Eastern Illinois Panthers Logo PNG
The name of the athletic program, representing Eastern Illinois University, is the Panthers, and this wild super beautiful wild cat has always been an essential part of the program’s logo, and an inspiration for its 21 men’s and women’s teams, which compete as a part of the first division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association in various sports disciplines including Basketball, Baseball, Football, Soccer, and many more.
Meaning and history
The Eastern Illinois Panthers, a noteworthy figure in collegiate sports, were founded as part of Eastern Illinois University’s athletic program. Eastern Illinois University, established in 1895 in Charleston, Illinois, introduced the Panthers as its athletic identity, becoming a symbol of pride and competition in various sports. Over the years, the Panthers have carved out a significant place in collegiate athletics, particularly in the NCAA Division I, where they compete in the Ohio Valley Conference.
The main achievements of the Eastern Illinois Panthers are remarkable and diverse, spanning across various sports. In football, they have a history of success, including multiple conference championships and appearances in the FCS playoffs. The basketball team, both men’s and women’s, has also seen its share of triumphs, making several appearances in the NCAA tournaments. Additionally, their track and field program has produced numerous individual champions and Olympians, further enhancing the university’s reputation in collegiate athletics.
Currently, the Eastern Illinois Panthers continue to compete at a high level in the NCAA Division I. They remain a formidable presence in the Ohio Valley Conference, striving for excellence in all their sports programs. The university’s commitment to athletic success is evident in its continued investment in facilities and scholarships, aiming to attract top talent and maintain its competitive edge. The Panthers, thus, stand as a testament to Eastern Illinois University’s dedication to excellence in collegiate sports.
What is Eastern Illinois Panthers?
The Eastern Illinois Panthers are the athletic teams of Eastern Illinois University, competing in NCAA Division I. Renowned for their participation in various sports, they are a symbol of athletic prowess and university pride.
1965 – 1975
The logo, designed for Eastern Illinois Panthers in 1965, featured a cool hand-drawn image of an angry panther determinedly walking in a white long-sleeved jersey with a large blue EIU abbreviation on the chest. The lettering has an interesting geometry, with an elongated “I” dividing the inscription into two equal parts. The badge was used by the teams of the program for almost ten years.
1984 – 1989
The redesign of 1984 has created a more distinctive image, with the contoured head of a wild cat placed above the massive voluminous “EIU” lettering in solid blue with black shadow edges. The white “Panthers” in small capitals was written at the bottom of the composition, creating a nice airy emphasis.
1989 – 2000
The logo version from the end of the 1980s looked already more modern and sleek, with the refined contours of the elements and smooth shapes. The blue panther’s head peeks out neatly from behind a gray banner with a blue abbreviation on it. The rectangular banner with its corners rounded, balancing the wild cat’s keen eyes, and the rounded serif characters support them.
2000 – 2008
The redesign of 2000 has introduced a sleek and strong logo for the athletic program at Eastern Illinois University. It was a badge with the head of a panther drawn in profile facing to the left, in solid black with thin blue accents and an open mouth showing sharp fangs. The cat was accompanied by a wavy white inscription in a custom font with thin sharp bars and a narrow ribbon with additional lettering in small capitals.
2008 – 2015
In 2008 the direction of the panther on the Eastern Illinois Panthers logo was changed from left to right. Overall the concept and style were kept as on the previous badge, with the same shapes, colors, and even sizes. The new variant of the logo stayed active for almost seven years.
2015 – Today
The 2015 Eastern Illinois Panthers logo also sported a side view of a panther’s head. This time, the animal was placed inside a shield.
Basketball
The men’s team boasts six NAIA Tournament appearances and two NCAA Division I Tournament appearances. It also competed in the NCAA Division II Tournament each year from 1975 to 1980.
The women’s team, which is currently coached by Matt Bollant, has appeared in the NCAA Tournament once and has been named the Conference Regular Season Champions twice.
Baseball
The university fielded its first baseball team in 1904. Jason Anderson, who is the head coach, has occupied the position for the fifth season (as of 2019). The Panthers play their home games at the Coaches Stadium at Monier Field.
Colors
GRAY
PANTONE: COOL GRAY 9 C
HEX COLOR: #919295;
RGB: (145, 146, 149)
CMYK: (46, 37, 36, 2)
BLUE
PANTONE: 2945 C
HEX COLOR: #004B83;
RGB: (0, 75, 131)
CMYK: (100, 77, 23, 7)
WHITE
PANTONE: P 1-1 C
HEX COLOR: #FFFFFF;
RGB: (255, 255, 255)
CMYK: (0, 0, 0, 0)
