Rachel Evans
The Catholic University of America has a football team called the Cardinals, who compete in the NCAA's Division III. The team played its first game in 1895 and was a major college team in the first half of the 20th century. The football program was discontinued during World War II and briefly returned to the university at the club level in 1965. Varsity football was reintroduced in 1977 when the team joined the NCAA Division III competition. The Cardinals have a rich history, appearing in two major bowl games, the 1936 Orange Bowl and the 1940 Sun Bowl, and have achieved notable successes in their conference and division.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the team | Catholic University Cardinals |
| University represented | Catholic University of America |
| Year of first game | 1895 |
| Division | NCAA Division III |
| Conference | Landmark Conference, New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (until 2022-2023 season), Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference (rowing) |
| Team colors | Red and black |
| Head coach | Mike Gutelius |
| Achievements | Two Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championships, five shutouts in 1939, 1936 Orange Bowl win, 1940 Sun Bowl tie, 1938 national championship in boxing, 1939 national championship in boxing (individual), 2008 ECAC Southeast Bowl win, three National Catholic Division III championships (women's swimming) |
| Rivalries | Georgetown Hoyas, Mount Saint Mary's |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic University Cardinals
The Catholic University of America's intercollegiate sports team is called the Catholic University Cardinals, after the northern cardinal. The team colours are red and black, and the mascot is often referred to as the "Flying Cardinal" or, less frequently, the "Fighting Cardinal".
The Cardinals compete in the NCAA's Division III and are members of the Landmark Conference and the Mid-Atlantic Rowing Conference. The football team has a rich history, playing its first game in 1895 and becoming a major college team in the first half of the 20th century. The team was discontinued during World War II and struggled to replicate its previous success when it returned in 1946. The Cardinals disbanded in 1950 but were resurrected as a club in 1965, returning to varsity and joining NCAA Division III in 1977.
The Cardinals have experienced success in the Division III playoffs, making three consecutive appearances in the late 1990s and securing two Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championships. In 2011, Catholic's quarterback Greg Cordivari won the Melberger Award for Division III's top football player in the nation. The team has also appeared in four bowl games, including the 1936 Orange Bowl, which they won, and the 1940 Sun Bowl, which ended in a scoreless tie.
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History of the football team
The Catholic University of America's intercollegiate sports team, the Cardinals, has a long history in college football. The team played its first game in 1895 and was a major college team in the first half of the 20th century, up until the 1940s.
The football team was originally known as the "Red and Black" after the colours they wore, but in the 1920s, they became known as the "'Cardinals', sometimes expanded to the '"Flying Cardinals" or, less often, the "Fighting Cardinals". The team's colours are red and black, and the university celebrates Homecoming in the fall to coincide with a home football game.
The Cardinals played in two major bowl games before World War II: the 1936 Orange Bowl, which they won, and the 1940 Sun Bowl, which ended in a scoreless tie. In 1939, Catholic achieved five shutouts in an 8–1 regular season record, securing its second bowl game appearance. They faced Tempe Normal Teacher's College (now Arizona State) in the 1940 Sun Bowl. The game ended in a scoreless stalemate, despite the teams having scored a total of 512 points during the season.
During World War II, from 1941 to 1946, football was discontinued. The football program was then briefly resurrected after the war, but the team could not replicate its previous success. The Cardinals were disbanded in 1950. Football returned to the university in 1965 at the club level, and varsity football returned in 1977 with its entry into NCAA Division III competition.
Since then, the Cardinals have participated in the Division III playoffs several times and have secured two Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championships. In 2011, Catholic's quarterback Greg Cordivari won the Melberger Award for Division III's top football player in the nation. The Cardinals have also continued their rivalry with the Georgetown Hoyas, where the Steven Dean Memorial Trophy is in dispute.
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Rivalries and notable games
The Catholic University of America's football team, the Cardinals, has a long history dating back to its first game in 1895. The team was a major college team in the first half of the 20th century, particularly in the 1930s and 1940s, before being discontinued shortly after World War II. The team was revived at the club level in 1965 and re-entered NCAA Division III competition in 1977.
Over the years, the Cardinals have had notable rivalries and games that have marked their history. One of the most important rivalries has been against the Georgetown Hoyas, where the Steven Dean Memorial Trophy is at stake. The series began in 1976, with the most recent game in 2019, and the record stands at 10 wins for Georgetown and nine for the Cardinals. The rivalry with Georgetown has been intense, with a notable game in 2019 where Georgetown blanked the Cardinals 69-0, achieving their first shutout in 13 years.
Another notable rivalry for the Cardinals is with Mount Saint Mary's. In a game described as "rather warm for hard football playing," Mount Saint Mary's ultimately prevailed with a final score of 12-4. The Cardinals have also faced strong opponents such as Tempe Normal Teacher's College (now Arizona State) in the 1940 Sun Bowl, which resulted in a scoreless tie. The Cardinals have had their share of successes too, with quarterback Greg Cordivari winning the Melberger Award in 2011 as Division III's top football player in the nation.
