The Illini used to have a mascot named Chief Illiniwek from 1926 through its retirement in 2007. The mascot was portayed by a member of the student body. In 2005, the NCAA cited Chief Illiniwek as ...

The school did have a de facto mascot from 1926 until 2007 in Chief Illiniwek, a Native American symbol representing the Illinois Confederation of tribes, also known as the Illini. Chief Illiniwek ...