GRAMBLING — Grambling State University plans to introduce a new logo design for the first time in decades — and fans are angry over losing the familiar "G" on the Tigers' football helmets.
The conflict has roots in the complicated world of trademark law: GSU's rights to its logos have lapsed, meaning outside vendors can produce and sell items with the school logo, and the Lincoln Parish institution doesn't get a dime.
"We've got to (change the design), based on revenue," said GSU football coach Melvin Spears. "Grambling paraphernalia sells all over the country. We're losing money hand over fist."
GSU athletics director Willie Jeffries confirmed the logo change, and said an unveiling could come as early as this week.
"We want to standardize the product, like LSU where all those goods and services come from our school and the revenue comes back here," Spears said.
There's still work to do in selling a new look to school supporters.
"Brand identity is not something to play with," said 1990 Grambling graduate Kenn Rashad, who operates a Web site devoted to the Southwestern Athletic Conference called SWACPage. "Establishing a successful brand isn't something that can happen overnight.
"It takes time and careful planning," he said. "Even though there are some legal issues that have come up in all of this, that 'G' is worth fighting for."
Grambling has, since the 1980s, used an oval-shaped "G" on its football helmets similar to that of the NFL's Green Bay Packers and the NCAA's Georgia Bulldogs, except in color scheme. GSU's featured a black-and-gold palette, sometimes circled with an accent of red.
But a U.S. government Web site devoted to registered trademarks shows Grambling lost the copyright on that logo almost seven years ago, as well as protection for its school seal.
Grambling's signature "G" was first granted protection in 1974. But that copyright, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office site, expired Aug. 26, 1998.
The school seal was authorized for copyright protection the same day, only to expire April 15, 1998. Grambling's previous logo — a more angular "G" with a Tiger and the celebrated school motto ("Where Everybody Is Somebody") — has also been unprotected since March 5, 1998.
Once the lapse was discovered by new GSU president Horace Judson, plans apparently coalesced to make a change, according to Jeffries.
E-mails from outraged fans followed — including one sent to Judson late Tuesday by Texas alum D'Wayne L. Priestly Sr. that asked "whether the GSU administrators have explored every prudent avenue available to regain the expired copyrights."
Repeated calls, with messages referencing the logo change, to Judson and vice president of finance Billy Owens on Monday and again on Tuesday were unreturned. That means details were unavailable about who designed the new logo and at what cost — as well as answers about efforts to renew the school's lapsed trademarks.
"It's a sad day," said GSU booster John Wilborn. "I know that some individuals think we are too close to the Green Bay and Georgia 'G.' The color, however, is the difference."
The new concept doesn't eliminate the "G," but builds upon it, said Jeffries. A tiger — the school's mascot — will prowl out of the logo, he said.
Source: TheNewsStar.com
GRAMBLING — Grambling State supporters are still digesting quick administrative approval for the first new athletic logo in decades.
They have questioned how aggressively GSU worked to regain a lost copyright on the old design — and what the school did to forecast the profits from a new logo.
Perhaps just as importantly, they also would like to know why more boosters weren't brought into the loop.
"I wonder who they consulted with?" said Paul Taylor, who never misses a GSU home game. "I stay in Grambling and have not heard anything about a logo change."
Several supporters, including Taylor, praised an innovative online poll being conducted by Marquette that will actually allow fans to decide its new nickname. "They had students, alumni and avid supporters vote on the mascot name," Taylor said.
The traditional "G" logo is being replaced, athletics director Willie Jeffries confirmed earlier this week, because GSU's 1974 trademark has lapsed. That has allowed outside vendors to produce and sell Grambling-related items without giving any revenue to the school.
Some fans, including 1983 graduate D'Wayne L. Priestley Sr., want to know why the school doesn't simply renew the trademark — and then aggressively pursue those who are using the old logo unlawfully.
