FCS School of the Day #48 - Illinois State

[dbackjon]

Illinois State Redbirds
Public
Founded 1857
Normal, Illinois
Students: 20,757
Missouri Valley
Colors: Red and White
Hancock Stadium (15,000)
2008 Record: 2-6, 3-8

Illinois State University is a public university in Normal, Illinois, United States. Most commonly referred to as ISU, the school was founded in 1857 by Jesse W. Fell (1808-1887); Abraham Lincoln drew up the legal documents to establish the university. The original name of the school was Illinois State Normal University, reflective of its primary mission to serve as a normal school for the training of teachers. In 1964, as the institution began expanding and moving toward a full liberal arts curriculum, its name was changed, first to Illinois State University at Normal, and then by 1968 to Illinois State University.

ISU is recognized by the US News rankings as a "National University", that is, a university which grants a variety of doctoral degrees and strongly emphasizes research. US News ranks ISU in the "third tier", meaning that it is currently in the third quartile of schools within the National University category. Among public universities in Illinois awarding doctorate degrees, only the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ranks higher.[1] It is also ranked as the 123rd best university in the U.S. by the Washington Monthly[2]

The ISU athletic teams are members of the Missouri Valley Conference and the Missouri Valley Football Conference, and are known as the "Redbirds," in reference to the state bird, the cardinal.

Illinois State is also home to one of the world's tallest residence hall Watterson Towers, which houses 2,200 students. The building, which consists of a pair of towers, was completed in 1967.

The school's Alma Mater song is "Glory Hast Thou," written to the tune of Haydn's "Austrian Hymn," better known as the tune used for "Das Lied der Deutschen," the German national anthem.

The Town of Normal, originally named North Bloomington, took its name from the school. It is located in McLean County, in central Illinois.

Notable Alumni:
Doug Collins - NBA broadcaster, head coach, and player
Steve Fisher - coached University of Michigan men's basketball team; now head coach at San Diego State University
James "Boomer" Grigsby - National Football League fullback for the Miami Dolphins [4]
Matt Herges - relief pitcher for the Colorado Rockies
Dan Kolb - pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers
Mike Prior - retired defensive back for the Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts and Green Bay Packers
Laurent Robinson - National Football League wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons
John Malkovich (attended, and awarded a degree in 2005)
Laurie Metcalf - actress, Roseanne; Emmy award-winner
Craig Robinson (actor) - actor, The Office; Pineapple Express; Zack and Miri Make a Porno; Knocked Up
Gary Sinise - actor, writer

[dgreco]

one of the FCS schools with quite a few notable alum's

[Cap'n Cat]

BTW, this is Herr Ralph's favorite FCS team!

[pantherrob82]

I thought ***** liked Eastern Illinois?