| Idaho State Bengals | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | Idaho State University |
| Conference | Big Sky Conference |
| NCAA | Division I (FCS) |
| Athletic director | Pauline Thiros |
| Location | Pocatello, Idaho |
| Varsity teams | 15 (6 men's and 9 women's) |
| Football stadium | ICCU Dome |
| Basketball arena | Reed Gym |
| Softball stadium | Miller Ranch Stadium |
| Soccer stadium | Davis Field |
| Other venues | Centennial Course |
| Mascot | Benny the Bengal |
| Nickname | Bengals |
| Colors | Orange and black[1] |
| Website | isubengals |
 | |
| Team NCAA championships | |
| 3 | |
| Individual and relay NCAA champions | |
| 19 | |
TheIdaho State Bengals are the varsityintercollegiate athletic teams representingIdaho State University, located inPocatello, Idaho. The university sponsors thirteen teams including men and women's basketball, cross country, tennis, and track and field; women's-only golf, soccer, softball, and volleyball; and men's-only football. The Bengals compete at theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)Division I level (Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) forcollege football) and are currently a member institution of theBig Sky Conference.[2]
| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Basketball | Basketball |
| Cross Country | Cross Country |
| Football | Golf |
| Tennis | Soccer |
| Track and Field† | Softball |
| Tennis | |
| Track & field† | |
| Volleyball | |
| † – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor | |
In the 2009 campaign, Idaho State's football team boasted a one win record, which wasn't an improvement over the 2008 campaign. ISU football's last winning season was the 2018 campaign when they posted a record of 6–5. Previously they had not had a season above .500 since the 2014 campaign (8–4).
In October 2009 Idaho State University Director of Athletics Jeff Tingey announced that the contract of head football coachJohn Zamberlin would be extended for two more years, meaning Zamberin was on the Bengals sidelines manning the program through the 2011 season.
Hired in late December 2006, Zamberlin's record at ISU is just 4–25. The decision has been highly criticized by many students, faculty, and community members. The administration have stood by their decision, citing an increase in athlete attendance in classes and graduation rates as a direct result of Zamberlin's coaching.
In 2010, the Bengals went 1–10 overall and 0–8 in theBig Sky Conference. Zamberlin was fired and formerEastern Washington andMontana State coach,Mike Kramer, was hired.[3]
Idaho State used to enjoy healthy rivalries with both the University of Idaho and Boise State University when all three schools were members of the Big Sky Conference. When both Idaho and BSU left the Big Sky in 1996 to move up to Division I-A, Idaho State University lost their main rivals, andWeber State of nearby Ogden, Utah became Idaho State's main rival. However, Idaho did move back down to Division 1-AA in 2018, resparking the rivalry between the two schools. Since 2018, they played an annual rivalry game nicknamedBattle of the Domes. Idaho State has won 2 out of the 4 games under the Battle of the Domes branding.
In March 1977, the men's basketball team made national headlines by defeating theUCLA Bruins 76–75 in the West regional semifinal of that year'sNCAA tournament. The win qualified the Bengals for their only appearance to date in theElite Eight. This is by far the high-water mark for Bengals basketball, and marked the first time since 1966 that UCLA failed to reach theFinal Four. The Bengals were subsequently eliminated in the West regional final by theUNLV Runnin' Rebels.
The men's basketball team plays their home games at theICCU Dome (formerly known as Holt Arena), with aseating capacity of 8,000 for basketball.[4] Their most recent appearance in theNCAA tournament was in1987, when ISU was eliminated 70–95 in the first round by top-rankedUNLV.[5]
ISU's women's basketball team plays their home games at Reed Gym, which has a seating capacity of 3,040 for basketball.[6] The most recent appearance of the women's team in theNCAA tournament was in 2021, when it was eliminated 71–63 in the first round by theKentucky Wildcats.[7] The women's program maintained an active rivalry in basketball with both Idaho and Boise State. In recent years, ISU has dominated UI, but in turn been dominated by BSU. Idaho State's women's basketball team most recently won the 2021 Big Sky Conference women's basketball tournament, beating their interstate rival Idaho in the final round.
"Growl, Bengals, Growl" is the officialfight song of the university. It was created in 1948 by Jay Slaughter, Del Slaughter,[8][9] and John Foreman when Idaho State became a four-year university.[10] The song originated around 1921, attributed toRalph Hutchinson and James Gardner for the Idaho Technical Institute, where Hutchinson was the athletics directory.[11] Traditions include the football team singing the song after a win.[12]
Growl, Bengals, growl!
Fight, Bengals, fight!
Gnash your teeth and bare your claws and drive with all your might!
Roar, Bengals, roar, you decide our fate!
Bring the vict'ry home to us, you Bengals of Idaho State!
I... S... U... I, S, U, Fight! ISU Fight! ISU Fight! Go! Go! Go Bengals, Go!
Thebaseball program at ISU was discontinued 51 years ago after the 1974 season,[13][14] following the Big Sky's decision to drop baseball and four other sports.[15][16][17] The Bengals won the southern division in their final season,[18] and met north championGonzaga in the best-of-three championship series in Pocatello. The underdog Bengals won the first game 6–4,[19] but then lost a doubleheader delayed by snow,[20]14–3 and 13–0.[14][21][22][23]Boise State andIdaho dropped their baseball programs six years later in 1980, citing budgetconstraints.[24][25]
Idaho State won 8 Big Sky titles (1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1984) inwrestling, starting with its first in 1967;[26][27] the sport was dropped by the conference 38 years ago, after the 1987 season.[28]
We sang the fight song, which we always do, and we just said to one another that's what should have been happening this whole time," Phenicie said. "We knew we could do it. You don't really need to say much in there, the best part is singing the fight song with the guys.
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