In an e-mail sent to school president Horace Judson on Tuesday night, then forwarded to dozens of GSU boosters, Priestley asked: "If a feasibility study or similar analysis has been conducted that indicates that a modification would be advantageous and will bring significant revenue streams, please present or provide that data."
No official response has come from GSU, because the school hasn't issued an announcement about the new logo — and the top administrators aren't returning phone messages from The News-Star regarding the switch.
But university spokeswoman Vickie Jackson answered Priestley's e-mail later on Tuesday, and Priestley again forwarded it across the country.
In it, Jackson indicated that GSU is at work on a visual standards guide, which will include the university logo, signature, motto, presidential seal, color and the mascot. The logo switch, she wrote, is part of a larger attempt to standardize the school's overall look.
"The modification of the athletic logo is but one part of a total branding process," Jackson wrote. "GSU is a step behind almost every university in the country in branding and standardizing its look. With the name recognition and international renown that it has, Grambling should have been in complete control of its brand, logos and vendor-related activities many years ago."
She added that members of the Office of Alumni Affairs, the president of the alumni association, the athletic department and student representatives were all involved in the project.
Not all fans were outraged, though even they say this new look will take some getting used to.
"Sometimes change is good," said Scott A. Lewis III, a former All-American at Grambling who was selected in the second round of the 1971 draft by Kansas City. "In the commercial side of business, promotions tend to draw more interest than inactivity."
He then laughed, and added: "I am still making the transition from Grambling College to GSU!"
Source: NewsStar.com
GRAMBLING — Grambling State supporters are still digesting quick administrative approval for the first new athletic logo in decades.
They have questioned how aggressively GSU worked to regain a lost copyright on the old design — and what the school did to forecast the profits from a new logo.
Perhaps just as importantly, they also would like to know why more boosters weren't brought into the loop.
"I wonder who they consulted with?" said Paul Taylor, who never misses a GSU home game. "I stay in Grambling and have not heard anything about a logo change."
Several supporters, including Taylor, praised an innovative online poll being conducted by Marquette that will actually allow fans to decide its new nickname. "They had students, alumni and avid supporters vote on the mascot name," Taylor said.
The traditional "G" logo is being replaced, athletics director Willie Jeffries confirmed earlier this week, because GSU's 1974 trademark has lapsed. That has allowed outside vendors to produce and sell Grambling-related items without giving any revenue to the school.
Some fans, including 1983 graduate D'Wayne L. Priestley Sr., want to know why the school doesn't simply renew the trademark — and then aggressively pursue those who are using the old logo unlawfully.
In an e-mail sent to school president Horace Judson on Tuesday night, then forwarded to dozens of GSU boosters, Priestley asked: "If a feasibility study or similar analysis has been conducted that indicates that a modification would be advantageous and will bring significant revenue streams, please present or provide that data."
No official response has come from GSU, because the school hasn't issued an announcement about the new logo — and the top administrators aren't returning phone messages from The News-Star regarding the switch.
But university spokeswoman Vickie Jackson answered Priestley's e-mail later on Tuesday, and Priestley again forwarded it across the country.
In it, Jackson indicated that GSU is at work on a visual standards guide, which will include the university logo, signature, motto, presidential seal, color and the mascot. The logo switch, she wrote, is part of a larger attempt to standardize the school's overall look.
"The modification of the athletic logo is but one part of a total branding process," Jackson wrote. "GSU is a step behind almost every university in the country in branding and standardizing its look. With the name recognition and international renown that it has, Grambling should have been in complete control of its brand, logos and vendor-related activities many years ago."
She added that members of the Office of Alumni Affairs, the president of the alumni association, the athletic department and student representatives were all involved in the project.
Not all fans were outraged, though even they say this new look will take some getting used to.
"Sometimes change is good," said Scott A. Lewis III, a former All-American at Grambling who was selected in the second round of the 1971 draft by Kansas City. "In the commercial side of business, promotions tend to draw more interest than inactivity."
He then laughed, and added: "I am still making the transition from Grambling College to GSU!"
Source: NewsStar.com
