Eastern Illinois Panthers
| Eastern Illinois Panthers |
|
| University |
Eastern Illinois University |
| Conference(s) |
Ohio Valley Conference |
| NCAA |
Division I |
| Athletics director |
Barbara Burke |
| Location |
Charleston, IL |
| Varsity teams |
10 men's and 11 women's |
| Football stadium |
O'Brien Stadium |
| Basketball arena |
Lantz Arena |
| Mascot |
Billy the Panther (Replaced by Prowler the Panther in 2003, returned on September 13, 2008) |
| Nickname |
Panthers |
| Fight song |
|
| Colors |
Blue and Gray
|
| Homepage |
Official Athletics Website |
The Eastern Illinois Panthers are the men's and women's athletic teams representing Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL. Eastern Illinois University's colors are blue and gray. Eastern Illinois sports teams, except for men's soccer and swimming teams, participate in NCAA Division I (FCS for football) in the Ohio Valley Conference. The men's soccer program competes in the Missouri Valley Conference and the swim team competes in The Summit League. The team mascot, a panther, was informally known as "Billy" until its name was officially changed to "Prowler the Panther," in 2003 and changed again to "Billy the Panther" on 13 September 2008. [1].
History
Men's Basketball
-
- All time tournament results [2]
| Year |
Seed |
First Round Winner |
First Round Loser |
| 1992 |
15 |
Indiana |
94 |
Eastern Illinois |
55 |
| 2001 |
15 |
Arizona |
101 |
Eastern Illinois |
76 |
-
- 1978 Division II National Champion, 1980 National Runner-Up.
- NCAA Division I Football Championship tournament appearances: 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, & 2009
Team Championships:
- 1974 - NCAA College Division National Champions
Individual Champions:
- 1955 - Ray White, NAIA Long Jump
- 1967 - John Craft, NAIA Triple Jump
- 1969 - John Craft, NCAA College Division Triple Jump
- 1972 - Rodney Jackson, NCAA College Division 400 hurdles
- 1973 - Rodney Jackson, NCAA College Division 400 hurdles
- 1974 - Darrell Brown, NCAA Division II Long Jump
- 1975 - Toni Ababio, NCAA Division II Long Jump
- 1975 - Toni Ababio, NCAA Division II Triple Jump
- 1976 - Ed Hatch, NCAA Division II 400 Meter Dash
- 1979 - Robert Johnson, NCAA Division II 110 hurdles
- 1981 - Augustine Oruwari, NCAA Division II 110 hurdles
- 1988 - Jim Maton, NCAA Division I 800 meter run (Indoor)
- 1992 - Dan Steele, NCAA Division I 400 hurdles
Team Championships:
- 1968 - NCAA College Division National Champions
- 1969 - NCAA College Division National Champions
- 1977 - NCAA National Champions
Notable former athletes
- Tim Bogar, retired Major League Baseball infielder
- Chris Szarka, Canadian Football League fullback
- Ryan Shuff, Arena Football League Houston Thunderbears, Buffalo Destroyers
- Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys Quarterback
- Sean Payton, Head Coach of the New Orleans Saints
- Brad Childress, former Head Coach of the Minnesota Vikings
- Mike Shanahan, Head Coach of the Washington Redskins
- Kevin Duckworth, former NBA All-Star forward
- Kyle Hill, basketball player & professional basketball player in Europe
- Henry Domercant, basketball player & professional basketball player in Europe
- Marty Pattin, former MLB baseball pitcher, California Angels, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox & Kansas City Royals
- Micah Rucker, former Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs, Currently with the New York Giants Wide Receiver
- Kyle O'Brien, Hanson's, Team USA Marathon Runner
- Pierre Walters, NFL Linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs
- Bobby Catchings, basketball player & professional basketball player in Europe
- Ray D'Alessio, Sports Anchor CNN Headline News
Fight Song
Eastern Loyalty or EIU Fight Song is the fight song for the university. The lyrics are:
We are loyal EIU, we're loyal and true -
'though the odds be great or small
we'll still be cheering you (rah! rah!)
so fight you Panthers for the glory of our dear name
fight on for Eastern, come on you Panthers win this game!
External
|
|
|
| Current members |
|
|
| Future member |
|
|