Bradley's new look

[squirrel]

Unveiled today:


The stylized "B" appears to be one very similar to that used frequently from the 1930's-early 1950's.

[ihsi]

Now they just need a mascot.

[uniftw]

I'll have to wait to see it on something rather than just a jpeg....I like it though.

Is there talk about them needing to drop Braves, or do you just want the to have a mascot?

[squirrel]

uniftw-Here is the back story on the logo/Braves thing:

The previous BU with Braves script across it was adopted in 1993 as a result of the NCAA's-then crackdown on Native American mascots. The NCAA deemed that acceptable in association with the mascot being dropped. Furthermore, to show their sincerity the University prepared a fairly significant document (entitled "Race, ethnicity and an American campus") outlining how wrong their mascots had been.

Now, one thing BU did at that time was begin the move to a mascot to be used along with the name Braves. They unveiled a Bobcat mascot, but they weren't exactly clear on the fact that the name Braves would remain. So, the result was confusion, embarrassment and general panning from the fan base. It disappeared and was briefly resurrected in the late 1990's before permanently being abandoned.

Then, out of the blue 5-6 years ago, when the NCAA had a little administrative fit, they decided to include us with a handful of other schools who still used Native American imagery, even though the NCAA had already declared that we had made the separation and were in the clear a decade before.

So the University formed a committee that came up with a handful of ideas for a new mascot, but they opted to table it for further study.

Fast forward to the last couple years when BU began pursuing a massive re-branding effort institution-wide, not just athletics. We were still using the 1993 logo until this morning. Now, supposedly this is only the first part of an ongoing rebranding of athletics specifically. The most noticeable thing is the absence of the word "Braves" from what was released today.

While there is probably going to be a name change, it might only be as significant as dropping a single letter. There may be some animosity to that because to the fans, we already won that battle with the NCAA.

In my opinion, only the adopting of a mascot is needed to make the NCAA forever go away on the matter. And that could be done without abandoning Braves.

However, it is possible that they study public opinion as it takes shape and what has privately been disclosed may not be exactly what transpires.

[Ace Dad]

uniftw-Here is the back story on the logo/Braves thing:

The previous BU with Braves script across it was adopted in 1993 as a result of the NCAA's-then crackdown on Native American mascots. The NCAA deemed that acceptable in association with the mascot being dropped. Furthermore, to show their sincerity the University prepared a fairly significant document (entitled "Race, ethnicity and an American campus") outlining how wrong their mascots had been.

Now, one thing BU did at that time was begin the move to a mascot to be used along with the name Braves. They unveiled a Bobcat mascot, but they weren't exactly clear on the fact that the name Braves would remain. So, the result was confusion, embarrassment and general panning from the fan base. It disappeared and was briefly resurrected in the late 1990's before permanently being abandoned.

Then, out of the blue 5-6 years ago, when the NCAA had a little administrative fit, they decided to include us with a handful of other schools who still used Native American imagery, even though the NCAA had already declared that we had made the separation and were in the clear a decade before.

So the University formed a committee that came up with a handful of ideas for a new mascot, but they opted to table it for further study.

Fast forward to the last couple years when BU began pursuing a massive re-branding effort institution-wide, not just athletics. We were still using the 1993 logo until this morning. Now, supposedly this is only the first part of an ongoing rebranding of athletics specifically. The most noticeable thing is the absence of the word "Braves" from what was released today.

While there is probably going to be a name change, it might only be as significant as dropping a single letter. There may be some animosity to that because to the fans, we already won that battle with the NCAA.

In my opinion, only the adopting of a mascot is needed to make the NCAA forever go away on the matter. And that could be done without abandoning Braves.

However, it is possible that they study public opinion as it takes shape and what has privately been disclosed may not be exactly what transpires.

Excellent, unemotional, balanced explanation for a controversial topic.

[pafan]

While there is probably going to be a name change, it might only be as significant as dropping a single letter. There may be some animosity to that because to the fans, we already won that battle with the NCAA.

Have you already decided which letter?

I'd suggest getting rid of the "B" and adopting a hippie riverboat gambler as your mascot.

Wouldn't be the only thing Peoria is trying to steal from Evansville. http://www.courierpress.com/news/2012/j ... ---ev_lst/

[musiccitybulldog]

I wonder if Bradley could continue using "Braves" but the connection would totally be about being Brave, rather than the previous connotation.

Maybe a mascot and logo based around a stoic looking figure, standing their Peoria ground. May tie in with the new logos also, being shield like.

[shock]

The Bradley Fighting Squirrels has a ring to it

[Red]

Pretty exciting. Watch out Oregon.

[CaseyGarrisonforPrez]

Is the new stuff a radical departure from before? I have to confess that I have not paid much attention to Bradley in recent seasons.

I do find all of this posturing by the NCAA with Native American mascots to be rather hilarious. Very, very few Native Americans are offended by them and if you look the Washington Redskins are the most offensive of them all and Roger Goodell is not asking them to change their name. Such a PC world we live in now.