Why the Bengals?
The Bengal mascot has a long and storied tradition at Idaho State. When ISU was known as the Idaho Technical Institute, athletes were dubbed the "Bantams", but since neither their size or behavior conformed with the name, it was never very popular. In 1921, Ralph H. Hutchinson became Director of Physical Education and Athletics. A graduate of Princeton, Hutchinson immediately organized an "I" Club, and the group's members adopted Princeton's Bengal Tiger as its mascot. In 1931, the tiger clawed The Idaho Techniad off the school newspaper's masthead, and replaced it with The Idaho Bengal. In Merrill Beal's 1952 publication History of Idaho State College, he noted of the Bengal Tiger: ". . . a creature that has never been found hereabouts, living or dead."

---

The ISU Marching Band
The Idaho State University Marching Band enters its eighth year of playing for the Bengal faithful, and it has quickly gained a reputation as the best in the Big Sky. Aside from performing at halftime of all Bengal home games, the band has also performed at many Big Sky venues, including at Portlant State in 2004, when the Bengal Marching Band played to a standing ovation at Portland State's Homecoming.

The band, which was dormant for several years, was revived by ISU President Dr. Richard L. Bowen, and the new band debuted on September 19, 1998 when the football team hosted Weber State. Monte' Grise enters his first year as the Marching Band Director. The marching morphs into the Big Sky's best pep band for basketball season.

---

BengalFest
Pocatello's largest tailgate party, BengalFest, takes place two hours prior to kickoff at its new location in the East Parking Lot of Holt Arena. Chock full of tents, games, food, drink, and activity, BengalFest allows Bengal fans to make a day of Bengal football. A fan-friendly experience, BengalFest over the last seven years had special appearances by the Utah Jazz Cheerleaders, 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist Stacy Dragila and the ISU pole vaulters, a national trampoline exhibition, as well as inflatable bouncing rings for kids, clowns, and a free barbeque roasted pig, courtesy of the ISU Bengal Foundation. BengalFest assures the ISU football is a family activity, and an all-day activity at that.

---