View source for Cy the Cardinal

{{Short description|Mascot of Iowa State University}}
{{Infobox College Mascot
| name = Cy the Cardinal
| image = File:2018-0716-Big12MD-Cy.jpg
| image_size = 250px
| caption = Cy the Cardinal 2018 Big 12 Media Days
| university = Iowa State University
| conference = Big 12 Conference
| conference_short = Big 12
| description = [[Iowa State Cyclones|Cyclones]]
| name_origin =
| first_seen = 1954 <ref name="origin">{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclones.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10700&KEY=&ATCLID=537489 |title=Origin of Cy |publisher=Cyclones.com |date=11 August 2006 |access-date=4 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314062707/http://www.cyclones.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10700&KEY=&ATCLID=537489 |archive-date=14 March 2012 }}</ref>
| related_mascots =
}}

[[File:Cy the Cardinal logo.svg|upright|150px|thumb|Cy logo]]
'''Cy the Cardinal''' is the [[mascot]] of [[Iowa State University]]'s sports teams.

Iowa State became the Cyclones after a series of tornadoes (then called cyclones) ravaged the area in 1898.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HISTORY AND TRADITIONS |url=https://apps.admissions.iastate.edu/orientation/after/pdf/history_and_traditions_freshman.pdf |access-date=August 13, 2024}}</ref> Because a [[cyclone]] was difficult to depict in costume, a [[northern cardinal|cardinal]] was selected from the [[cardinal (color)|cardinal]] and [[gold (color)|gold]] of the official school colors.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2023-02-07 |title=History of the Iowa State Cyclones Mascot {{!}} College Football Network |url=https://collegefootballnetwork.com/iowa-state-cyclones-mascot-history/ |access-date=2023-11-27 |language=en-US}}</ref> A cardinal-like bird was introduced at the 1954 [[homecoming]] pep rally. A contest was conducted to select a name for the mascot, and the winning entry of Cy was submitted by 17 people. The first to submit the name, Mrs. Wilma Ohlsen,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Can You Name This Cardinal? |url=http://www.ameshistory.org/tribunearchives/can-you-name-cardinal |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=www.ameshistory.org}}</ref> won a cardinal and gold stadium [[blanket]].

Over the last half century, Cy has undergone several makeovers and redesigns. The first Cy was approximately {{convert|8|ft}} tall with a bulging chest made mostly from [[chicken wire]] and [[aluminum]].<ref name=":0" /> Cy was again transformed when ISU Athletics changed the school's logo and color combinations.

Due to the size and weight of the original costume, there were some physical requirements for students who wanted to fill the role of Cy. Applicants needed to be 5’11” (180.3&nbsp;cm) to 6’2” (188&nbsp;cm) and weigh 175 to 210 pounds (79.4 to 95.25&nbsp;kg). When Cy first was introduced, only one student served as Cy. Now Cy is performing in public about 200 days a year, and four to six students share mascot duties. Today, physical attributes are not as important because the costume is available in three sizes.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://historicexhibits.lib.iastate.edu/Cy/cyfans.html|title=Everyone Loves Cy!|website=historicexhibits.lib.iastate.edu|access-date=2020-04-10}}</ref>

Cy makes appearances at various Cyclone sporting events such as football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball, wrestling, soccer, softball, and gymnastics. In addition to sporting events, Cy is often requested to make various appearances across the state of Iowa for a number of events. Cy also competes each year at the NCAA College Mascot Nationals in [[Daytona Beach, Florida]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cyclones.com/sports/2015/3/2/spirit_squad.aspx|title=Spirit Squad|website=Iowa State University Athletics|language=en|access-date=2020-04-10}}</ref>

==Recognition==
Cy has won two national mascot challenges since 2007; the CBS Sportsline Most Dominant College Mascot on Earth in 2007,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iastate.edu/about/athletics.php |title=About Cyclone athletics |publisher=Iowa State University Relations |access-date=4 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110807224953/http://www.iastate.edu/about/athletics.php |archive-date=7 August 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the CapitalOne Bowl National Mascot of the Year in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cyclones.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=10700&ATCLID=3638895 |title=Cy Wins National Mascot Challenge |publisher=Cyclones.com |date=1 January 2009 |access-date= 4 August 2011}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of U.S. college mascots]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Iowa State University}}
{{Iowa State Cyclones football navbox}}
{{Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball navbox}}
{{Mascots of the Big 12 Conference}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Iowa State Cyclones]]
[[Category:Big 12 Conference mascots]]
[[Category:Iowa State Cyclones traditions]]
[[Category:Bird mascots]]
[[Category:Fictional cardinals (birds)]]
[[Category:Anthropomorphic birds]]
[[Category:Mascots introduced in 1954]]
[[Category:1954 establishments in Iowa]]


{{mascot-stub}}
{{Iowa-sport-stub}}