Eastern Illinois Panthers
| Eastern Illinois Panthers | |
|---|---|
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
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
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
NCAA sanctioned sports.[8] The Panthers' men's and women's swimming teams compete as associate members of the Summit League since those sports are not sponsored by the OVC. The men's soccer team also competed in the Summit League before the OVC launched a men's soccer league for the 2023 season (2023–24 school year). The OVC merged its men's tennis league into that of the Horizon League after the 2021–22 school year, with all OVC teams in that sport, including Eastern Illinois, becoming Horizon associates.[9]
Sports sponsored
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Beach volleyball |
| Cross country | Cross Country |
| Football | Golf |
| Golf | Soccer |
| Soccer | Softball |
| 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.[10]
The Panther baseball team has appeared in three
.Basketball
Men's basketball
- 1957. With a combined record of 7–7. Highest finish, 4th: 1957.
- 1978.
- NCAA Division I tournamentappearances (1992 and 2001).
- All time tournament results[11]
| 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 |
Men's cross country
Team Championships:
- 1968 – NCAA College Division National Champions
- 1969 – NCAA College Division National Champions
- 1977 – NCAA Division II National Champions
National Finishes:
- 1971 – NCAA Division II Fifth Place
- 1972 – NCAA Division II Seventh Place
- 1973 – NCAA Division II Third Place
- 1974 – NCAA Division II Third Place
- 1975 – NCAA Division II Third Place
- 1976 – NCAA Division II Third Place
- 1978 – NCAA Division II Fifth Place
- 1979 – NCAA Division II Third Place
Football
- Division IINational 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[12]
| 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 Tigers |
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 | 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 golf
National Finishes:[13]
- 1969 - NAIA 4th Place
- 1972 - NAIA 8th Place
Individual National Champions:[14]
- 1972 - Gaylord Burrows - NAIA
Soccer
Men's soccer
- 1969 – NAIA National Champion.
- NCAA Division II runners-up in 1974.
- Stripped of 1981 Division I 3rd-place finish.
Women’s soccer
The Panther women’s soccer team has appeared in four
2004.[15]
Softball
The Panther softball team appeared in two AIAW Women's College World Series, in 1971 and 1974.[16] They reached their first NCAA Division I softball tournament in 2023.
Men’s swimming and diving
National Finishes:
- 1975 - NCAA Division II 3rd Place
Individual National Champions:[17]
- 1973 - Bob Thomas, NCAA Division II 200 yard backstroke
- 1973 - Bob Thomas, NCAA Division II 400 yard IM
- 1973 - Jon Mayfield, NCAA Division II 200 yard breaststroke
- 1973 - NCAA Division II 400 yard medley (Bob Thomas, Jon Mayfield, Dan Cole, Dave Toler)
- 1974 - Bob Thomas, NCAA Division II 200 yard backstroke
- 1974 - Bob Thomas, NCAA Division II 400 yard IM
- 1974 - Jon Mayfield, NCAA Division II 200 yard breaststroke
- 1974 - NCAA Division II 400 yard medley (Bob Thomas, Jon Mayfield, Brian Forsberg, Dave Toler)
- 1975 - Jon Mayfield, NCAA Division II 200 yard breaststroke
Track and field
Team Championships (men's):
- 1974 – NCAA Division II Outdoor National Champions
- 1976 — NCAA Division II Outdoor National Runner-up
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 — 4x400 Relay, Women’s Track & Field AIAW II
- 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
Volleyball
The Eastern Illinois volleyball team has been the Ohio Valley Conference champions in 1998, co champions in 2004, and 2023. The volleyball team has made two NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament appearances in 2001 and 2023.[18]
Athletic facilities
Current facilities
Facilities are housed on the west side of the EIU campus between 4th Street and Grant Avenue.[19]
- Coaches Stadium at Monier Field — Baseball
- Darling Courts — Men's and women's tennis
- Lakeside Field — Men's and women's soccer
- Lantz Arena — Men's and women's basketball, Volleyball
- Lantz Field House — Men's and women's indoor track and field
- O’Brien Field — Football, Men's and women's outdoor track and field
- Ray Padovan Pool — Men's and women's swimming and diving
- Tom Woodall Panther Trail — Men's and women's cross country
- Williams Field — Softball
Men's and women's golf practice at four local courses including Charleston Country Club, Mattoon Country Club, Meadowview Golf Course and Bent Tree Golf Course.[20]
Former facilities
- Pemberton Hall — Men’s Basketball
- McAfee Gymnasium — Men’s Basketball
- Schahrer Field — Football (1899–1948)[21][22]
Club and intramural facilities
- Student Rec Center — Intramural sports
Notable former athletes
Baseball
- Tim Bogar, retired Major League Baseball infielder
- Zach Borenstein (born 1990), baseball outfielder
- MLB All-Star.
