Reggie Redbird

Reggie also does numerous of appearances at schools and events within the Twin Cities, the state of Illinois, and the country.

The first suit was donated by Rick Percy, general manager of Clemens and Associates Insurance and a longtime member of The Redbird Club.

[1] The nickname "Redbirds" for the sports teams (replacing the unofficial mascot "Pedagogs" or "Fighting Teachers")[2] was adopted by the then Illinois State Normal University in 1923 by the athletic director Clifford E. "Pop" Horton, with an assist from The Daily Pantagraph sports editor Fred Young.

Young recommended the change to "Red birds" to avoid confusion in the headlines with the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, and the two words were joined to "Redbirds" by the 1930s.

[4] The mascot is named after MLB Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, who has no connection to the university or the state of Illinois.