Archibald T. Eagle, also known as Archie, has been USI’s mascot since the 1970s.
A 1979 article by The Shield Vol. 8, No. 6, reported that members of the student government, The Shield and the student body ran a mascot contest. The article requested the support of students and faculty in selecting a name for the eagle mascot who was seen at games, practices, rallies and other campus events.
At the time, the eagle costume and theme were selected by Barry Schonberger, student activities director.
The Shield said, “We are sponsoring this contest, with the help of Student Activities and the Student Union Board, with the expectation that a proud, dignified name will be selected.”
The winner received recognition, a $25 reward and Sunday dinner at the season opener on Dec. 1, 1979.
The name selected was designated as the official name for the Indiana State University Evansville Screaming Eagles.
According to an article from The Shield, the naming vote came a decade after ISUE students selected the school’s colors and mascot. The mascot chosen was the “Eagle,” and the school colors were red, white and blue.
A USI Magazine issued in Spring 2014 reported that ISUE started its athletic program in 1968-1969 and did not have a logo. The university and sports teams felt they needed their unique symbol, one that reflected their “young” and “ravenous spirit.”
“Many of our fellow students and friends were either in or had been in military service, and we wanted to support those individuals who fought for our freedom,” said Bob Roeder, 1971 president of the Student Union Board. “We realized that the red, white and blue colors would set us apart from other schools and also supported our friends and fellow students. Once we decided on school colors, it was an easy decision to select the eagle as our mascot.”
The original USI eagle logo was replaced after 23 years in 2001.
“The transition from the fierce Screaming Eagle to Archibald T. Eagle (the “T” for “the”) was an effort to make the Screaming Eagle more acceptable to kids,” said Barry Schonberger, retired dean of students. “It was our opinion that the modern athletic mascot was directed at the kids. With the softening of the Eagle, we had a naming contest.”
A University Notes release from Vol. 25, No. 15, April 2001, announced its third Screaming Eagles logo for the Athletic Department, which was unveiled Thursday, April 19.
The University Notes said, “It also is a gender-neutral design permitting all USI student-athletes to be ‘Screaming Eagles’ rather than being distinguished as ‘Eagles’ or ‘Lady Eagles.’”
The logo replaced “Archibald the Eagle,” who represented and served as the university’s athletic logo for nine years.
The University Notes said, “A classic flying eagle, landing with its talons exposed, was the logo from 1971 to 1991.”
It also said in the late 1960s, USI’s first varsity team, was called the “Spartans.” The Michigan State Spartans were making the headlines with their programs at the time, so the university was interested in differentiating itself with a new mascot for USI.
Jennifer Greene, university archivist, said when they received the first Archie, the first thing they did was give him a good cleaning.
“I used a vacuum, a very soft vacuum, and we cleaned him out really well,” Greene said.
Greene said the first Archie was in fairly good condition, considering he was “born” around the 1970s.
“We do know that Archie is handmade,” Greene said. “Someone made him. You can tell from the material that she used and the way it’s stitched together. Also, he has been altered cause originally he was ISUE, and so at some point, they changed his vest when we became USI, and his feet are obviously made out of a raincoat.”
Greene said when the campus became USI in 1985, they had a “free the eagle ceremony.”
“And we actually have the ball and chain that was wrapped around that mascot’s leg on the day of independence, and they took him to between the University Center and what was then the old library, and they had a big hacksaw, and they cut the chain and let balloons go and freed the eagle to fly,” she said.
Greene said Archie is popular with everybody and a fun character.
“I can tell you that you can come visit Archie,” she said. “He’s on display here in the Archives, and he’ll be up through the Fall of 2024. And then we’re going to take him down because he needs to rest.”
