Remember this about the new logo

[HobokenHusky]

It's interesting. I showed the new logo separately to about 20 kids and adults who are big Husky fans over the last few days. The kids were 8-12. The adults were in their 30's, 40's, 60's and 80's, lol. Since I didn't want one person's opinion to color another's, they were all seperate encounters. The outcome? I was very surprised at the UNANIMOUS dislike of the new logo. I fully expected one of them to go "Wow that's cool!" Never happened. When I asked the kids why they didn't like it the responses were essentially "It's ugly, it looks mean, and I loved Jonathan as he was. Some of the adults had similar thoughts. One person actually expounded on why they disliked it so.

"Our prior logo may not have been precisely a Husky, but that's what made him unique. It was iconic. When it showed up on TV you immediately knew it was UConn. The success of our teams over the past years with Jonathan as our logo had allowed it to be displayed a lot on the networks. If you showed a series of team logos and asked folks to identify the team, Jonathan would have been easily identifiable as UConn.This new version may more accuratley portray a Husky but so what--it's not unique to UConn. Show it on a TV screen before a highlight package and you'll be hard pressed to know what's coming--UConn? Washington? Northeastern? Someone, somewhere, somehow got too technical and lost sight of all the identity capital we had built up over the years. We had a unique representation that said UConn and we threw it away for canine accuracy. That's just not smart."

Will we get used to it? Probably. Will we sell more merchandise? Probably. Will I support it? Yes. But I'm frankly not impressed. If there was an on line vote of all alumni, I bet the new logo would be defeated in a landslide, and that's not the response the school was counting on

The fact that you showed it separately to people doesn't matter. They all knew it was the replacement husky. They were bias opinions just based on that fact. I bet if you showed the same people the exact same logo and said it was for a new team, they would like it. People are just adverse to change.

The capital built up isn't what you think it is. I showed my buddy the new logo, who is very into sports and not an alum, from NJ, and he said. "It's cool. Honestly, it doesn't matter much. You guys are UConn. That is what matters. It's UConn. The mascot is secondary." I feel the exact same way.

 

[CAHUSKY]

Do you really think they had focus groups with students, alumni, CT citizens, etc.? Do you know anyone who served on one? .

Yes. A number of athletes, coaches and a few posters here on the yard. Do you really just think they pulled this out of their asses?

 

[CAHUSKY]

Will we get used to it? Probably. Will we sell more merchandise? Probably. Will I support it? Yes. But I'm frankly not impressed. If there was an on line vote of all alumni, I bet the new logo would be defeated in a landslide, and that's not the response the school was counting on

And if you did this same poll in 5 years you will find that people universally like it and won't believe we went 30 years with. A Samoyed as a mascot. That's how rebranding usually works. Did you poll any of them as to their feelings that the husky logo wasnt even a fricken husky?

 

[husky8273]

See Husky logo Q & A from Kyle Muncy -

http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2013/04/husky-logo-qa/

 

[storrsroars]

"Except he doesn't."

ZLS you just confirmed your contemporary ignorance. Every single person in the universe has a "point". Doesn't make them right though. Even Snookie has a point when she talks. Doesn't make her right either. Haha. The challenge is not being ignorant toward their "point" and trying to understand where it comes from and why. Yes, even Snookie. What factors caused her perception? Are they familial? Societal? Intelligence based? Experience based? What info is she drawing upon? You have to ask these questions when ppl make arguments. I would say freescooter has some understandable factors to go along with his perception. But so do you. You may be right and he may be wrong, but he has a point.

I can tell your more intelligent then your frustration is making you act right now..Don't let people you disagree with, frustrate you so much. There is too much disagreement in the world to let it get to you. That's what I try to do now anyway. It ain't easy though. Snookie makes me wanna bang my head against the wall when I hear her speak...but I realize she is a person too, and something has helped to cause her to be that way, though she is also at blame for her continued wrong perception of reality too....

After reading this, I can tell I'm going to be spending much of this weekend looking for other signs of the Apocalyspe.

 

[uconnforlife]

It's interesting. I showed the new logo separately to about 20 kids and adults who are big Husky fans over the last few days. The kids were 8-12. The adults were in their 30's, 40's, 60's and 80's, lol. Since I didn't want one person's opinion to color another's, they were all seperate encounters. The outcome? I was very surprised at the UNANIMOUS dislike of the new logo. I fully expected one of them to go "Wow that's cool!" Never happened. When I asked the kids why they didn't like it the responses were essentially "It's ugly, it looks mean, and I loved Jonathan as he was. Some of the adults had similar thoughts. One person actually expounded on why they disliked it so.

