UL's Logo Crisis

[HoustonCajun]

_ I like the "Red Bull Gator" but really is there such a thing? Although it doesn't matter. MT goes with that winged unicorn looking thing. I think the Red Gator might work for us but then again we have to start winning. _

Check out another thread on the Bullgator. It has great possibilities.

1. The character looks great and put Chicken Man in a Bullgator costume and you have something really entertaining and appealing to fans that finally has a connection to the university.

2. We have a natural swamp on campus with a Bullgator.

3. Our stadium is called The Swamp.

4. Our soccer complex is called Gator Cove.

5. The Bullgator mascot has marketing and apparel appeal.

6. We can do the gator chomp at games which gets the fans more into the game.

7. Only Florida has a Gator mascot. So what if there are similarities. Did we change The Swamp just because Florida's stadium is also called The Swamp? Clemson, Missouri, Memphis and LSU are all the Tigers and all play Hold That Tiger as their theme song and nobody worries about anybody copying each other. LSU's Tiger Stadium is also called Death Valley. Clemson calls their stadium Death Valley. Again, no problem there. Hey, we would be in great company with Louisiana and Florida. Besides, they are the Florida Gators and Gators is both their mascot and moniker. UL's moniker is the Ragin Cajuns and our mascot is the Bullgator. There is a difference.

8. The Peppers only place is the accent on Ragin. It is not used anywhere else in marketing.

9. We need a name for the Bullgator. Fideaux is one name. Zydeco was also suggested, sort of like Gumbo for the Saints. Louie was also suggested as was Louie and Ana, if we got two Bullgators to reflect the Louisiana name.

10. We can build a swamp habitat around the stadium to duplicate the swamp on campus and have our Bullgator mascot there for our fans at The Swamp.

Just a few items to think about. The Brown Pelican and CatahoULa are also possibilities. However, the Bullgator brings the greatest benefit for reasons stated above, IMO.

[AstroCajun]

See my comments in the mascot poll. Louisiana is The Pelican State.

There are four things about Tulane's mascot that are salient to this discussion.

1) Tulane uses the white pelican, a fresh water bird located primarily in Europe & Africa. The brown pelican is a completely different species, a saltwater New World bird.

The two species are as different as the tiger and the lion.

2) Tulane has changed mascots and logos constantly, generating new ones every few years. They have had several versions of a wave, and just prior to the pelican, they used Poseidon ("Ruler of the Waves"... I had to figure out who it was, and why it was at a Tulane game, all by myself... they change 'em, and then they don't market 'em).

The pelican is the most recent effort, and has not really caught on (outside of a Tulane football game, how many times have any of us seen it?) I predict that Tulane will eventually abandon it, and return to the wave.

3) Even though I am a Tulane alum, I have to be honest: it is not at all clear that Tulane will remain 1A.

4) I can't state reason #4 publicly. But it's potent.

My favorite was when Tulane had a dude in a wave suit that looked like Gumby. It was as embarrassing to look at as Cayenne.

I remember the last time we beat Tulane in New Orleans sometime back in the 90's (early 90s that is) and we had gotten Gumby so mad at us that he flipped us the bird!

Good times, good times.

[CajunFun]

My point exactly. The White Pelican hasn't caught on because it is not inherently interesting or inspiring. Aside from the inspiring imported Brown Pelicans from Florida story, same goes.

Make no mistake their current thriving state in Louisiana is very exciting but it is just for looks. They are as native to Louisiana as the bee hive recently found in Ville Platte.

jmo

Is it because the pelican "is not inherently interesting or inspiring"? (Actually, it is extremely interesting, IMHO.)

Or because it hasn't been properly marketed?

There is nothing inspiring about the Miami Ibis, the Oregon Ducks, the Minnesota Gophers, the OU conestoga wagon, the Stanford tree, or the Ohio State shrub (the buckeye).

But they have all been huge marketing successes. Schools have shown that any identity-- correction, any unique identity-- can work, if properly marketed. Tulane, as I have noted, changes mascots every few years... and then they don't do much to market them. (Did you, or any of us, ever hear anything about the Poseidon mascot, even though Tulane used it for several years??)

A gator isn't unique. It may be interesting. It may be inspiring. You can argue that it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.

It may be all of these things, but the point is immaterial. If we use any variation of a gator, we will always be viewed as nothing more than Florida copy-cats.

