Big Red is the name of the mascot of the sports teams

Lamar Cardinals

The Lamar Cardinals refers to the collegiate athletic teams of Lamar University. The inception of the nickname "Cardinals" dates back to the schools name change to Lamar in 1932. The teams compete in Division I of NCAA sports...

 at Lamar University

Lamar University

Lamar University, often referred to as Lamar or LU, is a comprehensive coeducational public research university located in Beaumont, Texas, United States. Lamar confers bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees and is classified as a Doctoral Research University by the Carnegie Commission on Higher...

, a Cardinal

Cardinal (bird)

The Cardinals or Cardinalidae are a family of passerine birds found in North and South America. The South American cardinals in the genus Paroaria are placed in another family, the Thraupidae ....

 with Red

Red

Red is any of a number of similar colors evoked by light consisting predominantly of the longest wavelengths of light discernible by the human eye, in the wavelength range of roughly 630–740 nm. Longer wavelengths than this are called infrared , and cannot be seen by the naked eye...

plumage.

History

In 1932 South Park Junior College held a contest to determine a new school name, a new school name was needed because the school began serving students from across the region. When the contest results yeilded the name Lamar College, John Gray: athletic director, football coach, and eventually university president changed the school mascot from the Brahamas to the Cardinals. Shortly after this change Big Red was born.