Illinois State Redbirds Logo PNG
The logo of the Illinois State Redbirds features athletes from the university’s 19 teams, and a caricatured version of the mascot turned into an intimidating facial expression of the opponent. The identity focuses on the state itself, the teams’ affiliation, and the name.
Illinois State Redbirds: Brand overview
| Founded: | 1923 |
| Headquarters: | Normal, Illinois, U.S. |
| Website: | goredbirds.com |
The nineteen teams of the Illinois State Redbirds represent Illinois State University in NCAA Division I. Moreover, almost all of them participated in the Missouri Valley Conference. Exceptions include the football program, which belongs to the Missouri Valley Football Conference, men’s tennis in the Summit League, and women’s gymnastics in the Mid-American Conference.
They are united under the common name Redbirds, hinting at the cardinal bird. Initially, the sports department was called Cardinals, as red, along with white, was the primary color of the university. However, the nickname had to be changed to avoid associations with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Meaning and History
The logo of the Illinois State Redbirds depicts that same mysterious “red bird” mentioned in the name. Early versions of the red bird began to appear in the 1930s. However, these prototypes hardly resembled what is used now: they either exactly replicated the emblem of the St. Louis Cardinals or looked like realistic illustrations of a cardinal sitting on a branch. Only in the 1980s did the sports department approve a permanent logo, which has since been modernized several times.
What is Illinois State Redbirds?
The Illinois State Redbirds consist of 19 teams participating in intercollegiate programs and representing Illinois State University. They compete in NCAA Division I and are members of the Missouri Valley Conference. The football players participate in the NCAA FCS and play in the Missouri Valley Football Conference. Located in Normal, Illinois.
1966 – 1979
1979 – 1996
In the late 20th century, the emblem’s central place was taken by an anthropomorphic red bird, extending its hand with a raised thumb. It was the main symbol of the teams until the mid-1990s. To give the image meaning, designers added additional elements: a large white ring with black outlines and the inscription “ISU.”
1996 – 2005
A redesign conducted in 1996 brought several significant changes:
- Artists redrew the bird and removed the hand.
- Instead of abbreviation, the full names of the teams appeared.
- The words “ILLINOIS STATE” were depicted in print letters and positioned between two red stripes, and “Redbirds” was written in a font imitating calligraphic handwriting and placed at the bottom.
2005 – today
Experimenting with the emblem once again, designers left the red bird alone. They simply shifted it slightly to the right to fit the large red inscription “ILLINOIS STATE” to the left with the small white inscription “REDBIRDS” on a black background.
Illinois State Redbirds Basketball Logo
The men’s basketball team is most known for becoming the regular season conference champions fourteen times, conference tournament champions four times, and participating in the NCAA tournament six times. The women’s team was no less active: debuting in 1971, it has participated in five NCAA tournaments, twelve WNITs, and won the Missouri Valley Conference tournament four times.
Illinois State Redbirds: Interesting Facts
The Illinois State Redbirds are a sports team from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. They play in NCAA Division I, mostly in the Missouri Valley Conference.
- Mascot and Colors: Their mascot is Reggie Redbird, who brings a lot of spirit to games. The team wears redbirds in red and white, which shows who they are.
- Horton Field House: This is an old building at the university where lots of sports happen, like basketball and indoor track.
- Women’s Basketball: The women’s basketball team is good. They’ve been in big tournaments, and many players have become pros.
- Douglas J. Collins: The basketball court at Redbird Arena is named after Doug Collins, who played basketball at Illinois State, played in the NBA, and coached in the NBA.
- Volleyball: The volleyball team is one of the best in their conference. They’ve won many games and gone to national tournaments.
- Men’s Basketball: The men’s basketball team also does well in their conference and has played in national tournaments. Some of their players have gone pro.
- Redbird Arena: Opened in 1989, this arena is where the basketball and volleyball teams play. It’s big and helps the home team feel supported.
- Track, Field, and Cross Country: These teams have won many awards and have athletes competing in national competitions.
- Women’s Soccer: The women’s soccer team has won its conference several times and played in national tournaments, showing its competitiveness.
These points show that the Illinois State Redbirds are all about being the best, supporting each other, and helping athletes in many sports do well.
Font and Colors
The evolution of the Illinois State Redbirds logo shows how the character of the cardinal changed. Initially, the bird smiled amicably and showed an approving gesture – an upward-raised thumb. Then, it became menacing, even fierce, with a red fire igniting in its eyes. Artists also conveyed aggression with a low-tilted head and tightly clenched teeth. This was meant to express the spirit of competition, raise the fighting spirit of the university teams, and intimidate opponents.
Illinois State Redbirds color codes
| Fire Engine Red | Hex color: | #ce142b |
|---|---|---|
| RGB: | 206 20 43 | |
| CMYK: | 0 90 79 19 | |
| Pantone: | PMS 185 C |
| Cavendish Yellow | Hex color: | #f6da17 |
|---|---|---|
| RGB: | 246 218 23 | |
| CMYK: | 0 11 91 4 | |
| Pantone: | PMS 108 C |
| Black | Hex color: | #000000 |
|---|---|---|
| RGB: | 0 0 0 | |
| CMYK: | 0 0 0 100 | |
| Pantone: | PMS Process Black C |