Let me remind you that in the '60's, there was a staunch group of supporters who fought actively against "Ragin' Cajuns", and wanted to keep the Bulldog. At that time, Bulldogs were cool (but generic) and Cajuns were most definitely not cool (but entirely unique).

By your argument, we should have kept what was cool and generic-- and interesting and inspiring-- not what was un-cool, uninspiring, but unique. By your argument, we should still be the Bulldogs.

And I don't think you believe that.

Now, the Catahoula hound is unique, and can be inspiring. But the breed is not widely recognized outside of Louisiana. Remember, Tennessee uses a dog as one of its marks. And I would bet you that less than half of the casual college football fans even know that a dog is one of UT's mascots.

And I feel quite confident that less than 1 in 10 of them can tell you what the breed is, or the connection to UT. (For some time, I assumed it was a Tennessee bloodhound. I was wrong, it's a blue tick hound.) Now, EXCEPT for its use at UT, were any of us aware that there WAS such a dog as the blue tick hound? Or much less that the breed came from Tennessee?

On the other hand, the brown pelican is unique, and strongly identified with Louisiana-- it's our state bird, it's on the Louisiana flag, it's on the Great Seal of Louisiana, it's on our US quarter, and it is our state's nickname.

So my point is the one I always take: we're here to build a University, not a sports program. The Brown Pelican isn't inspiring? The above examples show that this is not a salient concern.

It's unique. And it's the state bird. That mean it has great value, both from the point of identity, but much more, from the standpoint of political support. Because just like "UL" and "Ragin' Cajuns," it once again solidifies our identity as THE University of Louisiana.

If we are looking to build a University, not a football program, I can't see how we can pass up political points to be cool (but puzzling), or to be cool (but generic).

PS Just why DID you leave the pelican off of the CURRENT poll?

[NOCajun]

_ I agree with you. The only current UL logo I like, or will wear is the interlocking UL. I have about 10 different shirts with the UL embroidered on it, and I go through great lengths to avoid the other logos.

So I didn't go into it... but check out this photo. It was another lapse here.

They were using this for years before we were. Any suggestions? _

THAT hat is the ONLY place at the University of Louisville where you will see that interlocking UL. Their official logos are the Cardinal head and the "Roman-style(?)" L.

[CajunNation]

Now, the Catahoula hound is unique, and can be inspiring. But the breed is not widely recognized outside of Louisiana. Remember, Tennessee uses a dog as one of its marks. And I would bet you that less than half of the casual college football fans even know that a dog is one of UT's mascots.

And I feel quite confident that less than 1 in 10 of them can tell you what the breed is, or the connection to UT.

Now, you know the same is true for the pelican. The fact that it is on the state flag means very little to the public. Who memorizes the state flags of this country?

The bottom line is that we are not changing our nickname to either the Catahoulas or the Brown Pelicans. It would just be a mascot for a school that doesn't have a good representation of it's nickname. Like the collie at A&M and the hound at Tennessee.

All I know is that if we are looking for something to represent the fighting spirit of The University of Louisiana and this state, this seems like a darn good choice:

<<The King of the stock dog breeds, most enduring... stamina is their middle name... CATAHOULA LEOPARD STOCK DOGS outwork and outfight all other breeds of stock dogs when protecting their master, livestock, and property. They are the largest and most aggressive of the cattle dogs, bred to handle wild cattle and hogs in the roughest, most remote country. Catahoulas will also hunt coon, bear, or whatever else they are introduced to. >>


http://www.catahoulaleopard.com/homepg.htm


The Catahoula is the perfect bridge from building a university(state dog) to building an athletic program(see above).

[CajunFun]

Now, you know the same is true for the pelican. The fact that it is on the state flag means very little to the public. Who memorizes the state flags of this country?

The bottom line is that we are not changing our nickname to either the Catahoulas or the Brown Pelicans. It would just be a mascot for a school that doesn't have a good representation of it's nickname. Like the collie at A&M and the hound at Tennessee.

All I know is that if we are looking for something to represent the fighting spirit of The University of Louisiana and this state, this seems like a darn good choice:

<<The King of the stock dog breeds, most enduring... stamina is their middle name... CATAHOULA LEOPARD STOCK DOGS outwork and outfight all other breeds of stock dogs when protecting their master, livestock, and property. They are the largest and most aggressive of the cattle dogs, bred to handle wild cattle and hogs in the roughest, most remote country. Catahoulas will also hunt coon, bear, or whatever else they are introduced to. >>


http://www.catahoulaleopard.com/homepg.htm


The Catahoula is the perfect bridge from building a university(state dog) to building an athletic program(see above).

