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1

‘You can do it just like the men’: Former USF softball player paves the way for women in baseball

January 27, 2023January 27, 2023
2

OPINION: Women’s basketball should have been ranked in the Top 25 sooner

January 27, 2023
3

DeSantis announces goal to minimize diversity efforts in higher education, USF’s response unclear

January 26, 2023January 26, 2023
4

USF basketball on the road: Women’s dominates, men’s loses close fight

January 26, 2023January 26, 2023
5

OPINION: Biden’s loan forgiveness program needs to be passed despite lawsuits

January 26, 2023January 26, 2023
6

OPINION: USF needs to invest more in the humanities

January 26, 2023
7

An in-depth look into USF football transfers

January 25, 2023January 25, 2023
8

USF softball after Corrick’s departure

January 25, 2023
9

Recent anti-abortion legislation produces mixed reactions from student orgs

January 24, 2023January 24, 2023
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  • 2019
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  • OPINION: The case for throwback logos at USF Athletics
SPORTS

OPINION: The case for throwback logos at USF Athletics

Brian Hattab
April 17, 2019August 27, 2019

2003 was a transformative year for the University of South Florida.

New logos were implemented on both the university’s academic and athletic sides.

That 2003 academic logo is being phased out as we speak, but the athletic logo is still going strong, and it’s hard to see it ever being replaced. If you think people were angry about the new academic logo, replacing the ‘Iconic U’ would make that anger seem like child’s play.

But let’s not ignore history — it was far from USF Athletics’ first logo.

Between 1997 and 2003, a logo I like to derisively refer to as “Robo Bull” — seriously, it has red eyes! — was used by USF Athletics.

By all metrics, it was a pretty terrible logo and students at the time hated it.

But it’s still a part of USF’s history, and it’s past time USF acknowledges it again.

Think of the possibility of a throwback night, either at a football or basketball game. Basketball could even breakout a throwback court for the occasion to match throwback uniforms and logos.

USF could pair it with alumni nights. How cool would it be to honor Chad Barnhardt, USF football’s first starting quarterback, then see Blake Barnett wearing the same jersey Barnhardt wore during his tenure at the brand new program?

It would be amazing from a fan perspective. People love nostalgia.

There’s also precedent for this in the AAC. Memphis wore throwback jerseys in men’s basketball against SMU earlier this year — so throwback that the jerseys were actually from an era when the university was known as Memphis State. Memphis fans loved it, and who can blame them?

UCF football wore throwback helmets during its homecoming game in 2018. It, like Memphis’ basketball jerseys, was a popular move and was a way to engage the past and present, which is what homecoming night is all about.

Locally, look at the reception the Tampa Bay Rays received last year for wearing circa-1998 Devil Rays jerseys to commemorate the franchise’s 20th anniversary. It was so popular, the Rays are bringing it back this year for several games.

The cap the Rays wore with the 1998 jerseys, which isn’t a true throwback as much as it’s an homage to 1998, has been a best-seller on MLBShop.com since it was released and was next to impossible to find in stores for months after that initial release.

Which brings up perhaps the most important point — USF could make a ton of money selling throwback merchandise.

Using the Rays as an example again, their top-selling jersey online is a throwback Wade Boggs batting practice jersey from 1998. Their No. 3 top-selling t-shirt is a shirt with the 1998 cap insignia.

By all modern standards, the Devil Rays logo from 1998 is outdated and pretty terrible looking.

But people have been opening their wallets like crazy to purchase items with it.

It feels like a pretty safe assumption to say USF could have similar results with its similarly horrendously outdated logo from the 1990s.

There’s something to be said about a good logo. USF Athletics’ current mark is so good, the university itself was using it for branding purposes for several years before introducing the new academic logo in September 2018.

But much like Rome wasn’t built in a day, USF wasn’t built in 2003. It’s time to honor the past — even if it’s the not so aesthetically clean past.

InUSF, USF Logo

More Stories

‘You can do it just like the men’: Former USF softball player paves the way for women in baseball

‘You can do it just like the men’: Former USF softball player paves the way for women in baseball

Lanie De La Milera, SPORTS EDITOR
January 27, 2023January 27, 2023

Veronica ‘Ronnie’ Gajownik played for USF softball from 2014-15, but now is in charge of running High-A Arizona Diamondback affiliate, the Hillsboro Hops. On Friday, Gajownik was announced as Minor League Baseball’s second woman manager in the MLB and the first at the High-A level. For Gajownik, the feeling of being named a High-A manager […]

OPINION: Women’s basketball should have been ranked in the Top 25 sooner

OPINION: Women’s basketball should have been ranked in the Top 25 sooner

AARON MAMMAH, STAFF WRITER
January 27, 2023

Women’s basketball cracked the USA TODAY/WBCA poll for the first time this season on Tuesday, coming in at the No. 25 slot. However, considering the strength of their schedule and their dominance over league play, there’s room to wonder why it took so long for the Bulls (19-4, 8-0 AAC) to finally gain entry into […]

USF basketball on the road: Women’s dominates, men’s loses close fight

USF basketball on the road: Women’s dominates, men’s loses close fight

Dimitri Bernadotte, CORRESPONDENT
January 26, 2023January 26, 2023

As USF women’s and men’s basketball get into the thick of their conference schedules, each matchup will now make or break their opportunities for advancing into the postseason. Here is how both programs finished their matchups on Wednesday on the road. Women’s basketball – USF 89, Tulsa 68 Senior forward Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu put up […]

An in-depth look into USF football transfers

An in-depth look into USF football transfers

Hannah Halili, ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR
January 25, 2023January 25, 2023

Despite losing notable players to the 2023 college transfer portal, South Florida football still snagged a handful of promising new signees of its own. Departed players like sophomore running back Brian Battie, junior kicker Spencer Shrader and sophomore wide receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. left the Bulls after receiving offers from other schools. Battie will make […]

USF softball after Corrick’s departure

USF softball after Corrick’s departure

Lanie De La Milera, SPORTS EDITOR
January 25, 2023

In two weeks, USF softball will open its campaign against Michigan in the USF-Rawlings Invitational without former pitcher Georgina Corrick in the circle. Corrick was South Florida’s ace since 2018, pitching 985.2 innings for the Bulls with a career ERA of 1.04. She was the backbone of the program, but now a new legacy will […]

Bulls conquer Knights in War on I-4

Bulls conquer Knights in War on I-4

Aaron Mammah, STAFF WRITER
January 22, 2023January 23, 2023

USF women’s basketball dominated UCF in a 83-51 blowout on Sunday at the Yuengling Center, marking its largest win against a conference opponent this season.  The Bulls (18-4, 7-0 AAC) continued their undefeated streak in the AAC and are currently the only team in the league with a clean record. Their assertive defense and strong […]

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Recent Post

‘You can do it just like the men’: Former USF softball player paves the way for women in baseball

OPINION: Women’s basketball should have been ranked in the Top 25 sooner

DeSantis announces goal to minimize diversity efforts in higher education, USF’s response unclear

USF basketball on the road: Women’s dominates, men’s loses close fight

OPINION: Biden’s loan forgiveness program needs to be passed despite lawsuits

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      • LEAVING A LEGACY
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