Catholic University Cardinals
Catholic University Cardinals | |
University | The Catholic University of America |
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Conference(s) | Landmark Conference & Old Dominion Athletic Conference |
NCAA | NCAA Division III |
Athletic director | Sean M. Sullivan |
Location | Washington, D.C. |
Varsity teams | 21 |
Football stadium | Cardinal Stadium |
Basketball arena | Raymond A. DuFour Center |
Baseball stadium | Robert J. Talbot Baseball Field |
Soccer stadium | CUA Soccer Field |
Mascot | Red the Cardinal |
Nickname | Cardinals |
Fight song | C.U. Marching Song |
Colors | Red (PMS 1805) and Black
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Homepage | Catholic University Athletics |
The Catholic University of America's intercollegiate sports teams are called the Cardinals (after the bird Northern Cardinal), and they compete in the NCAA's Division III. They are primarily members of the Landmark Conference, and associate members of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (football). The team colors are red (PMS 1805) and black.[1]
Catholic celebrates Homecoming in the fall to coincide with a home football game.
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.[2]
Varsity Teams
Men's | Women's |
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Basketball | Basketball |
Soccer | Soccer |
Lacrosse | Lacrosse |
Cross Country | Cross Country |
Tennis | Tennis |
Swimming & Diving | Swimming & Diving |
Indoor Track & Field | Indoor Track & Field |
Outdoor Track & Field | Outdoor Track & Field |
Baseball | Softball |
Football | Field Hockey |
Volleyball | |
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 and competed as independent for five years (1976–81). During that period, the baseball team played the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship
- In the academic year of 1981-82, Catholic decided to move to Division III and joined 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 has made three consecutive trips to the Division III playoffs.
BaseballIn 1977, the Catholic University Cardinals played the NCAA Division I Baseball Championship after winning the ECAC District II championship.
BasketballMen'sThe 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[3] and 2013[4]
Women'sThe 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.
Track & fieldThe track & field team has produced three individual national champions:
SwimmingThe 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:
LacrosseWomen'sIn 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 every Landmark Conference Tournament since then.[5][6] [7] [8][9]
SoccerMen'sThe men's soccer team went to the NCAA tournament in 2009, 2010 and 2013 (at-large bid).
Women'sWomen's soccer went undefeated in the CAC in 2005 and earned a berth in the NCAA Tournament, repeating in 2009 as LC champions.
VolleyballThe volleyball team made its first NCAA tournament appearance in 2001 and followed it up in 2002.
Field hockeyThe 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.[10] They won the conference title again in 2012,[11] and 2013.[12]
SoftballSoftball has an ECAC Southern Region title. SongsAlma Mater SongsThe 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.[13][14] Fight songThe cardinal's fight song is C.U. Marching Song (1931):[15] (Music by Michael J. MacDonald & Lyrics by Clement Ducy)[16]
CUA Songs and CheersStudents supporting the games in the early 1900’s created the following songs and chants to inspire high spirits:[17] CUA (CU Will Shine)
Drink a Highball
Flying Cardinals
National team championshipsDivision I
Division III
Notable athletes
References
External links
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