Where did Ball State Cardinals get their name?
Ball State Cardinals got their name in 1927 after the name was suggested by then-athletic director Paul "Billy" Williams and voted upon by the student body. In years prior, the school's teams were known as the "Hoosieroons".
The name "Cardinals" was chosen because it is a strong and noble bird. The cardinal is also the state bird of Indiana, where Ball State University is located.
A brief history of Ball State Cardinals.
Ball State University was founded in 1918 as the Ball Teachers College. The school's athletic teams were originally known as the Hoosieroons, but the name was changed to the Cardinals in 1927.
The Cardinals have competed in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) since 1975. The school's most successful athletic program is football, which has won six MAC championships. The Cardinals have also won two MAC championships in men's basketball and one in women's basketball.
The Cardinals have appeared in nine NCAA Division I postseason bowl games, in which they have compiled a 1–8 record. Within all FBS teams, Ball State was one of eight that had never won a sanctioned bowl game, until the 2020 Arizona Bowl.
Ball State's most famous athlete is former quarterback Mike Alstott, who played in the NFL for 13 seasons. Alstott was a two-time All-American at Ball State and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2014.
Other notable Ball State alumni include former NBA player Randy Breuer, former NFL player Tim Krumrie, and former MLB player Jonny Gomes.
Ball State University is located in Muncie, Indiana. The school has a total enrollment of over 20,000 students.