Reggie Redbird
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Reggie Redbird is the mascot for Illinois State University located in Normal, Illinois. The mascot is present at many campus events including all sporting events and many of the major events during freshman orientation.
[edit] History
The nickname "Redbirds" for the sports teams (replacing "Teachers") was adopted by the then Illinois State Normal University in 1923 by the athletic director Clifford E. "Pop" Horton, with an assist from The Daily Pantagraph sports editor Fred Young.
Horton liked "Cardinals" because the school colors, established in 1895-96, were cardinal and white, and the University teams were known by that nickname for a short period of time. Young recommended the change to "Redbirds" to avoid confusion in the headlines with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team.
