Henderson State Reddies

Henderson State Reddies
University	Henderson State University
Conference	Great American Conference
NCAA	Division II
Athletic director	Shawn Jones
Location	Arkadelphia, Arkansas
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
Colors	Red       Gray
Website	www.hsusports.com

The Henderson State Reddies is the school mascot and athletic emblem for Henderson State University, located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. Henderson athletic teams compete in NCAA Division II intercollegiate sports and they are members of the Great American Conference for all 12 varsity sports.

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.

Varsity teams

Baseball player Andrew Reynolds in 2014

List of teams

Individual sports

Baseball

Henderson State has had 6 Major League Baseball Draft selections since the draft began in 1965.^[1]

Men's Basketball

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 Arkansas 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.

References

External links

• Official website

Great American Conference Members Arkansas Tech Wonder Boys & Golden Suns Arkansas–Monticello Boll Weevils & Cotton Blossoms East Central Tigers Harding Bisons & Lady Bisons Henderson State Reddies Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers Oklahoma Baptist Bison Ouachita Baptist Tigers Southeastern Oklahoma State Savage Storm Southern Arkansas Muleriders Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm Southwestern Oklahoma State Bulldogs Affiliates Oklahoma Christian Eagles Rogers State Hillcats

Sports teams based in Arkansas Baseball TL: Arkansas Travelers Northwest Arkansas Naturals Basketball ABA: Conway Cyclones Texarkana Panthers Football WFA: Arkansas Wildcats Roller derby WFTDA: Northwest Arkansas Roller Derby College athletics NCAA Division I Arkansas Arkansas State Arkansas–Little Rock Arkansas–Pine Bluff Central Arkansas NCAA Division II Arkansas Tech Arkansas–Fort Smith Arkansas–Monticello Harding Henderson State Ouachita Baptist Southern Arkansas NCAA Division III Hendrix Ozarks NAIA Central Baptist John Brown Lyon Philander Smith Williams Baptist NJCAA Arkansas Baptist Mid-South North Arkansas NCCAA Central Baptist Crowley's Ridge Ecclesia High school athletics AAA: Class 7A high schools Class 6A high schools Class 5A high schools Class 4A high schools Class 3A high schools Class 2A high schools Class 1A high schools