Henderson State Reddies
| Henderson State Reddies | |
| University | Henderson State University |
|---|---|
| Conference(s) | Great American Conference |
| NCAA | Division II |
| Athletic director | Shawn Jones |
| Location | Arkadelphia, AR |
| Varsity teams | 12 |
| Football stadium | Carpenter-Haygood Stadium at Ruggles Field |
| Basketball arena | Duke Wells Center |
| Baseball stadium | Clyde Berry Field |
| Other arenas | Red Wave Natatorium |
| Nickname | Reddies |
| Fight song | |
| Colors | Red and Grey
|
| Homepage | HSUSports.com |
The Henderson State Reddies are the athletic teams that represent Henderson State University, located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports. The Reddies compete as members of the Great American Conference for all 12 varsity sports.
Varsity teams
List of teams
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Men's sports
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Women's sports
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Individual sports
Football
Sports culture
Battle of the Ravine
The Battle of the Ravine is a rivalry game between Henderson State University and Ouachita Baptist University. It is currently the oldest rivalry of any NCAA Division II institutions. The first game was played on November 8, 1895 (Thanksgiving Day) and Ouachita College beat Arkadelphia Methodist College 8-0. The next meeting did not occur until 1907 in the first sanctioned game of the series. The Reddies defeated Ouachita and went on to claim the Arkansa State Championship.
The Reddies went on to win the next six meetings and the game was played on Thanksgiving Day. Both teams also made the game their homecoming. The series was discontinued in 1951 after Henderson won 54-0 and the pranks got out of control. The series resumed in 1963 with the Reddies winning 28-13. The series continued until 1993 when Henderson State moved to the NCAA Division II Gulf South Conference. It continued again in 1996 when Ouachita Baptist University moved to the Lone Star Conference. OBU joined the GSC in 2000 and the two schools did not play each other in 2004 or 2005 as a result of schedule rotation. In total, the two schools have met 85 times. Henderson State currently leads the series 41-39-6.
Showband of Arkansas
Considered one of the finest college marching bands in the country, the “Showband of Arkansas” consists of 150 winds, percussion, and auxiliary members. The mission of the “Showband of Arkansas” is to represent, foster and promote the “Reddie Spirit” through musical and visual performance. Composed of students from all academic disciplines, the “Showband of Arkansas” frequently performs as the feature band at high school marching contests, enjoys travel to exciting away-games and regularly thrills thousands of Reddie spectators at home football games. It is open to any student by audition, regardless of major.
That Old Reddie Spirit
Upon its establishment in 1905, the Henderson State football team became known for wearing red jerseys. Absent a traditional nickname or mascot, the team was appropriately dubbed the “Reds.” Eventually, the name shifted to “Reddies,” and it stuck. But being a Reddie is about much more than athletics. In 1914 the Henderson State campus was ravaged by a fire. With nearly the entire campus destroyed, a group of Henderson students gathered under a tree with a decision to make—either transfer to other schools in the area, or rebuild Henderson. In the end, the choice was easy. They decided to rebuild Henderson, and at that moment, they redefined what a “Reddie” truly was. It’s a spirit. It’s a belief. It’s an attitude.