Well, I disagree.

But there is a point I need to clear up:

Name . . . . . . . . .Nickname . . . . . . . .Mascot
Oklahoma. . . . . . .Sooners. . . . . . . . . . . Conestoga Wagon
Texas A&M. . . . . .Aggies. . . . . . . . . . . . Collie (Reveille)
Miami . . . . . . . . . . Hurricanes. . . . . . . . . Ibis
Tennessee. . . . . .Volunteers. . . . . . . . . Man in Buckskin, Dog
Georgetown . . . . .Hoyas. . . . . . . . . . . . . Bulldog
Bama. . . . . . . . . . . Crimson Tide. . . . . . .Elephant
Louisiana. . . . . .Ragin' Cajuns. . . . .Mr. Red Okra Head

I don't want to replace Ragin' Cajuns with the Brown Pelican.

I want to replace Gumbo Gumby.

[Sonsissymia]

_ My favorite was when Tulane had a dude in a wave suit that looked like Gumby. It was as embarrassing to look at as Cayenne.

I remember the last time we beat Tulane in New Orleans sometime back in the 90's (early 90s that is) and we had gotten Gumby so mad at us that he flipped us the bird!

Good times, good times. _

damn, i had forgotten about the walking wave. truth be told, it was even WORSE than the pepper. and the thing was HUGE. just awful.

[Turbine]

A gator isn't unique. It may be interesting. It may be inspiring. You can argue that it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.

It may be all of these things, but the point is immaterial. If we use any variation of a gator, we will always be viewed as nothing more than Florida copy-cats.

. . .

By your argument, we should have kept what was cool and generic-- and interesting and inspiring-- not what was un-cool, uninspiring, but unique. By your argument, we should still be the Bulldogs.

And I don't think you believe that.

Now, the Catahoula hound is unique, and can be inspiring. But the breed is not widely recognized outside of Louisiana.

. . .

PS Just why DID you leave the pelican off of the CURRENT poll?

I happen to think a Vermilion Red BullGator named Zydeco would be the most unique fun mascot on the planet. It is for fun . . . Cajun Fun that is.

If people want to create a UL buzz about a school in Florida having a plain green gator mascot before UL used a Vermilion Red BullGator then the opportunity for promotion goes though the roof. Besides we have the fair and balanced comeback in having The Swamp first.

My argument for the Red BullGator isn't something I consider "cool and generic" its cool and unique and compendious in that it not only fits Louisiana to a "T" but it fits UL as well. For example Louisiana has the world’s largest Alligator population and Lafayette has the largest 'Alligator' hide tannery in the world. It fits UL

I left the pelican off the current poll because it generated very little interest in the previous one. (The one I can't find)

Now you know I am not anti pelican I used it here as a header graphic back in 2002-03. Its flipped silhouette is in use by BooksXYZ today, and I think it is great.

. . .
BTW, once when I came on here, I saw a great photo of a pelican flying, but I've never seen it again. ???

I just don't like it as a mascot/spirit leader. I also know you have solid credentials in that area.

jmo

[CajunFun]

I happen to think a Vermilion Red BullGator named Zydeco would be the most unique fun mascot on the planet. It is for fun . . . Cajun Fun that is.

If people want to create a UL buzz about a school in Florida having a plain green gator mascot before UL used a Vermilion Red BullGator then the opportunity for promotion goes though the roof. Besides we have the fair and balanced comeback in having The Swamp first.

My argument for the Red BullGator isn't something I consider "cool and generic" its cool and unique and compendious in that it not only fits Louisiana to a "T" but it fits UL as well. For example Louisiana has the world’s largest Alligator population and Lafayette has the largest 'Alligator' hide tannery in the world. It fits UL

I left the pelican off the current poll because it generated very little interest in the previous one. (The one I can't find)

Now you know I am not anti pelican I used it here as a header graphic back in 2002-03. Its flipped silhouette is in use by BooksXYZ today, and I think it is great. I just don't like it as a mascot/spirit leader. I also know you have solid credentials in that area.

jmo

You think the bullgator is cool. I think it's derivative.