"Our prior logo may not have been precisely a Husky, but that's what made him unique. It was iconic. When it showed up on TV you immediately knew it was UConn. The success of our teams over the past years with Jonathan as our logo had allowed it to be displayed a lot on the networks. If you showed a series of team logos and asked folks to identify the team, Jonathan would have been easily identifiable as UConn.This new version may more accuratley portray a Husky but so what--it's not unique to UConn. Show it on a TV screen before a highlight package and you'll be hard pressed to know what's coming--UConn? Washington? Northeastern? Someone, somewhere, somehow got too technical and lost sight of all the identity capital we had built up over the years. We had a unique representation that said UConn and we threw it away for canine accuracy. That's just not smart."

Will we get used to it? Probably. Will we sell more merchandise? Probably. Will I support it? Yes. But I'm frankly not impressed. If there was an on line vote of all alumni, I bet the new logo would be defeated in a landslide, and that's not the response the school was counting on

Did you ask any teenagers because that's who we should be trying to appeal to and me and all of my friends love the new logo. Nike singlehandedly made Oregon football into a powerhouse I think they know what they're doing when it comes to rebranding.

 

[CL82]

I can't imagine some of the first prototypes...I'm sure there were some truly terrible ones in there.

Well I didn't feel comfortable mentioning it until now but I did have a source on the UConn side of things. You are absolutely correct that the final design was better than the original one. Here is an early prototype.

Clearly, it improved over time.

 

[8893]

This mascot sucks and if someone comes near me wearing something with this mascot on it I will tell them so and ask them why they have no support for our traditions.

I look forward to meeting you.

 

[8893]

What does Emily Noonan think about the new logo?

 

[CL82]

You know what? The same silly sons-o-bitches that are on this board complaining about the new logo today are going to be the same silly sons -o-bitches who will be complaining in about 10-12 years when the University decides to re-brand itself to meet 2023 standards and talking about how the 'old' logo put in in 2013 should be kept in order to retain our traditions. Even in 2013, no one is going to ask their opinion so whatever they come up with will be wrong.

Nah, for the most part, they'll be senile by then and won't care.

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

Did the Nike rocket scientists factor in the level of anger, disgust, animosity, lost morale, lost recognition (if we were a corporation the value of Jonathon from a recognition perspective would be millions of dollars) and lost donations a change would generate? Or did they just see this as an opportunity to sell a few more t-shirts with no risk to themselves? UConn is taking the risk with this and will end up with on their face. Nike will just swoosh on to the next suckers.

"I'm sorry, sir, I thought we were rooting for the same team? Did I give up my right to an opinion the moment I went to UConn? Is it hthusky74's way or the highway? Now if you could put on some pants and stop yelling at everyone, we're not actually on your lawn, sir."

 

[Husky1972]

When I asked the kids why they didn't like it the responses were essentially "It's ugly, it looks mean, and I loved Jonathan as he was. Some of the adults had similar thoughts.

Not Geno:
Head women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma says he is eager to see the new look on his student-athletes.
“This logo is everything that a Husky is supposed to be – powerful, aggressive, determined,” he says. “It is looking right through you and saying ‘Do not mess with me.’ This is a streamlined, fighting dog, and I cannot wait for it to be on our uniforms and court.”

Kevin Ollie is on board, too:
Adds head men’s basketball coach Kevin Ollie, “I absolutely love this new Husky Dog logo. It looks fantastic on our uniforms and I know that our fans will love it as much as we do. Our new identity is a look that I know I will be proud to wear.”

http://today.uconn.edu/blog/2013/04/a-new-husky-for-a-new-era/

 

[8893]

I love Geno and KO and their respective quotes, but don't they have (and/or want) separate contracts with Nike themselves, or are those prohibited now?

 

[CL82]

Did the Nike rocket scientists factor in the level of anger, disgust, animosity, lost morale, lost recognition (if we were a corporation the value of Jonathon from a recognition perspective would be millions of dollars) and lost donations a change would generate? Or did they just see this as an opportunity to sell a few more t-shirts with no risk to themselves? UConn is taking the risk with this and will end up with on their face. Nike will just swoosh on to the next suckers.

Yep, because they do this every year and they know that a limited number of fans will get their panties in a bunch for a week or two and then 99% of them will move on with their life. This isn't the end of the university by a long shot. Just my opinion.

 

[NHUConnfan]

Well I didn't feel comfortable mentioning it until now but I did have a source on the UConn side of things. You are absolutely correct that the final design was better than some of the original one. Here is an early prototype.

