DePaul Blue Demons
The DePaul Blue Demons are the athletic teams that represent DePaul University, located in Chicago, Illinois. The Blue Demons participate in NCAA Division I and are a member of the Big East Conference.[2][3]
DePaul Blue Demons
DeWayne Peevy
15 (7 men’s and 8 women’s)
DIBS
Blue Demons
"Blue Demons Fight Song"
Royal blue and scarlet[1]
DePaul's Athletic Director is DeWayne Peevy. DePaul was not affiliated with any conference until it helped establish the Great Midwest Conference in 1991.[4] It subsequently became a charter member of Conference USA from 1995 until its move to the original Big East in 2005 through 2012.[2] DePaul and the other six Catholic, non-FBS schools announced on December 15, 2012, their separation to eventually form a new conference that would carry the Big East name in 2013.[5]
Nickname[edit]
The origin of the Blue Demons nickname dates back to 1907 when the university changed its name from St. Vincent's College to its current form. At the time, the athletic teams had red uniforms with a large "D" on the front. After an announcer referred to the players as the "D-men," the moniker stuck and eventually evolved into "Demons." The "blue" was part of an attempt to distinguish the university's players from those of its now-defunct high school, DePaul Academy. The former wore red with a blue "D," while the latter adopted the reverse.[6] The official athletic colors are scarlet and royal blue.[4]
Former varsity sports[edit]
Football[edit]
DePaul University fielded a varsity football team until 1939. It played its home games at Wrigley Field and Soldier Field.[11][12]
Traditions[edit]
Mascot[edit]
DePaul's mascot is DIBS which stands for Demon In a Blue Suit. DIBS is present at every Blue Demons basketball game and makes frequent appearances at DePaul's Lincoln Park Campus and charity appearances around the Chicago metropolitan area. While the Blue Demon nickname has been around for many years, the Blue Demon mascot took the game floor for the first time in 1968 with a papier-mache head and old warm-up suit. Through the years, the Blue Demon has taken on many forms in its evolution and was dubbed DIBS in 1999. Former mascot performers; John Maniatis and Paul Fisher.[21]
