Most sports-loving people inside Tennessee know what the University of Connecticut athletics logo looks like. It’s a husky with his/her tongue slightly out, ready for it’s next command. That is, until here as of late. The school affectionately known as UConn decided to update the dog a bit, but the logo looks a bit familiar…
I admit it, I’m a nerd for logos and such. I design most of the graphic stuff on the site and the stores that we publish, so I suppose it’s natural.
Firstly, let’s look at their history up until now (courtesy of CBSSports.com)
-1959 : Doesn’t look like he’s having a ton of fun. “Looks like snow today. Again. Hmmm…”
-1960s : “GEE GOLLY I’M SO HAPPY TO BE HERE ON FOUNDERS DAY IN STORRS, CONNECTICUT HOME OF THE HUSKIES THIS RIFLE ISN’T REALLY LOADED BUT I REALLY HAVE OPPOSABLE THUMBS!!!!”
-1970s : “Good night. And good luck.” He actually looks like the dog on the cover of a paperback copy of “Call of the Wild” I had when I was young.
-1980s & 1990s : “I shampoo regularly, because I’m worth it.”
2000s : A comic book version of the previous one, and more computer/t-shirt friendly. Lauren says it still looks like a collie.
So what’s familiar with this new Huskies logo? For one, it’s cool. It’s VERY realistic compared to the…. others. Huskies have dense fur, not wavy like that of a golden retriever or so. But it looks a bit like a logo we ALMOST saw take the ice.
Before they moved, the Quebec Nordiques planned a massive rebranding project and were scrapping the hockey stick and igloo logo (I had to look up what the logo was trying to accomplish) for a more ferocious look. (PURPLE AND TEAL = FEAR!!! WOLF HAS YELLOW EYES!!! This is the epitome of the 90s NHL fashion trends, only exceeded by the Mighty Ducks’ short lived third jersey) Instead, this logo was never mass produced, and leaked after Quebec City’s team moved to Denver, where they won the Stanley Cup in their first year as the Colorado Avalanche.