Clearly, it improved over time.

Like...where is the dog in that. I literally can't see it.

 

[CL82]

Like...where is the dog in that. I literally can't see it.

I know right? It kinda looks like a rodent ...and the production work is pretty weak. I am amazed Nike would put out that shoddy an effort.

 

[Gurleyman]

I know right? It kinda looks like a rodent ...and the production work is pretty weak. I am amazed Nike would put out that shoddy an effort.

It almost looks like a Blue Beaver.

Shame on Nike. Thank goodness someone stopped them. Before it was too late.

 

[ConnHuskBask]

I read a long expose on the history of the Buffalo slug where they only presented it internally, not through focus groups. Of course, that was Reebok, but I do think you're presuming too much. The history of logos that are DOA shows that this can happen.

I think the vast majority of us like this new logo. I was surprised. I thought it was going to be much worse. That being said, they missed a big opportunity when they put a toupee on its head. I think the popularity of Penfield's husky speaks to that.

I'm going to quote you here upstater, and say I agree.

If we are on something we can probably not go back and forth 10 times right...Lol

 

[Bezzz]

Some woman designed the Nike logo in the 1970s and got paid around $40 for it. Not 40 grand. Forty dollars.

I had to look that one up. Actually, it was $35! But 12 years later, she got paid with "an envelope filled with an undisclosed amount of Nike stock".

The Swoosh

 

[hthusky74]

"I'm sorry, sir, I thought we were rooting for the same team? Did I give up my right to an opinion the moment I went to UConn? Is it hthusky74's way or the highway? Now if you could put on some pants and stop yelling at everyone, we're not actually on your lawn, sir."

Did you see your name or any reference to you in the statement you responded to by me? Are you paranoid or something?

 

[Irishboy9780]

Wow finally found a Uconn board. Been one of the lone husky fans on cbssports for too long. Anyways I don't live in CT anymore, but am quite surprised at the masses of people up in arms over this. I knew that some people wouldn't like the change and while I absolutely love the old logo, it was just outdated and was time to move on. Just as i turn around and look at the 1999 pennant proudly hanging on my wall- the swoosh style Uconn on it just seems outdated. I like that this new logo is more ferocious and sleek than the previous. People just need to accept the fact that it is time to move on and this new sleek brand that unites all of our sports was sorely needed. Blue or White i really don't know or care,but what i do know is that this logo is perfect for this age. As much as we all loved the 90s...it is time to move on.

 

[Palatine]

Something that's easily forgotten:

UConn asked for Nike to evaluate its brand--word marks, logos, mascots, etc. Nike releases this logo. Remember that Nike has one of (if not) the most iconic logo in the world. These marketing people know what the hell they're doing.

So for those who are a little uneasy about this rebranding, trust that it's coming from people who know these things better than most in the world.

Yep, and Nike has made errors in brands including its own. And they threw away what makes the UConn Husky unique.

The blind faith in Nike reminds me of the posters who have blind faith the coaches opinion of players.

One other thing. It is the university's fault that they did not specify that the Husky remain white as a mandatory of the logo redesign.

 

[zls44]

Wow finally found a Uconn board. Been one of the lone husky fans on cbssports for too long. Anyways I don't live in CT anymore, but am quite surprised at the masses of people up in arms over this. I knew that some people wouldn't like the change and while I absolutely love the old logo, it was just outdated and was time to move on. Just as i turn around and look at the 1999 pennant proudly hanging on my wall- the swoosh style Uconn on it just seems outdated. I like that this new logo is more ferocious and sleek than the previous. People just need to accept the fact that it is time to move on and this new sleek brand that unites all of our sports was sorely needed. Blue or White i really don't know or care,but what i do know is that this logo is perfect for this age. As much as we all loved the 90s...it is time to move on.

I don't know if I should congratulate you for finding us, or apologize in advance.

Either way, welcome.

 

[freescooter]

Yep, and Nike has made errors in brands including its own. And they threw away what makes the UConn Husky unique.

The blind faith in Nike reminds me of the posters who have blind faith the coaches opinion of players.

One other thing. It is the university's fault that they did not specify that the Husky remain white as a mandatory of the logo redesign.

This is a cartoon which could have been drawn by a talented 10 year old with a box of crayons. Nothing special about it and it ignores more than 75 years of tradition. The decision to always get a white Husky as a mascot was intentional. It wasn't happenstance. And what's with the damned red everywhere? UConn is blue and white. I can imagine Nike putting us in red uniforms if it suits there purposes. They've already put the basketball teams in grey and pink. So why the heck not? I'm also not sure why there was a need for a logo redesign. I attend lots of UConn athletic events, a few other events, and on the scale of things, redesigning the Husky was way below getting into a decent conference, getting an offense for the football team, and getting the basketball center build, even hiring new coaches for mens and womens hockey and deciding what to do about Freitas.

