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Illinois State University
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Illinois State University - Athletics - Athletics - College ProwlerCollege Prowler2.69

Athletics

C+
Where does this grade come from?View all Athletics rankingsReview this school to add your opinion

Comparable Schools' Athletics Grades:

Quick Stats

Athletic Association
  • NAA
  • NCAA
Athletic Division NCAA Division I-AA
Athletic Conferences Football: Missouri Valley Conference
Basketball: Missouri Valley Conference
School Colors Red and white
School Nickname Redbirds
Men Playing Varsity Sports 225 - 3%
Women Playing Varsity Sports 216 - 2%
Students Receiving Athletic Financial Aid Football: 86
Basketball: 29
Baseball: 29
Cross Country/Track: 48
Other Sports: 132
Graduation Rates of Athletic Financial Aid Recipients Football: 60%
Basketball: 38%
Baseball: 50%
Cross Country/Track: 100%
Other Sports: 79%

Student Author OverviewWhat's This?

It is apparent that athletics are not huge at ISU, but that does not mean there is a lack of school spirit. ISU offers 17 varsity sports for students to get involved in throughout the school year. Football, which is a big deal at other schools, takes a backseat to basketball. However, football is still important and one of the largest fan-based sports that students, faculty, and community members turn out for during the season. Homecoming is a popular activity where a lot of alumni come back to tailgate and watch the game. In 2010, the ISU basketball team earned its third-straight postseason tournament bid. It is common knowledge that if an ISU sports team is doing well, a large majority of the student body will come support them, but if the opposite is true and a team is doing poorly, they receive little to no spirit.

There are also a number of athletics that do not receive as much support, including swimming, hockey, golf, and lacrosse. Lacrosse is one of many intramural clubs that continues to gain popularity throughout the campus. All ISU students are invited to join any of the intramural sports available. This is a great way to have fun and get involved on campus without having the responsibility of a sports team. Even though sports are not a main concern for ISU students, there is still a lot of school spirit. The main campaign is called "Spread the Red," which was started in 2006. There are a lot of local stores like Campus Supply that sell ISU gear at a discounted price.

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Illinois State Student ReviewsWhat's This?

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Athletics at Illinois State University

younoknowmyname

Political Science and Government '15

2.7
C+

Lacking School Spirit

The newly constructed rec center is VERY nice, but usually overcrowded. It can be hard to get a machine during certain times of the day. However, as far as sports goes, there is an extreme lack in school spirit.

May 23, 2012

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Athletics at Illinois State University

dylankorzec

Biological Sciences '15

2.7
C+

Sports Aren't That Big

The sports at ISU don't really grab the attention of student here, however the teams aren't bad and all the athletic facilities seem very nice. School spirit at ISU isn't prevalent but some students do show a form of active interest in the athletics here.

Feb 08, 2012

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Athletics at Illinois State University

tcnatha

Biological Sciences '13

5.0
A+

Outstanding Athletes

I've only been at Illinois State for one semester and I joined the marching band. Since I was in the band I was able to attend a lot of sports events and have seen first hand that ISU players can easily crush the competion! Football, basketball, and volleyball teams have some serious supporters that come from miles away and I think having that support helps to strengthen our athletes!

Jan 12, 2012

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Page 1 of 13
User rating for Illinois State University - Athletics is 3.5 out of 5 based on 37 user reviews.

Student Survey Poll ResultsWhat's This?

How popular are varsity sports on campus?

How popular are intramurals and club sports?

How would you describe the athletic facilities?

Facts

Men's Varsity Sports
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
Women's Varsity Sports
  • Basketball
  • Golf
  • Gymnastics
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Swimming and diving
  • Tennis
  • Track and field
  • Volleyball
Intramurals
  • Bags
  • Basketball
  • Disc golf
  • Dodgeball
  • Flag football
  • Floor hockey
  • Indoor sprint triathlon
  • Kickball
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Sports trivia
  • Swimming
  • Tennis
  • Ultimate Frisbee
  • Volleyball
  • Wiffleball
Club Sports
  • Baseball
  • Basketball (women's)
  • Bowling
  • Cheerleading
  • Cycling
  • Equestrian
  • Figure skating
  • Ice hockey
  • Lacrosse
  • Paintball
  • Roller hockey
  • Rugby
  • Running
  • Soccer
  • Softball
  • Tennis
  • Triathlon
  • Ultimate disc
  • Volleyball
  • Water polo
  • Water skiing
  • Wrestling
Athletic Fields & Facilities
  • Adelaide Street Field
  • Duffy Bass Field
  • Evergreen Racquet Club
  • Gregory Street Tennis Courts
  • Hancock Stadium
  • Horton Field House
  • Horton Pool
  • Kaufman Football Building
  • Marian Kneer Stadium
  • North Gym
  • Owen Center
  • Redbird Arena
  • Redbird Track and Field Complex
  • Weibring Golf Club

Most Popular Sports

Like any typical state university, football and men’s basketball receive the most attention. While they may not be the most successful teams, they still tend to bring in the most revenue and fans.

Most Overlooked Teams

The women’s teams, in general, do not receive a lot of attention or support.

School Spirit

School spirit may not be present during every athletic event, but students are proud to represent ISU wherever they go. Those who do attend athletic games are bursting with spirit, while the ones at home tend not to care. ISU does receive a lot of support and school spirit if there are rallies held on the quad. A few past rallies have included raising money for Haiti earthquake relief, remembering September 11, and ISU’s Relay for Life. Although some students choose not to attend athletic events, they still show their pride by wearing ISU gear to class or around town.

Getting Tickets

Tickets can be purchased the day of a game. Normally, games do not sell out. Also, tickets are sold in advance usually at Redbird Arena. Students receive a discount with proof of their student ID. It is fairly cheap to attend most ISU athletic games.

Best Place to Take a Walk

Constitution Trail

Did You Know?
  • If you plan on attending some ISU sporting events, sign up for a Red Alert Pass! These passes allow students into games for free with priority seating. It is a great investment for sports-loving individuals. Visit www.goredbirds.com/ot/ilsu-redalert.html for more information.
  • When Illinois State University plays Bradley University in any sport, buy a ticket in advance. Those games are extremely fun because BU and ISU have been rivals for many years.

Become a Contributing Author Learn more »

Most Recent Student Author View all

Name
Elizabeth Nelligan
Hometown
Lake Zurich, IL
Major
Journalism

College Prowler is seeking talented student authors to assist with writing and updating the College Prowler guides to their schools. This is a great opportunity for a student to gain experience and tremendous exposure, utilize new media techniques, and share advice with high school students about what life is really like at your college.

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How do we get our information? Find out here or report an error here. The statistics on our site are from the National Center for Education Statistics IPEDS database.
We update this information twice annually, most recently in May 2012, but it may not be the most recent information available for a particular school.
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