Florida State Univ. on Friday "officially unveiled its new logo and uniforms" and members of the track and field, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, basketball and football teams "paraded the new threads for anxious fans ... to mixed feelings," according to Karl Etters of the TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT. While most were "ecstatic about the new uniforms, the
hotly contested logo change ... was not as well-received by some." FSU officials have "worked with Nike for the past two years on redesigning the logo and uniforms for consistency across all athletics programs, while trying to maintain the integrity of the university and the Seminole Tribe of Florida." FSU Associate AD/Communications Rob Wilson said that the idea is to "create an unmistakable brand for the university." Wilson said, “We tried to link it together so that all the uniforms say the same thing. We want to make sure when you see a softball game, you know that’s a Florida State uniform right away. We wanted to kind of all tie it together" (
TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT, 4/12). FSU AD Stan Wilcox said that the Seminole Tribe "approved the logo change, as well as the additions to the football uniforms, which has the Seminole Tribe's symbols for arrow, man on horse and fire integrated into the sleeves and neckline" of the jersey. The helmet "still has a spear on each side, but the spears now cross at the back" (
ORLANDO SENTINEL, 4/12). CBSSPORTS.com's Tom Fornelli wrote of the new logo, "I don't like it, and I don't think it was all that necessary. Why the school felt the need to 'rebrand' something that was already instantly recognizable as Florida State is beyond me." But "as for the uniforms, they aren't terrible" (
CBSSPORTS.com, 4/11).
THE HEAD AND THE HEART: ESPN’s Holly Rowe during FSU's Spring Game Saturday noted some fans were "very upset that they were going to change the Seminole head," but there is "not a significant difference" when the new logo is put side by side with the old one. Rowe: "Some of the things they've done is artistically to make it a stronger line. We can see a few stronger graphics so they’ll be able to produce it a little bit easier. If you were to look at it painted on the field, you can’t really tell a huge difference. I know that’s going to be sacrilegious to some people out there, but more and more people are coming around thinking, ‘OK, it’s not that much different.’" She did note fans were happy with the "gorgeous new uniforms." ESPN’s Matt Millen said of the uniforms, “All you had to do was look at some of the Oregon uniforms and how they were received. That was part of their decision in going to a school. They want to be in those things. They are going to be fast. They want to look fast and so, are they good-looking uniforms? Absolutely. They are great looking uniforms” (“Florida State Spring Game,” ESPN, 4/12).