Palatine, I guess since we're going into a non-entity of a conference, they figured we might as well land a non-entity of a mascot. Maybe people will forget its UConn stuck with the likes of Memphis and Tulane.

 

[HuskyHawk]

His point was that they had to return to the old Coke formula....And by making that point he is implying we might eventually do that with our new logo, returning to the old logo, that is. It's a valid point. I haven't read any other posts so Idk if there was any "bitching" going on. I am starting to like the new logo, but if you fail to see freescooter's perspective then that is ignorance, you don't have to agree with him though. Just recognize he has a point.

Except that you do know that the new Coke formula is used on Diet Coke right? And that ended up being a grand slam. Coke Zero is essentially classic coke in diet.

Nike didn't release this logo, UConn did. UConn paid for it and hired the guy that drew it. Nike is consulting on brand coordination. I am sure UConn used their expertise and input. But the decision was UConn's. The old logo didn't look like a husky. Penfields all white one looks like a white wolf. Our new logo is unique and still does not resemble any other husky logo.

 

[freescooter]

Except that you do know that the new Coke formula is used on Diet Coke right? And that ended up being a grand slam. Coke Zero is essentially classic coke in diet.

Nike didn't release this logo, UConn did. UConn paid for it and hired the guy that drew it. Nike is consulting on brand coordination. I am sure UConn used their expertise and input. But the decision was UConn's. The old logo didn't look like a husky. Penfields all white one looks like a white wolf. Our new logo is unique and still does not resemble any other husky logo.

Actually Nike designed the new logo, supposedly at UConn's request. Logo design is one of the services the uniform companies provide for their customers. Addidas does it, too. They did perhaps the worst redesign in history, the Buffaslug, but toupee dog is pretty bad. It is some sort of generic canine. Could be a wolf. Could be a Husky. Could be a German Shepard. Could be Donald Trump.

 

[BugsyCT]

This is a cartoon which could have been drawn by a talented 10 year old with a box of crayons. Nothing special about it and it ignores more than 75 years of tradition. The decision to always get a white Husky as a mascot was intentional. It wasn't happenstance. And what's with the damned red everywhere? UConn is blue and white. I can imagine Nike putting us in red uniforms if it suits there purposes. They've already put the basketball teams in grey and pink. So why the heck not? I'm also not sure why there was a need for a logo redesign. I attend lots of UConn athletic events, a few other events, and on the scale of things, redesigning the Husky was way below getting into a decent conference, getting an offense for the football team, and getting the basketball center build, even hiring new coaches for mens and womens hockey and deciding what to do about Freitas.

Palatine, I guess since we're going into a non-entity of a conference, they figured we might as well land a non-entity of a mascot. Maybe people will forget its UConn stuck with the likes of Memphis and Tulane.

Oh, right - a 10-year-old with crayons. It's really that bad. Like the previous logo of a tongue-wagging happy doggie was a work of art and didn't look cartoonish at all. Jesus.

As for all the red, did you happen to notice that our basketball teams and some of our other sports teams have had red in their uniforms for years?

 

[Irishboy9780]

Free scooter you do realize that the husky is what 20 years old at most in its current variation? It was our success that made the logo what it is not the other way around. When we continue to win championships, it will be forgotten.

 

[Rico444]

Wow finally found a Uconn board. Been one of the lone husky fans on cbssports for too long. Anyways I don't live in CT anymore, but am quite surprised at the masses of people up in arms over this. I knew that some people wouldn't like the change and while I absolutely love the old logo, it was just outdated and was time to move on. Just as i turn around and look at the 1999 pennant proudly hanging on my wall- the swoosh style Uconn on it just seems outdated. I like that this new logo is more ferocious and sleek than the previous. People just need to accept the fact that it is time to move on and this new sleek brand that unites all of our sports was sorely needed. Blue or White i really don't know or care,but what i do know is that this logo is perfect for this age. As much as we all loved the 90s...it is time to move on.

Nicely put. Welcome!

 

[sdhusky]

And it still is.

What's your point? I mean, besides bitching about everything and refusing to ever admit you were wrong about anything?

Spend the time bitchin about the new logo figuring out how you can make money.

That you can donate to our Athletic department.

That way, you can actually do some good instead of whining like a little girl.