[ColoradoTree]

[quote author=Papa John link=topic=9617.msg153724#msg153724 date=1453314913]
[quote author=CornFed link=topic=9617.msg153697#msg153697 date=1453293675]
Akin to the use of "University of Stanford"

Not in my book. Stanford was referred to as the Cardinals when I started as a freshman in 1980. I'm too lazy to look it up, but I'm pretty sure that the plural had been in use for several years before I arrived, and it didn't change to the non-count form until my sophomore or junior year.
[/quote]

Why is Cards acceptable but Cardinals not?  Seems to me the team is the Cardinal and the players are Cardinals.
[/quote]

I don't think Cards is acceptable. And I have to disagree on the players being Cardinals, but that's the problem with non-plural mascots, isn't it?  Hard to assign a singular name.  The easy workaround, of course, is to avoid it altogether and focus on the school rather than the mascot.  Thus, "Go Stanford" and "Go Card" are acceptable when cheering.  And if we're referring to one of the player, the same principle (of looking to the school rather than the mascot) applies.  For example, Christian McCaffrey is not "a" Cardinal, but he is a Stanford running back, Cardinal football player, and Stanford man. 

[ColoradoTree]

[quote author=Papa John link=topic=9617.msg153724#msg153724 date=1453314913]
[quote author=CornFed link=topic=9617.msg153697#msg153697 date=1453293675]
Akin to the use of "University of Stanford"

Not in my book. Stanford was referred to as the Cardinals when I started as a freshman in 1980. I'm too lazy to look it up, but I'm pretty sure that the plural had been in use for several years before I arrived, and it didn't change to the non-count form until my sophomore or junior year.
[/quote]

Why is Cards acceptable but Cardinals not?  Seems to me the team is the Cardinal and the players are Cardinals.
[/quote]

I don't think Cards is acceptable. And I have to disagree on the players being Cardinals, but that's the problem with non-plural mascots, isn't it?  Hard to assign a singular name.  The easy workaround, of course, is to avoid it altogether and focus on the school rather than the mascot.  Thus, "Go Stanford" and "Go Card" are acceptable when cheering.  And if we're referring to one of the player, the same principle (of looking to the school rather than the mascot) applies.  For example, Christian McCaffrey is not "a" Cardinal, but he is a Stanford running back, Cardinal football player, and Stanford man.