- Stan Royer, MLB baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox[23]
- Kevin Seitzer, retired all-star Major League Baseball player[24]
Basketball
- professional basketball player in Europe
- NBAAll-Star forward
- professional basketball player in Europe
- New Jersey Nets
Football
- Brad Childress, former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings
- Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders
- punter for the LA/Oakland Raidersand 3 other NFL teams
- Kamu Grugier-Hill, linebacker for the Miami Dolphins
- Alexander Hollins, wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings
- John Jurkovic, former NFL Defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars
- Tim Kelly offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans
- Ray McElroy, former NFL Cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears
- Sean Payton, head coach of the Denver Broncos and winner of Super Bowl XLIV
- tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Indianapolis Colts
- sportscaster
- Micah Rucker, former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, and New York Giants; also played in the Arena Football League
- Washington Redskins and 3 times Super Bowlwinner.
- fullback
- NFL linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs
Handball
- handball player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.[25]
MMA
- Matt Hughes, 2x NCAA All-American wrestler, former UFC Welterweight Champion
- mixed martial artist for the UFC
- mixed martial artist
- mixed martial artist
Rugby
- Lauren Doyle, represented the United States of America for Rugby sevens at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Soccer
- Schellas Hyndman, former head coach of soccer's FC Dallas[26]
- Matt Bobo, former North American Soccer League player
- John Baretta, former North American Soccer League goalkeeper
- Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–92)player
- LeBaron Hollimon, former National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001) player
- Damien Kelly, former National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001) player
- Mark Simpson, former goalkeeper and assistant coach for D.C. United
- Jason Thompson, former player for D.C. United
- Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–92)player
Track
- John Craft, placed 5th in the Men’s triple jump at the 1972 Summer Olympics
- Sandy Osei-Agyemang, advanced to the second round in the Men's 100 metres and Men's 4 × 100 metres relay at the 1972 Summer Olympics
- All-American, 400-meter National Champion, and Bronze Medalist at the 2002 Winter Olympics[27]
- Darrin Steele, competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics and the 2002 Winter Olympics[28]
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 September 19, 2014.
- ^ "Horizon League Announces Innovative Partnership with Ohio Valley Conference and Men's Tennis Programs, Adds Chicago State as an Affiliate Member for Men's and Women's Tennis" (Press release). Horizon League. July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Eastern Illinois Men's Golf Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- ^ "EIU Individual National Champions". Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- ^ "EIU Women's Soccer Record Book" (PDF). p. 4. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- ISBN 978-0-9893007-0-4.
- ^ "EIU National Championships". Retrieved April 30, 2019.
- ^ "EIU Volleyball Record Book" (PDF). p. 57. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
- ^ "Eastern Illinois Athletic Facilities" (PDF). Eastern Illinois Panthers. p. 3. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- ^ "Eastern Illinois Facilities". Eastern Illinois Panthers. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- ^ "Buildings and Grounds of EIU". Eastern Illinois University. p. 35. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
- ^ "Nostalgia Surrounds O'Brien" (PDF). Eastern Illinois University. Retrieved 16 March 2019.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Stan Royer". Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ "Kevin Seitzer". Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Tim Dykstra". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
- ^ "Schellas Hyndman". Southern Methodist University. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
- ^ "Dan Steel". Journal Gazette and Times-Courier. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
- ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Darrin Steele Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
External links
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |