What is a Maroon?
Maroon became the official color of the University of Chicago at a mass meeting of students and faculty on May 5, 1894. Before the University held its first class on October 1, 1892, the Board of Trustees had selected goldenrod (yellow) as the school color. By 1894, however, Chicago’s legendary football coach Amos Alonzo Stagg believed that a change was necessary. “The yellow ran, soiled easily, and had a regrettable symbolism which our opponents might not be above commenting upon,” said Stagg in his autobiography, Touchdown! Because maroon was not already in use by any major school in the Midwest, Stagg and his associate J.E. Raycroft “shopped the ribbon counters” and brought a selection of maroon shades to the 1894 meeting of students and faculty. From those ribbons, a choice was made, and the baseball team appeared in that color during its final games of the 1894 season. On July 21, 1894, the first mention of a University of Chicago athletic team as “Maroons” appeared in a baseball article in the Chicago Tribune. Chicago sports teams have used the nickname ever since.

What is the University of Chicago sports teams' mascot?
While “Maroons” is the official nickname of Chicago’s varsity sports teams, the Phoenix serves as the school’s mascot.

What are University of Chicago sports teams' school colors?
Maroon and white.