Big Red is the mascot of the sports teams at Lamar University, a Cardinal with Red plumage.

In 1932 South Park Junior College held a contest to determine a new school name.

When the contest results yielded the name Lamar College, John Gray: athletic director, football coach, and eventually university president changed the school mascot from the Brahamas to the Cardinals.

[1] Shortly after this change Big Red was born.

[2] Female character Lu joined in 2012.