I think the pelican has great psychological, marketing and political value. You don't see it, or you don't think the value is enough.

So for now, it's moot.

One correction: the booksXYZ logo came from my own work... but not by my intent.

I studied art at UNT, and used to occasionally do watercolors. I took a lot of pictures of pelicans and painted a large paper (about 4' wide) of a flying pelican as a gift for friends of the family who had taken care of me when I was at Tulane Med. (It was destroyed along with their cottage in Waveland by Katrina.)

Anyway, when I moved into my house about 18 years ago, I did a complete remodeling. I had this idea that I wanted a mosaic in my counter top, so I dug out my photos of pelicans, and used one of them to make the mosaic below (and cracking those tiles into tiny pieces the size & shape I needed turned out to be a real beech).

After Katrina, a printer on the west coast committed $250K in printing to help us with schools (we've used about $20K, and we haven't figured out how to use it all; they say they're still committed to helping us). They also had a design studio, so I asked for help with a new logo for booksXYZ. The NY Public Library uses a lion, as does Readerville, and I liked those. With that, the Open Source movement uses a lot of marine motifs (dolphin, penguin, manatee, square-rigger, etc.) and since we are built on Open Source technologies, I thought a pelican would be nice (ultoday article coming up soon on the pelican... the history is pretty interesting).

So I sent them a bunch of photos of pelicans to work with. I really only included the pix of my counter top as an afterthought, because it wasn't a photo of a real pelican.

As it turned out, one guy took it, cleaned it up, and immediately two of the other designers picked up his logo and incorporated it into their design work for us. When three different graphic designers converge on a concept, it's a pretty good endorsement. So ironically, I had to go all the way to L.A. for a new logo, only to end up using my own design. (Now that I think about it, maybe I was hoisted on my own pétard, caught ignoring my own arguments about building on our own work & traditions... )

Anyway, the pelican I got from RP is a different one, that we used for the United Louisiana Cajuns, and which may turn up in other ways in the future.

[CajunCanaille]

Whether it be a Bullgator, a Pelican, or simply bringing back Cajun Man, I think we are all in agreement that the pepper must go. In fact it seems all of current and former UL students outside of this thread are in agreement that the pepper must go. But talking here doesn't do much good. I doubt Julie Dronet (aka Logo Police) or whoever is in charge of the mascot design reads this website. So someone needs to relay the message. Someone needs to find out what needs to be done to get a new mascot.

Maybe when they have SGA voting they should put an option on their to pick the next UL mascot. It would be a good way to get students involved in making a decision for athletics as well as getting them out to vote for SGA (for whatever that's worth).

In saying all that we need to pick a mascot and stick with it. The pepper shouldn't be our mascot but when we choose this next mascot we should stick with this mascot for many, many years. Same goes for the logo. Lets eliminate the numerous logos we have and stick to, maybe, 2.

[AirBill]

Didn't someone suggest something like this a while back? I think it more than makes the point.

[CajunCanaille]

I see that this has officially turned into a logo / mascot thread as most of these ussually do.

I am going to add to my previous post and say that I no longer like the Catahoula dog. I have lived in Lafayette for 26 years and I don't even know what one of those looks like. If it's native to our area they must be close to extinction.

The gator is a great idea but having a gator mascot and playing in the swamp is way too similar to Florida. I understand we came up with the swamp first but it's still too similar.

The pelican seems to be the most origional (even though Tulane used it at one point) and the one that makes the most sense out of the above mentioned ideas. But it's another thing that while it's common to our state, I don't ever see a pelican flying anywhere in Lafayette.

I was think of why not maintaining the UL logo and just changing our mascot to something local. Something fun that represents our area and culture. When people from outside our state think of Louisiana they think of Mardi Gras. So why not incorporate Mardi Gras into our athletic program and university. There are tons of costumes that are worn during Mardi Gras that could be used as a mascot costume. The mascot could get the crowd involved by throwing beads and playing off the whole Mardi Gras tradition. May be a stupid idea but I'm just trying to think of things other than the norm. Something that could symbolize a Ragin Cajun.....just a thought.

I put a variety of UL logos used on this website that are really good. One of which we are already using.

As for the Mardi Gras mascot.....of course you would have to substitue all the colors and use Vermilion, White and prabobly a littel black to make it the school mascot. CAJUN MAN was a great mascot too.
GEAUX CAJUNS