Although the Men's Basketball team is off to a 6-0 big ten start, there is a HUGE controversy brewing in East Lansing. I'll try to be both thorough and concise...
Late in December, MSU applied for a patent, for the image that is in the top left of this post. The use of this logo would be as follows (from the patent status):
"educational services, namely, providing courses of instruction and continuing education at the college and graduate level and conducting summer camps and workshops for youth in the fields of athletics, music, and fine arts and crafts; entertainment services in the nature of organizing collegiate sporting events and competitions and conducting music concerts and arts festivals"
In short, it will be a representation of MSU, or a logo. Initially, many believed it would be an alternate logo they use for some merchandise (kind of like the old school, "gruff" sparty logo that's tattooed on Delvon Roe's Arm). However, a story printed on MLive.com today quoted an MSU employee saying it will be a "comprehensive package" and the result of 2 years of work between MSU and Nike.
Nike has been working with the university for a number of years as the jersey supplier for a number of sports. The basketball teams, in particular, have been a large focus of Nike's for a number of years -- the basketball team gets new, redesigned accents on their jerseys every couple years. However, their logo and color scheme has been consistent for years.
From what it sounds like, the old Spartan Helmet will be replaced by a different version of the helmet in April. Whether or not you agree with the move, it is a huge deal when an entire athletics department changes their logo. Sure, pro sports do it once in a while, but tradition is a huge part of the college experience. Any student to a university is introduced to the school's traditions first and foremost. The athletics logo is inevitably the face of the university. More people around the country and world see this logo before statistics of the student body, the number of faculty, the fruits of MSU research, or administrative decisions made by the President.
Here's my take on it: This is ridiculous. MSU athletics, including Mark Dantonio and Tom Izzo, have repeatedly cited tradition and history as the cornerstone of their programs. Coach Izzo has recent grads come back repeatedly to talk to his players and makes sure his grads and predecessors are in the loop as much as possible. The first thing Dantonio did when he got to campus was build an entire wing of a building honoring the great people related to the Spartan Football team's history. The Spartan helmet has been the face of our athletics department in arguably our most high profile era since we became the "Spartans" -- Tom Izzo's 5 final fours, Perles' 1988 Rose Bowl team, the recent resurgence of the football team under Mark Dantonio, and among all, the highest quality of education and administration that the university has seen.
A "new look" for MSU Athletics helps no one. It may help sell more T-shirts, water bottles, and posters, but at what cost? I might not survive a story that came out if Nike had a direct influence in changing our logo. Personally, I'm going to do what I can to voice my opinion to the athletics department. That means writing letters and emails, people. Sorry, but the whole "support a cause on facebook" doesn't accomplish anything -- Darfur still sucks, Breast Cancer groups don't cure breast cancer, and Global Warming hasn't slowed down. I encourage everyone who is against this change to let the administration know how they feel. Letters, petitions, emails, anything TANGIBLE that can be shown as dissent for the logo. Of course, the language that speaks the loudest for any university is money. I can imagine there may be longtime season-ticket holders who may not renew, supporters of different campus departments that will stop donating, and also cause a wave of disdain for MSU by its graduates.
This logo fiasco needs to either be cleared up by the administration, or it has the potential to drive a serious wedge in MSU's fanbase.
