Originally, the athletic teams of the Stout Training School were called
the Trainers. For some unknown reason, the basketball team started using
the name "Blue Devils" in 1928. What may have contributed to this
is that during that basketball season, reporters from the Stoutonia often
referred to the team as the "Blues" or "Blue Shirts."
The football team continued to be called the Trainers until 1931 when it
also took the name Blue Devils.
Source: Interpreting the Dream - A
Stout History