The Cardinals made their mark in the 1930s, appearing in two major bowl games: the 1936 Orange Bowl, which they won, and the previously mentioned 1940 Sun Bowl. In the fall of 2008, the team defeated Johns Hopkins University 18-17 in the ECAC Southeast Bowl, claiming their first postseason win since 1936. The Cardinals have also had success in the Division III playoffs, making three consecutive appearances in the late 1990s and securing two Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championships.
The Catholic University Cardinals football team carries a rich history, with notable rivalries and memorable games that have shaped their journey. From their early beginnings in the late 19th century to their resurgence after World War II, the Cardinals have left their mark on college football.
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Team colours and nicknames
The Catholic University of America's intercollegiate sports teams are called the Cardinals, after the northern cardinal. Their team colours are red (PMS 1805) and black, which were originally the colours the athletes wore. The team is sometimes referred to as the "Flying Cardinals" or, less frequently, the "Fighting Cardinals".
The Catholic University Cardinals football team has a long history, playing its first game in 1895 and becoming a major college team in the first half of the 20th century. The team was discontinued during and after World War II, but football returned to the university in 1965 at the club level. Varsity football was re-established in 1977 when the team entered NCAA Division III competition.
The Cardinals have a rich footballing history, appearing in two major bowl games: the 1936 Orange Bowl, which they won, and the 1940 Sun Bowl, which ended in a scoreless tie. In 1939, Catholic achieved five shutouts in an 8-1 regular season record, securing its second bowl game appearance. They faced Tempe Normal Teacher's College (now Arizona State) in the 1940 Sun Bowl, with the game ending in a scoreless stalemate.
The Cardinals have experienced success in recent years as well, participating in the Division III playoffs three times in the late 1990s and securing two Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) championships. In 2011, Catholic's quarterback Greg Cordivari won the Melberger Award as Division III's top football player in the nation. The team has also won the Landmark Conference Tournament on multiple occasions, including in 2011, 2015, and 2018.
The Catholic University Cardinals football team continues to represent the university in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III college football competition as a member of the Landmark Conference.
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Awards and achievements
The Catholic University of America's football team, the Cardinals, has a rich history of awards and achievements. The team played its first game in 1895 and was a major college team in the first half of the 20th century. Here is a detailed breakdown of their notable awards and achievements:
Early Success and Bowl Games
The Catholic University Cardinals, known affectionately as the "Flying Cardinals" or the "Fighting Cardinals", enjoyed early success in the 1920s and 1930s. In 1924, the opening of Brookland Stadium/Killion Field increased the team's prominence. In 1936, the Cardinals appeared in their first major bowl game, the Orange Bowl, which they won. This was followed by an appearance in the 1940 Sun Bowl, which ended in a scoreless tie.
Individual Player Achievements
Over the years, several players from the Catholic University Cardinals football team have stood out with exceptional performances. In 1938, Edward Lynch made an impressive 98 tackles in a single football game, a feat notable enough to be featured in Ripley's Believe It or Not!. In 2011, quarterback Greg Cordivari won the Melberger Award as Division III's top football player in the nation.
Conference Championships and Playoffs
The Cardinals have experienced success in their conference and have made several playoff appearances. They won the Landmark Conference Tournament on multiple occasions: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2015, and 2018. They also joined the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) in 1981 and secured two ODAC championships. The team has participated in the Division III playoffs multiple times, including three consecutive trips in the late 1990s.
Rivalries and Trophies
The Catholic University Cardinals have a long-standing rivalry with the Georgetown Hoyas, with the Steven Dean Memorial Trophy at stake. This rivalry dates back to 1976 when the first game was played at Brookland Stadium. The series has been closely contested, with Georgetown currently holding a slight edge in wins.
Other Sporting Achievements
Catholic University's varsity sports teams have a proud history of championship wins across various disciplines. The sailing team, founded in 1949, competes in the Middle Atlantic Intercollegiate Sailing Association of the ICSA. The track and field team has produced four individual national champions, including Mark Robinson, Carolyn Hughes, Tom Caffrey, and Christian Di Nicolantonio. The men's and women's swim teams have also excelled, with the men's team winning four Capitol Athletic Conference titles and the women's team claiming a Catholic Division III title.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, the Catholic University of America has a football team called the Cardinals.
The Catholic University Cardinals football team has a rich history, playing its first game in 1895 and becoming a major college team in the first half of the 20th century. The team's success continued into the 1930s and 1940s, with appearances in the 1936 Orange Bowl and the 1940 Sun Bowl. After a hiatus during World War II, the team struggled to regain its former glory and was disbanded in 1950. However, football returned to the university in 1965 at the club level, and varsity football was reinstated in 1977 when the team joined the NCAA Division III. Since then, the Cardinals have experienced success, participating in the Division III playoffs multiple times and securing championships.
The Catholic University Cardinals' team colours are red and black, which are also the colours of the university's other athletic teams.
