Name-a-Day Calendar, August 6: Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles

Page 273 of 365

Chosen in: 1971, probably

Chosen by: It appears to have been lifted from the name of the booster club

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What is now the University of Southern Indiana was originally founded in 1965 as Indiana State University-Evansville (ISUE).

As far as I can tell, this new branch school played men’s basketball on the club level for most or all of the period between 1965 and 1970, and this team was known as the Spartans. Intercollegiate men’s basketball began with the 1970-71 season, and at this time, the student body also selected the American bald eagle as their mascot.

That explains the “Eagles”. The first reference to the “Screaming Eagles” I could find was in The Shield student newspaper from March 5, 1971, which announced the formation of the Screaming Eagles Varsity Club. The announcement stated that the name of this booster club was inspired by the mascot.

Following this announcement, ISUE’s teams themselves gradually became referred to as the Screaming Eagles. It wasn’t very common at first, but by 1974 or so, it was the primary moniker.

ISUE split from Indiana State University in 1985, renaming itself the University of Southern Indiana in the process. Since then, their teams have been the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles.

Southern Indiana’s costumed eagle mascot has existed as long as the school has played intercollegiate sports. His name is Archibald T. Eagle.

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