Eastern Illinois Panthers

Infobox college athletics
name = Eastern Illinois Panthers

university = Eastern Illinois University
conference = Ohio Valley Conference
division = Division I
director = Barbara Burke
city = Charleston
state = Illinois
stateabb = IL
teams = 10 men's and 11 women's
stadium = O'Brien Stadium
arena = Lantz Arena
mascot = Billy the Panther (Replaced by Prowler the Panther in 2003, returned on September 13, 2008)
nickname = Panthers
color1 = Blue
color2 = Gray
hex1 = 0000FF
hex2 = 808080
pageurl = http://www.eiupanthers.com
pagename = Official Athletics Website

The Eastern Illinois Panthers are the men's and women's athletic teams representing Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, IL. Eastern Illinois University's colors are blue and gray. Eastern Illinois sports teams, except for men's soccer and swimming teams, participate in NCAA Division I (I-AA for football) in the Ohio Valley Conference. The men's soccer program competes in the Missouri Valley Conference and the swim team competes in The Summit League. The team mascot, a panther, was informally known as "Billy" until its name was officially changed to "Prowler the Panther," until its name was officially changed to "Billy the Panther" on 13 September 2008. [http://www.dennews.com/home/index.cfm?event=displayArticle&istory_id=347892] in 2003.Eastern Illinois University is home to one of only two NCAA Division I women's rugby teams in the United States.fact|date=April 2008

History

*Men's Basketball
**NAIA Tournament appearances (6) 1947, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1957. With a combined record of 7-7. Highest finish, 4th: 1957.
**NCAA Division II Tournament appearances each year from 1975 to 1980
**NCAA Division I Tournament appearances (1992 and 2001).
*All time tournament results [http://www.eiu.edu/~sprtinfo/sports/bsktball/07_MBB-Guide.pdf]

*Football
**1978 Division II National Champion, 1980 National Runner-Up.
**Division I-AA National Football tournament appearances: 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007

*All time tournament results [http://www.eiu.edu/~sprtinfo/sports/football/06_FB-Guide_44-64.pdf]

Notable former athletes

* Tim Bogar, retired Major League Baseball infielder
* Chris Szarka, Canadian Football League fullback
* Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys Quarterback
* Sean Payton, Head Coach of the New Orleans Saints
* Brad Childress, Head Coach of the Minnesota Vikings
* Mike Shanahan, Head Coach of the Denver Broncos
* Kevin Duckworth, former NBA All-Star forward
* Kyle Hill, basketball player & professional basketball player in Europe
* Henry Domercant, basketball player & professional basketball player in Europe
* Marty Pattin, former AL baseball pitcher, California, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee, Boston & Kansas City
* Micah Rucker, Pittsburgh Steelers Wide Receiver

External

* [http://www.eiupanthers.com Official athletics website]