New Michigan State Logo Draws Fire

Last Thursday, the US Patent and Trademark Office posted on its website a new logo registered to Michigan State University for use in intercollegiate athletics. This is approximately their 4,328th new logo scheme in the past 20 years. Not a big deal, right? Athletic teams tweak their logos all the time. Hey, some NHL teams have so many logos and alternate sweaters they could probably wear a different uniform every game.

Well, some Spartan fans aren't taking too kindly to the change. And by "some," I mean "at least 17,548," because that's how many people have joined the Facebook group protesting the change. That's a big enough movement to get Tom Izzo's attention.

Of course, those disgruntled fans probably won't like what Izzo has to say:

"For all of you out there that are complaining, shame on you, because ... we are trying to do what's best for Michigan State University, our athletic department and the great people that we associate with and Nike's done a heck of a job," Izzo said. "Mark Hollis and our president have done a heck of a job and if somebody out there is looking for my support on this mad about the logo, find a new basketball coach because this guy is going 100 percent with our athletic department, our athletic director, our president and I think this is going to be one of the greater moves we've made."

So I guess there's a lot of mutual de-friending going on at MSU right now. Izzo sounds cranky, but I would too if my in-box got flooded like I'm sure his has.

I suspect the involvement of Nike has a lot to do with the uproar. Every fanbase outside of Eugene fears the creeping Oregonification of football uniforms as more and more schools get assimiliated into the Sports Borg. You could probably make a case that the logo overhaul helps differentiate Michigan State's logo from San Jose State's, though I strongly doubt those two schools are confused for each other very often. Now MSU can at least say their Spartan logo is the one with the hinged facemask.

Oh yeah, about that hinged facemask. No matter what, an ancient helmet with a hinged facemask can't help but bring one character to mind: Marvin the Martian. I don't think that's the effect they want.