(Photo Courtesy: University of Connecticut)
If by some weird coincidence, you happen to have the password to all my social media accounts, than chances are pretty good you know that my Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/Keek/Beebo and Myspace accounts (ok, I don’t actually have the last three) were abuzz this afternoon.
That’s because on Thursday the University of Connecticut announced changes to the well-known and long respected Jonathan the Husky logo, a logo which adorns all the jerseys of UConn’s athletics teams.
And as a UConn alum myself, the decision to give Jonathan a face-lift, left my social circles in a frenzy.
Some love Jonathan’s new look, some hate and some aren’t totally sure what to make of it, but it’s hard to deny that the decision to make a change did get everyone talking.
So why was the change made?
Well, we let UConn itself explain, with the following quote coming straight from a university issued press release:
The new Jonathan Husky logo is a reflection of comments by coaches and student-athletes who participated in the process of reviewing the branding and logos used in the Division of Athletics.
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.”
Now, whether Auriemma actually believes that or not is irrelevant, but it is an interesting new look for an athletic program and university which is undergoing major changes across the board.
Crystal Ball Run already told you last week about the school’s decision to brand itself “UConn” after years of referring to itself as “Connecticut” and the logo just seems like the next evolution in the process. It’s a process that many feel needed to be made; remember, after three decades in the Big East, UConn will transition next year into a new conference (which most people still seem to refer to as the “American Whatchamacallit League”) and its future as a whole remains to be seen. It’s no secret that the school had hoped to get into the ACC in the last round of realignment, and seems content to get out of its current league by any means necessary.
As for me, well, frankly I have no strong opinion on it. Yes I’m a UConn alum, and as a sportswriter I suppose I should care, but to be brutally honest it doesn’t matter to me. If the school felt they needed to re-brand that’s their decision.
The only thing that matters to me is wins on the field and on the court, something the university has experienced quite a bit of the last few weeks. After all, you did hear about that National Championship we won in hoops the other night, our eighth in 18 years, right? Not to mention that there’s a very real possibility that our men’s basketball program will enter next season ranked as one of the Top 15 teams in the country.
As for the football team (since this is a football site after all), well, maybe the new logo is exactly what they needed. After all, as Auriemma mentioned, the new logo is supposed to represent “everything a Husky is supposed to be” including power and aggression, two traits the football program showed little of in the 2012 season.
And even if the football team isn’t improved (which they likely won’t be) well crap, at least the new logo is a diversion, right?
For all his insight, analysis and opinion, please follow Aaron on Twitter @Aaron_Torres
Follow Crystal Ball Run on Twitter @CrystalBallRun.
