Eastern Illinois Panthers
| Eastern Illinois Panthers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | Eastern Illinois University |
| Conference | Ohio Valley Conference Summit League (Men's soccer, m/w swimming) |
| NCAA | Division I / FCS |
| Athletic director | Tom Michael |
| Location | Charleston, Illinois |
| Varsity teams | 20 (10 men's and 10 women's) |
| Football stadium | O'Brien Stadium |
| Basketball arena | Lantz Arena |
| Baseball stadium | Coaches Stadium at Monier Field |
| Softball stadium | Williams Field |
| Soccer stadium | Lakeside Soccer Field |
| Mascot | Billy the Panther |
| Nickname | Panthers |
| Fight song | Eastern State March |
| Colors | Blue and gray[1] |
| Website | www |
 | |
The Eastern Illinois Panthers are the intercollegiate athletic programs of Eastern Illinois University (EIU) located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. The Panthers athletic program is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC)[2] and competes at the NCAA Division I[3] level in the Football Championship Subdivision. EIU's colors are blue and gray. Selected as the team mascot in 1930, EIU's panther, was informally known as "Billy" for many years and was officially named "Billy the Panther" in 2008.[4] Panther teams have won five NCAA national championships in three sports.[5] The Panthers also won the 1969 NAIA men's soccer title.[6]
History
Eastern Illinois athletics began in the school's very first year, with the inaugural football team taking the field only three weeks after the first students arrived on campus in 1899.[7]
Eastern Illinois was a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1912 to 1970. From 1978 to 1982 they were members of the Mid Continent Athletic Association which was absorbed by the Association of Mid-Continent Universities later known as the Mid-Continent Conference now the Summit League till 1996. In 1996 they joined the Ohio Valley Conference which is their current conference.
A member of the Ohio Valley Conference since 1996, Eastern Illinois University sponsors teams in ten men's and ten women's NCAA sanctioned sports.[8] The Panthers' men's soccer team and men's and women's swimming teams compete as associate members of the Summit League since those sports are not sponsored by the OVC.
Sports sponsored
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Cross country |
| Cross country | Golf |
| Football | Soccer |
| Golf | Softball |
| Soccer | Swimming and diving |
| Swimming and diving | Tennis |
| Tennis | Track and field† |
| Track and field† | Volleyball |
| † – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor | |
Baseball
- 1973 NCAA Division II World Series Third Place.
- 1978 NCAA Division II World Series Fifth Place.
- 1981 NCAA Division II World Series Runner-Up.[9]
The Panther baseball team has appeared in two NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, in 1999 and 2008.
Men's basketball
- NAIA Tournament appearances (6) 1947, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1957. With a combined record of 7–7. Highest finish, 4th: 1957.
- NCAA Division II Tournament appearances each year from 1975 to 1980. Highest finish, 3rd: 1976 and 1978.
- NCAA Division I Tournament appearances (1992 and 2001).
- All time tournament results[10]
| Year | Seed | First Round Winner | First Round Loser | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 15 | Indiana | 94 | Eastern Illinois | 55 |
| 2001 | 15 | Arizona | 101 | Eastern Illinois | 76 |
Women’s basketball
- NCAA Division I Tournament appearance 1988.
| Year | Seed | First Round Winner | First Round Loser | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 10 | Colorado | 78 | Eastern Illinois | 72 |
Football
- 1978 Division II National Champion
- 1980 Division II National Runner-Up.
- NCAA Division I Football Championship tournament appearances: 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015.
- Conference Titles: 1912, 1913, 1914, 1928, 1948, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2013
- All time tournament results[11]
| Year | First Round Home Team | First Round Away Team | Second Round Home | Second Round Away | Quarterfinal Home | Quarterfinal Away | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 OT | Eastern Illinois | 16 | Jackson State | 13 | Tennessee State | 20 | Eastern Illinois | 19 | ||
| 1983 2OT | Indiana State | 16 | Eastern Illinois | 13 | ||||||
| 1986 | Eastern Illinois | 28 | Murray State | 21 | Eastern Illinois | 22 | Eastern Kentucky | 24 | ||
| 1989 | Idaho | 21 | Eastern Illinois | 38 | Montana | 25 | Eastern Illinois | 19 | ||
| 1995 | Stephen F. Austin | 34 | Eastern Illinois | 29 | ||||||
| 1996 | Northern Iowa | 21 | Eastern Illinois | 14 | ||||||
| 2000 | Montana | 45 | Eastern Illinois | 13 | ||||||
| 2001 | Eastern Illinois | 43 | Northern Iowa | 49 | ||||||
| 2002 | Western Illinois | 48 | Eastern Illinois | 9 | ||||||
| 2005 | Eastern Illinois | 6 | Southern Illinois | 21 | ||||||
| 2006[12] | Eastern Illinois | 13 | Illinois State | 24 | ||||||
| 2007 | Southern Illinois | 30 | Eastern Illinois | 11 | ||||||
| 2009 | Southern Illinois | 48 | Eastern Illinois | 7 | ||||||
| 2012 | South Dakota State | 58 | Eastern Illinois | 10 | ||||||
| 2013 | Bye | Bye | Eastern Illinois 51 | Tennessee State 10 | Eastern Illinois | 39 | Towson | 49 | ||
| 2015 | Northern Iowa | 53 | Eastern Illinois | 17 | ||||||
Men's soccer
- 1969 – NAIA National Champion.
