User:Dgiovag/sandbox/Reggie the Redbird

Introduction
Illinois State University (ISU) was founded in 1857. It is the oldest public university in Illinois and is located in Normal. ISU is also recognized as one of the top ten largest producers of teachers in the US according to the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education. Illinois State University sponsors eight men's and eleven women's teams in NCAA sanctioned sports. Reggie is the mascot for Illinois State university in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois. In 1981, Reggie was named Reggie the Redbird by the Junior Redbird Club after baseball great, Reggie Jackson. Reggie appears at all the sports games to help get the crowd pumped and to cheer on his fellow sports teams. The mascot suit was donated by Rick Percy, general manager of Clemens and Associates Insurance and longtime member of the Redbird Club. Reggie lives in a nest above the scoreboard in redbird arena.

History
The nickname "Redbirds" for the sports teams was adopted by the then Illinois State Normal University in 1923 by  Clifford E. "Pop" Horton, who was the athletic director, with an assist from The Daily Pantagraph sports editor Fred Young. his interest in the St. Louis cardinals lead to the schools colors and the nickname cardinals. Since there was much confusion because of the St. Louis cardinals, he decided to change the name to the redbirds.

Horton was asked to express the birth of the new name of the Redbirds.

"When I came here [Illinois State] in 1923, the ISU teams were known as the 'Teachers.' Since the school colors were cardinal and white, I thought it would be a good idea to call the team the 'Cardinals.' So I tried to introduce that new name. Fred Young was responsible for changing us from the Cardinals to the Redbirds. By calling our team Redbirds, it was easy to identify them with the University, so he gradually shifted to the Redbirds. I don't recall exactly when the shift took place, but we were known as the Cardinals for a very short period of time." Reggie's great-grandfather first started showing up to games in the late 1960s up until now, four generations of the Redbird mascot. The most famous Reggie Redbird is undoubtedly Bob Rose from Birds, Illinois. During his year as Reggie Redbird in 1978, Rose famously entered a football game against Western Illinois and scored the winning touchdown to clinch the conference championship. He is a hero to be remembered for generations to come. Rose is also known for creating Reggie's famous Peck, Peck & Rumble (PPR) touchdown dance.

Appearance
Reggie has transformed throughout the years to keep up with the current trends. When Reggie was first "born" His costume was a big ball shaped costume with a lot of red feathers. He wore yellow tights and red sneakers. He also had the letter "I" painted on his stomach. Also at certain games he had velvet wings and had a more velvet suite. He had the letter "I" patched on him with the word state going down it. He is considered Reggie's great grandpa. Reggie's dad wore a full mascot suite wit yellow feet, jeans, black furry hands, and a red furry body. The fur is a dull red. Currently covered in bright red fur, black beady eyes, a yellow break and feet. He wears different jerseys when attending different sporting events.

Impact
Summer of 2013, Reggie helped the town change the street sign color to red. This distinguished the town of normal and redbird country.

There is a children's story book called "Where are all the redbirds" featuring Reggie the redbird. The book takes the reader on a adventure through many locations to find out why he is the only redbird in the forest. The University’s first children’s book was created by Illinois State illustrator Mike Mahle with writer Susan Blystone. The book will be sold at various Bloomington-Normal retailers and online starting in September 2014. A list of retailers is below and also available at IllinoisState.edu/ReggieBook.