How our helmet logo affects 10 random others

[BroadwayVik]

http://sportslogos.net/logo.php?id=bxt6sx39f7mv34x94y4y696bl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[Guychamp]

Some good comments. I have to admit, it is a confusing logo. it's a confusing shape and in the end is just a football helmet with horns on another football helmet.

We have NO brand. How about thinking of these things the way successful enterprises do and start developing a consistent brand that people will recognize. How about taking a clue from the Oregon playbook here. They brand a single alphabetical letter (so do many other top schools). Can we do something with the V in Viking that will last and forever get away from the cartoon character Viking brand that's now 2 decades out of date and never was cool anyway?

 

[DustRunner]

Hey, I like this logo. It's a ton better than other Viking logos, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[pdxfan]

"V" isn't a bad idea. None of the PSU letters work alone. A single letter is better than a "Flying Helmet". Not many schools go with a "V" (Vanderebilt?) so it's distinctive.

 

[DustRunner]

Vermont does too, but it's easier to make a big cat look good on a logo than it is a Viking.

 

[scooter1]

You know, I agree that the logo needs to be simple enough and understandable enough. I also like the V idea, maybe with horns. I think the current logo looks a little like the Alien! You student artists out there, get busy!!!

 

[Guychamp]

I did a little research. Here's a google search of the "V" logo used by other organizations and schools.

https://www.google.com/search?q=v+logos&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=9ur&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=SuJsT6jtDLGYiAe07J3dBQ&ved=0CC8QsAQ&biw=1429&bih=908" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[pdxfan]

It will be hard to make this topic run up to spring practice.

UO uses its big O for all logos. Can you see "v" replacing our PSU logo? Not a chance. If you mean it for the helmet, or even all sports, maybe. But it would be hard to match the Big O.

 

[scooter1]

Guychamp - nice work. There are lots of possibilities and with a little playing around, who knows?

 

[martymoose]

We had a 'V' in 1996. I was not a big fan of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxt0HwyHIqc&feature=related" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

 

[tednottodd]

My daughter said tonight that there is a movement going around campus to change from the Vikings to the Urbanites. She said she'd received three or four emails about it......

 

[scooter1]

I like Bourbonites! :twisted:

 

[DustRunner]

I haven't heard anything about a possible name change.

 

[BroadwayVik]

This a good sign, the students caring about how they are being represented.

I believe the solution is to retain the name Vikings and use Urbanites as an unofficial nickname, e.g. Huskies (Dawgs), Ducks (Webfoots), Utes (Redskins), Irish (Domers), Vikings (Urbanites), etc. Notice this is not the same as affectionately shortening the name; that we already have: Seminoles ('Noles), Hurricanes ('Canes), Cougars (Cougs), Vikings (Viks).

I earlier suggested Horndogs as an unofficial nickname. Urbanites works well too as it reveals who the PSU students are and who the Vikings are. Green Raiders might also work well. Horde has also been used.
* * * * *
These unofficial nicknames could also be combined in ways to help further get to the essence of who PSU is (objectively and subjectively) in terms of its true fighting spirit: Urbana Raiders, Green Urbs, Horndog Raiders, Green Raider Horde, etc. Whatever is the true essence, whatever catches traction.

 

[tednottodd]

I don't want to give the wrong impression when I said movement. I have no idea what the magnitude of this "movement" may be. For all I know it's two kids and a laptop. I'm just saying that she had received some emails about it.

 

[BroadwayVik]

Some big ideas start small.

 

[scooter1]

Thanks BV. It's apparent now that we need to make this transformation from the grassroots level, beginning with the cheerleaders' outfits. However, it may wreak havoc on those flips they do! Watch out for those horns! :clap:

 

[scooter1]

By the way BV, this line of thought brings me back to your posts back in July about the bookstore and the apparent lack of direction in designing unique products. I believe you were correct then in promoting student body involvement and rewarding participants.

 

[BroadwayVik]

Getting the students to see what part they get to play in this developmental process is important. I think most feel disenfranchised and that our leadership has a stacked deck against it. Everyone needs to dispel this notion by showing there are things that are in our power that can be done. It is important that we all overcome any feeling of learned helplessness. We need to recognize that there are many bases for growth and optimism. This is a good legacy for Portland Staters to learn and have.

If something bad happens, we need not take it personally. We need not expect that this bleeds into other areas of our lives. And we need to contain it as a negative for a brief time only.

But when good things happen, we need to take at least some credit for things going well. We need to believe that good things are going to pervade most every aspect of our lives, and we need to hold that the future will contain more and more of these good-outcome events. :thumb:

This is good mental hygiene: realism biased with optimism. This beats neutral or pessimistic realism. I feel the students can influence up how well the program does by investing their good-time memory week-ends into walking like a Viking to the game, and making those group events into something that they like and mold as memorable. They, too, can influence things along for the greater good. They, too, can build up to meet the university's true image potential.

One of the great privileges of being a college student is not the freedom to break laws, but to turn heads by being provocative.