Watch the NCAA Tournament and you will come across some interesting team nicknames, some of which will cause curiosity about their origin. Teams such as the Illinois Fighting Illini, for example.

While the Illini ... "Fighting Illini" was formally adopted as the school's athletics nickname, but it's believed to have happened between 1921 and 1930. Illinois currently does not have a mascot.

“I don’t think it would be a great idea to bring in a new mascot when we are already known as the Fighting Illini.” However ... Yun notes that although many people have strong ties to the old mascot, ...

Purdue junior forward Trey Kaufman-Renn made a statement after Friday night's game against the Illinois Fighting Illini, saying that his 13-year-old brother ... had the mascot 'Fighting Illini ...

Sure. “The Chief was not a MASCOT, but an honorable school symbol; the Fighting Illini had no mascot,” said one reader. “Bring back The Chief.” “Your mascot misstatement puts our beloved ...