Bradley Branding

[Old Coach]

In Jan. 2008 I commented on the search for a new logo/theme/image for Bradley. Looking back I think the handwriting was on the wall (or building).

"I downloaded the video showing the installation of the four new gargoyles on the Harden Clark Alumni Center and have viewed it several times. Knowingly or unwittingly the university makes the case for gargoyles (or images of gargoyles) to represent both the history and more importantly the future of the university. The multiple stone gargoyles will be there for decades to come. History that is usable trumps history that has been outdated or banned.

If you look carefully at my rendition of a BU image it includes a historic and future gargoyle, the iris of the eye has a clock in it, and the gargoyle also has a feather (it's just not a North American eagle feather). I think that covers all the bases."

I would be interested to know if this is even vaguely similar to the "new" idea.

No. Not too similar.

[Old Coach]

but what I am hearing............
... that the focus groups were for the purpose of BU carefully floating the ideas before they go widely public - but that it's already a done deal having paid research groups and designers long before "floating the idea"
In other words - the focus groups are a sham and make people think they are being given an input but it's a done deal already?

Personally I don't care as long as we land great players and win games - although I do admit if they change the team colors then a whole lot of my wardrobe would be worthless...........
but it looks like a pattern to continue the break with anything from the past .....

The colors will still be red and white (a very specific red). The specific mark and font seem to be locked and loaded. The nickname and mascot discussions are still very open to conversation and input. I'm not sure who told you otherwise. Again, I suggest that anyone who has a desire to be heard call the AD.

[Beninator]

No. Not too similar.

Whew! Glad to hear that!!! That logo could be interperted as a phallic symbol. (albeit a small one)

[Beninator]

I vote:

change the logo, throw in some black, get a gargoyle mascot, and call it a century

+1

[BUBrave28]

I like the idea of incorporating the clock into the eyeball!

I haven't seen anything, but I'm guessing the font and new B logo will be close to what baseball has used recently with the gothic font. I like this as well.

I think we started down the more gothic look with Prez. Glasser's first project, the outdoor lighting systems. The black fixtures all have a gothic look to them.

I don't like changing our nickname Braves at all, but atleast the change to Brave isn't drastic.

[Da Coach]

I like the idea of incorporating the clock into the eyeball!

I haven't seen anything, but I'm guessing the font and new B logo will be close to what baseball has used recently with the gothic font. I like this as well.

Here is the look of the B that baseball has adopted-

[Future Walk-On]

in all seriousness...doesn't that B on the baseball hats look a little N.A.

with the point?

[LG281]

Thank you. I believe you have perfectly summed up the arrogant attitude that the Bradley administration has toward their fans and supporters.

C'mon Bill. I'm sure you also know that you can't please everyone. If you understand that then you just have move forward making the best decisions for the University.

If they kowtow to every interest group and demo we'll never get anything done and we'll be stuck with the same faded, dated, and forgettable logo we've for the past couple of decades.

The block letters and script instill absolutely no sense of excitement...leave alone loyalty. We all know that we will never truly be the braveS again (the NCAA and the PC Police have seen to that).

What better way to give a nod back to the Bradley Braves than by being the Brave. I'm not much for teams like thunder or heat - but as far as I know we'd be the only team that is the Brave.

As for adopting a new mascot...the ones that always come up are Lions, Eagles, Squirrels, Clocks, and Gargoyles.

Lions - there haven't been lions roaming IL in ages. We would undoubtedly end up referring to ourselves as "CATS". Booo...over done, just like dogs and birds.

Eagle - transitioning to some kind of bird from a hostile and abusive nickname seems to be the absolute most common move colleges have made. Too easy.

Squirrels - its been said here before - put up enough trees in an urban setting and there will be an abundance of squirrels. Every campus with a green quad has squirrels. Nothing says "formidable" like a bushy-tailed tree rodent.

Clocks - would make the most sense to me from a historic standpoint...but again, how do you make a clock formidable. I don't think you can. Also lends itself to cheesy sports column headline puns - heaven forbid we get beat at the buzzer.

Gargoyles - that leaves us with the Gargoyle. We have four very distinct gargoyles on campus and no we aren't the only school with gargoyles. But we would probably be the only division 1 school with a gargoyle for a mascot. Don't underestimate the power of distinction.

Alumni all the way back to the construction of Bradley hall passed underneath at least two of those gargoyles' watchful eyes.

Guess you know where I stand. Whatever the Athletic Dept. and University decides...they need to stand behind it and not be wishywashy about it. I know I'll be in my seat cheering on the Brave(s)...hopefully rocking out my awesome new Gargoyle t-shirt and ball cap.

Oh - and btw - the new logo looks nothing like the one baseball has been using.

[real fan]

I can't believe some of you would be ok with changing our name from the "Braves" to the "Brave"

Also like 3 current students at Bradley know anything about the basketball team and its history so they (the students) shouldn't be allowed to attend focus groups....

I have the ego to say that the majority of the people running this "branding" don't care about history or the program as much as they should.

Nice to see someone else agrees on the history of our basketball program, when the team wins the name Bradley stands out all over the country, we fought hard to keep the name Braves and we need to not let all these outsiders change the name that everyone for such a long time has supported the Braves name, this change will be a huge mistake and good luck selling this to the community and all the former players that considered themselves to be Braves for life.

[Rusty 54]

I'm excited about a new logo.

I'm willing to give the secondary logo/gargoyle a chance, I think it could be done well.

I want us to stay the Braves.

[Braves4Life]

... this change will be a huge mistake and good luck selling this to the community and all the former players that considered themselves to be Braves for life.

Would I have to change my name here? Gargoyles4Life?

[Old Coach]

Nice to see someone else agrees on the history of our basketball program, when the team wins the name Bradley stands out all over the country, we fought hard to keep the name Braves and we need to not let all these outsiders change the name that everyone for such a long time has supported the Braves name, this change will be a huge mistake and good luck selling this to the community and all the former players that considered themselves to be Braves for life.

I understand the history, and don't like that it's come to this, but what's inevitable is inevitable.

A name change doesn't seem to have devastated Marquette.

What I like is that a potential name change takes the emphasis off of Braves and BU and puts all of the emphasis on BRADLEY.

[BUFanatic]

I don't want to be the Brave..... I am a Brave, we are all Braves. Though it would be better than Cardinal hehehe. Stanford had a similar ish problem way back in the 70s and 80s

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_Cardinal

I don't want to be an Eagle either (As a Notre Dame fan hehehe)

I should be comfortable getting behind any decision, I'm excited to see what comes next!

[SFP]

Really I do not care too much unless the branding is totally worthless. What I care is that we put a winning product out on the hardwood. If we do not start winning the branding will be like putting lipstick on a pig.

[Chico]

Nice to see someone else agrees on the history of our basketball program, when the team wins the name Bradley stands out all over the country, we fought hard to keep the name Braves and we need to not let all these outsiders change the name that everyone for such a long time has supported the Braves name, this change will be a huge mistake and good luck selling this to the community and all the former players that considered themselves to be Braves for life.

+1