[PrinceLightfoot]

Per this reddit posting (http://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/1kw..._cardinal/):

This is the history of our mascot/name:

1891-1930      None
1930-1972      Indians
1972-1981      Cardinals
1981-Present  Cardinal

The story of the Stanford mascot is an interesting one to say the least. In 1892, Stanford adopted the colors of cardinal and white. However, it did not have adopt a mascot for another 38 years. In 1930, Stanford adopted the “Indian” as its mascot. The Indian was abandoned in 1972, following objections raised by Stanford’s Native American community and a vote by Stanford’s student senate. From 1972 until 1981, the official mascot of the University was the “Cardinals” (a plural form of the color, like “the Blues”, NOT the religious figures or birds).

During the 1970s, Stanford students were asked what mascot they would like the school to adopt. Some options considered were: the Sequoias, Trees, Railroaders, Spikes, Huns, Griffins, and the Robber Barons). Students overwhelmingly supported the Robber Barons, as a self-deprecating reference to the University’s founder Leland Stanford, Sr. Leland Stanford was a tycoon, industrialist, and, by all accounts, a robber baron who served as Governor of California for two years and then U.S. Senator for eight years. Needless to say, the University did not like the idea of associating the University with robber barons, and, in 1981, chose to make “the Cardinal” the official mascot.

[PrinceLightfoot]

Per this reddit posting (http://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/1kw..._cardinal/):

This is the history of our mascot/name:

1891-1930      None
1930-1972      Indians
1972-1981      Cardinals
1981-Present  Cardinal

The story of the Stanford mascot is an interesting one to say the least. In 1892, Stanford adopted the colors of cardinal and white. However, it did not have adopt a mascot for another 38 years. In 1930, Stanford adopted the “Indian” as its mascot. The Indian was abandoned in 1972, following objections raised by Stanford’s Native American community and a vote by Stanford’s student senate. From 1972 until 1981, the official mascot of the University was the “Cardinals” (a plural form of the color, like “the Blues”, NOT the religious figures or birds).

During the 1970s, Stanford students were asked what mascot they would like the school to adopt. Some options considered were: the Sequoias, Trees, Railroaders, Spikes, Huns, Griffins, and the Robber Barons). Students overwhelmingly supported the Robber Barons, as a self-deprecating reference to the University’s founder Leland Stanford, Sr. Leland Stanford was a tycoon, industrialist, and, by all accounts, a robber baron who served as Governor of California for two years and then U.S. Senator for eight years. Needless to say, the University did not like the idea of associating the University with robber barons, and, in 1981, chose to make “the Cardinal” the official mascot.