Quote from: Greek Tragedy on April 05, 2019, 08:38:24 PMQuote from: RFMichigan on April 05, 2019, 04:41:00 PMQuote from: gbpuckfan on April 05, 2019, 03:09:05 PM
What is a Blueboy?
Illinois College's athletic teams are known by the nickname of Blueboys and Lady Blues. The term "Blueboy" refers to a soldier in the Union Army, a role filled by 240 Illinois College students during the Civil War. The College's rich history includes ties to Abraham Lincoln and the Underground Railroad. The entire senior class of 1863 enlisted in the Civil War and Illinois College recognizes those soldiers who fought and died in the war by using the "Blueboy" as the school's official mascot.
https://illinoiscollegeathletics.com/sports/2013/5/29/fastfacts.aspx
I remember not having an idea where this nickname came from until we played in IC's gym and they had a huge picture of a Civil War soldier on the wall. (Along with a sign which said that Illinois College was the oldest college in the state of Illinois. )
I've got a question regarding IC and MacMurray being in the same conference. Is/can a school get admitted into a conference by the simple majority of conference presidents or can one school veto another one from getting in? It seems as though Illinois College is an awfully long way from most other schools in the Midwest Conference, but besides the SLIAC, where would they go? The NACC? (I'm fascinated by how and why schools end up in the conferences that they are.)
I'm not going to pretend I know the geographics of the MWC, but I can't imagine trips to Lakeland University in Plymouth, Marian in Fond du Lac and Edgewood in Madison would be enjoyable rides for the Blue Boys if they were to jump to the NACC...and another trip to DePere, WI, St. in the future.
I don't think any of the NACC full members are within 200 miles of Illinois College, though Eureka is for football (MacMurray, which is in the same town, was a member of the football only IBFC with several current NACC schools.)