The Indiana State University Sycamores
are the intercollegiate athletic teams of Indiana State University. They are members of the Missouri Valley Conference, past conference memberships include the Indiana Collegiate Conference
and the Midwestern Conference.
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INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES TICKETS
EVENT | DATE | AVAILABILITY |
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Bradley Braves vs. Indiana State Sycamores Tickets 1/15 | Jan 15, 2025 Wed, 7:00 PM | | Indiana State Sycamores vs. Drake Bulldogs Tickets 1/18 | Jan 18, 2025 Sat, 6:00 PM | | Illinois State Redbirds vs. Indiana State Sycamores Tickets 1/21 | Jan 21, 2025 Tue, 7:00 PM | | Indiana State Sycamores vs. Northern Iowa Panthers Tickets 1/25 | Jan 25, 2025 Sat, 1:00 PM | | Belmont Bruins Women's Basketball vs. Indiana State Sycamores Tickets 1/26 | Jan 26, 2025 Sun, 2:00 PM | |
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History
Origin of 'Sycamores' nickname
Until
1921, the then-Indiana State Normal School athletic teams were unofficially called the "Fighting Teachers" in the media. A contest was held to come up with a new name for the teams, and in
January 1922, it was announced that "Sycamores" had won a popular vote of the student body. The nickname has been used by Indiana State ever since.
[1]
Baseball
Basketball
Football
Rivalry
Indiana State University's rivalries include the
Illinois State Redbirds, cross-state
Ball State Cardinals (formerly a branch of Indiana State) with whom the Sycamores football team competed for the Victory Bell, the
Evansville Purple Aces and the nearby
Eastern Illinois Panthers.
Athletic bands
Indiana State's marching band is called the
Marching Sycamores. The marching band performs at home football games and annually, is the feature band at the
Brickyard 400.
There are two alternating bands that play at men's and women's basketball games. They are known as the Blue and White Basketball Bands.
Mascots
During the 1950s and 60s, the
sycamore tree itself was used as Indiana State's mascot. However, as a tree does not lend itself well to an athletic mascot, especially considering Indiana State's in-state rivalries with the
Ball State Cardinals and
Butler Bulldogs, the university created an Indian mascot named Chief Quabachi in
1969.
The university stopped using Chief Quabachi as a mascot in
1989 after complaints were raised about the use of a Native American caricature.
[2]
For six years, Indiana State had no mascot, until in
1995, a blue-and-white fox named
Sycamore Sam was developed and continues to serve as Indiana State's mascot. Even with Sycamore Sam, ISU students refer to themselves as fighting trees.
Notable Athletes & Coaches
John Wooden (Basketball Coach),
Larry Bird (Basketball),
Carl Nicks (Basketball),
Bruce Baumgartner (Freestyle Wrestling),
Kurt Thomas (Gymnastics),
Zane Smith (Baseball),
Wally Johnson (Baseball),
Benita Edds (Olympic Archery),
Vencie Glenn (Football)
References
- Essay on History and Heritage - Traditions
- A Short History of the Fighting Sycamore Name