost to eventual 2012 NIT champion Stanford.

Women's Basketball [edit]

Conference Title: 1983, 1989, 2005, 2008, 2009 NCAA Appearances: 1983, 1985, 1989, 2005, 2008

• In 2008 the women made it to the NCAA tournament with a 26-6 record as a 13 seed but lost first round to the Oklahoma
• 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. Lost in the second round of the 2012 postseason WNIT.^[2]

Football [edit]

For current information see 2012 Illinois State Redbirds football team

Missouri Valley Football Conference title: 1999

NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs: 1998, 1999, 2006

Bowl Games

• 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.^[3]

Facilities [edit]

• Doug Collins Court at Redbird Arena - main indoor arena.
• Hancock Stadium - football stadium.
• Duffy Bass Field - 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 [edit]

• Doug Collins - NBA broadcaster, head coach, player and Olympian.
• Tarise Bryson - Harlem Globetrotters Best Basketball Player in ISU history (1998-2002)
• Dave Bergman - retired Major League Baseball player and World Series Champion (1984)
• Aveion Cason - National Football League Running back
• Matt Herges - Major League Baseball pitcher for the Florida Marlins and Cleveland Indians
• Rico Hill - star guard led ISU to two straight NCAA berths and played for the Los Angeles Clippers and in Europe
• 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 Free Agent- Former NFL Wide Receiver with the Dallas Cowboys and the Jacksonville Jaguars. 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 Fullback
• 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
• Kevin Glenn - Canadian Football League quarterback for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
• Dusty Burk - Indoor football quarterback for the Bloomington Extreme

References [edit]

1. ^ http://www.goredbirds.com/
2. ^ http://www.upi.com/Sports_News/2011/03/30/COL-BKB-W-USC-63-Illinois-St-36/UPI-57011301543623/
3. ^ DeLassus, David. "Division I-AA All-Time Wins". College Football Data Warehouse. Retrieved April 12, 2011.