Catholic University Cardinals

Origin of the name

Originally known as the Red and Black after the colors they wore, Catholic University's athletes came to be known as the Cardinals (often the Flying Cardinals, occasionally the Fighting Cardinals) in the mid-1920s.

History

From the founding of the NCAA in 1906 through 1955, institutions were not separated into competitive divisions, and CUA won a national championship in boxing (1938). The football team appeared in two major bowl games, the 1936 Orange Bowl, which they won, and the 1940 Sun Bowl, which they tied.

From 1956 through 1972, teams were classified into University Division (major college) and College Division (small college). The Cardinals competed in the latter. During that period, the men's basketball team classified for the 1964 post season tournament.

NCAA re-organized into three divisions in 1973, and CUA opted for the Division II level during the 1973-76 seasons, winning two national individual titles in track & field. CUA stayed as member of the Mason-Dixon Conference.

In 1976, CUA moved to Division I, competing for five years (1976–81). As independent first, and as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association later (1979-1981). During that period, the baseball team played the 1977 NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.

President Edmund Pellegrino decided to drop the athletic programs to Division III and Catholic finally moved in the academic year of 1981-82, joining the Old Dominion Athletic Conference. In 1989 Catholic became a charter member of the Capital Athletic Conference, leaving the conference in 2007 to join, again as a charter member, the Landmark Conference. During this period at Division III, the men's basketball team won the national championship in 2001.

Boxing

As a team, CUA won the national title in 1938. Besides, two cardinals won individual championships:

David Bernstein won the 1938 national championship in the 115-pound weight class.

"Bingo" Stant Jr. won the 1939 national championship in the 165-pound weight class.

The NCAA discontinued boxing in 1961.

Football

The football team appeared in two major bowl games (the 1936 Orange Bowl, which they won and the 1940 Sun Bowl, which they tied). In the fall of 2008, already in Division III, the team went to the ECAC Southeast Bowl and defeated Johns Hopkins University 18-17 to give the Cards their first post season win since 1936.

The team made three consecutive trips to the Division III playoffs in the late 1990s.

Baseball

In 1977, the Catholic University Cardinals played the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship after winning the ECAC District II championship.

Men's

The 1943-44 men's basketball team won the Mason-Dixon Conference title and made the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament. The team played in Madison Square Garden, losing to Dartmouth and Temple.

The 1963-64 season, Catholic played the NCAA College Division (Division II) Tournament at Hofstra, losing to Hofstra and Philadelphia.

The men's basketball team won the 2001 NCAA Division III National Championship and was the only program in Division III to reach the Sweet Sixteen five consecutive seasons, from 1998-2002. They also reached the postseason in 1993, 1996, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2015, and 2016.

Women's

The 2011-12 women's basketball team won the Landmark Conference title and made the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament. In 2013 they won their second straight Landmark Conference title and again received the LC's automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, repeating in 2015. In 2017 they received an at-large bid.

Track & field

The track & field team has produced three individual national champions:

Mark Robinson won the NCAA Division II 800 meter outdoor championship in 1974 and 1975.

Carolyn Hughes won the national championship in the 800 meters at the 1982 NCAA Division III Track & Field Championships.

Tom Caffrey won the national championship in the 1500 meters at the 1991 Division III Track & Field Championships.

Swimming

The men's swim team has won four Capitol Athletic Conference titles and three National Catholic Division III championships, while women's swimming has won a Catholic Division III title. The swimming program has two individual national titles as well:

Keats Baugher won the national college division (Division II) championship in the 200 and 400 individual medley in 1965.

Men's

The men's lacrosse team went to the NCAA tournament in 2015 and 2016 after winning the conference title.

Women's

In 2008, the women's lacrosse team went undefeated in the inaugural year of the Landmark Conference and won the Conference post-season tournament, garnering a birth in the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history, and making it to the regional finals where they lost to Salisbury University. The team has won the Landmark Conference Tournament in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Men's

The men's soccer team went to the NCAA tournament in 2009, 2010, 2013 (at-large bid) and 2014.

Women's

Women's soccer went undefeated in the CAC in 2005 and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament, repeating in 2009, 2014 and 2015 as LC champions.

Field hockey

The field hockey team advanced to the 2001 ECAC Southern Region championship game and won the ECAC title in 2010. In 2011 CUA won its first conference championship, which propelled the Cardinals to their first-ever NCAA Tournament. They won the conference title again in 2012, and 2013. In 2014, the team earned an at-large bid and a first round bye to big dance. In 2015, they were again Landmark Conference champions.

Volleyball

The volleyball team made its first NCAA tournament appearance in 2001 and followed it up in 2002.

Softball

Softball has an ECAC Southern Region title.

Alma mater songs

The official Alma Mater Song was adopted in 1920, when students organized a contest for an alma mater song, open to the then all-male student body. The winner was Hail CUA (lyrics by Robert H. Mahoney and music by Victor Herbert), but second-place winner Guardian of Truth (music and lyrics by Thomas J. McLean) became more popular over the years.

Fight song

The cardinal's fight song is C.U. Marching Song (1931): (Music by Michael J. MacDonald & Lyrics by Clement Ducy)

Sing a song of C.U.A. for all the world to hear, Drink a toast to Alma Mater, praise her far and near, Make a vow you'll e'er be true and do what she taught right, Whether we win or whether we lose, we'll never give up the fight, Down the field the men in red and black go marching on To victory, to victory, Driving all before them in the struggle toward the goal Of victory, of victory. Onward we're marching with all our might, Marching for C.U. never yielding, ever cheering, FIGHT! Forever onward we're marching to victory, For the Red and Black is winning For C.U.A. it's Fight, Fight, Fight. Crimson and Black are above all the rest. Always a shout and a cheer, FIGHT! Always our colors stand out with the best, Onward forever against any odds, Bringing the victory near.

CUA songs and cheers

Students supporting the games in the early 1900s created the following songs and chants to inspire high spirits:

CUA (CU Will Shine)

On, CUA, we’re rooting for you And we know you’ll win today, So battle hard, whatever befall you For the name of CUA (Rah-Rah) Go down the field, And cross the goal line With that CU pep and fight, And when the grand old game is over, CUA will shine tonight. CU will shine tonight CU will shine, CU will shine tonight, All down the line. CU will shine tonight, CU will shine, When the sun goes down and the moon comes up, CU will shine.

Drink a Highball

Drink a highball at nightfall, Be good fellows while you may, For tomorrow may bring sorrow, So tonight let’s all be gay, Tell the story of the glory, Of the Catholic University, Drink a highball, Let’s be jolly -- Here’s the health of CUA.

Flying Cardinals

Fight Hard, Hit Hard, Buck that line! Every man must do his part for victory! For the honor of the red and black, We stand behind the fighting varsity! With our colors proudly flying high, We will march today to victories new! We all will back you to the limit, Fight hard every minute, Victory come to old CU. Give three cheers for CU! RAH RAH Let us banish fear for vict’ry! RAH RAH RAH Everybody up! Everybody shout To our fighthing boys of CUA! We cheer, boys!

Division I

Boxing: 1938 (unofficial)

Division III

Men's basketball: 2001

Notable athletes

Brian Cashman, B.A. 1989, Senior Vice-President and General Manager, New York Yankees

John Douglas, 1995, shortstop, Toronto Blue Jays

Edward Lynch, LL.B. 1924, featured at Ripley's Believe It or Not! for making 98 tackles in a single football game.

Jimmy Patsos, B.A. 1989, men's basketball head coach, Siena Saints men's basketball

Wally Pipp, A.B. 1914, first base, New York Yankees

Rocco Pirro, football fullback who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers.