A contest was conducted to select a name for the mascot, and the winning entry of Cy was submitted by 17 people.

The first Cy was approximately 8 feet (2.4 m) tall with a bulging chest made mostly from chicken wire and aluminum.

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.

[5] Cy makes appearances at various Cyclone sporting events such as football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball, wrestling, soccer, softball, and gymnastics.

Cy also competes each year at the NCAA College Mascot Nationals in Daytona Beach, Florida.