SEC Asks Jeb Bush's Campaign To Change Logo That Resembles Conference Mark

The SEC has negotiated with officials from Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush's campaign to "modify a logo that closely resembles the conference's and make other changes in how the campaign aligns itself with the conference," according to Steve Berkowitz of USA TODAY. SEC Associate Commissioner/Communications Herb Vincent said the conference "does not endorse candidates for any political office" and has "spoken to the Bush campaign to ensure that their activities are within the bounds of our trademark requirements." Berkowitz notes as part of efforts "aimed at Republican primaries March 1 in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Arkansas and Texas that are collectively being called the 'SEC Primary,' Bush recently has appeared at tailgating events prior to football games" at the Univ. of Georgia and the Univ. of Tennessee. He is "scheduled to do the same before games in November" at the Univ. of Alabama and Mississippi State. Meanwhile, the campaign’s online store yesterday morning was "offering a drink koozie for $5 that featured a campaign logo resembling the conference’s circular SEC logo but instead using the letters 'JEB.'" However, by yesterday afternoon, the item "had been removed from the store" (USA TODAY, 10/15).

THE OLD COLLEGE TRY: This week's issue of SI has a small note about the Bush/SEC logo and makes a few suggestions on other college conference logos that "lend themselves to White House hopefuls" (SI, 10/19 issue).