- NCAA Division II runners-up in 1978, 3rd in 1977, and 4th in 1974.
- Stripped of 1981 Division I 3rd-place finish.
Men's cross country
Team Championships:
- 1968 – NCAA College Division National Champions
- 1969 – NCAA College Division National Champions
- 1977 – NCAA Division II National Champions
Men's track and field
Team Championships (men's):
- 1974 – NCAA Division II 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
Softball
The Panther softball team has appeared in two Women's College World Series, in 1971 and 1974.[13]
Notable former athletes
Baseball
- Tim Bogar, retired Major League Baseball infielder
- Zach Borenstein (born 1990), baseball outfielder
- Randy Myers, former American Major League Baseball pitcher with the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays between 1985 and 1998. 4x MLB All-Star.
- Marty Pattin, former MLB baseball pitcher for the California Angels, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Kansas City Royals
- Stan Royer, MLB baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox[14]
- Kevin Seitzer, retired all-star Major League Baseball player[15]
Basketball
- Henry Domercant, professional basketball player in Europe
- Kevin Duckworth, former NBA All-Star forward
- Kyle Hill, professional basketball player in Europe
- Jay Taylor, former NBA player for the New Jersey Nets
Football
- Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers
- Brad Childress, former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings
- Sean Payton, head coach of the New Orleans Saints
- Tony Romo, former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys
- Micah Rucker, former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, and New York Giants; also played in the Arena Football League
- Mike Shanahan, former head coach of the Washington Redskins
- Chris Szarka, retired Canadian Football League fullback
- Pierre Walters, former NFL linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs
- Jeff Gossett, former NFL punter for the LA/Oakland Raiders and 3 other NFL teams
- Ted Petersen, retired NFL Offensive/Defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Indianapolis Colts
- Ray McElroy, former NFL Cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears
- John Jurkovic, former NFL Defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars
- Kamu Grugier-Hill, linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles
MMA
- Matt Hughes, 2x NCAA All-American wrestler, former UFC Welterweight Champion
- Kenny Robertson, 4x NCAA Division I qualifier for wrestling; current mixed martial artist for the UFC
- Mike Russow, current mixed martial artist
- Matt Veach, current mixed martial artist
Soccer
- Schellas Hyndman, former head coach of soccer's FC Dallas[16]
- Matt Bobo, former North American Soccer League player
Track
- John Craft, triple jumper in the 1972 Summer Olympics
- Dan Steele, track All-American, 400-meter National Champion, and Bronze Medalist at the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics[17]
References
- ^ "EIU BRANDING, MARKETING & LOGOS". Retrieved January 1, 2024.
- ^ "OVC Member Institutions". Ohio Valley Conference. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
- ^ "Eastern Illinois University". NCAA. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
- ^ "EIU Panther Mascot". Eastern Illinois University Athletics. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
- ^ "EIU National Championships". Eastern Illinois University Athletics. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
- ^ "Men's Soccer Championship Records" (PDF). National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
- ^ "History". Eastern Illinois University Athletics. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
- ^ "FB_familyweekend_2014". Retrieved 19 September 2014.
- ^ "Eastern Illinois Panthers - Turn Back the Clock Tuesday - May 16, 1981". Retrieved 19 September 2014.
- ^ [1] Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Eastern Illinois Panther Football : Panthers - Salukis Meet For Third Time In Five Years EIU Opens FCS Plays At Southern Illinois" (PDF). Eiupanthers.com. Retrieved 2015-04-23.
- ^ [2] Archived September 22, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Plummer, William; Floyd, Larry C. (2013). A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States: Turnkey Communications Inc. ISBN 978-0-9893007-0-4.
- ^ "Stan Royer". Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ "Kevin Seitzer". Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ "Schellas Hyndman". Southern Methodist University. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ "Dan Steel". Journal Gazette and Times-Courier. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
