GRAMBLING,La. (AP) – After letting rights lapse to its familiar “G” on footballhelmets, Grambling State University is planning to introduce a new logo for thefirst time in decades _ much to the consternation of some fans.
Since therights to the logo lapsed, outside vendors can prodcue and sell items with thelogo, all without giving a dime to the school.
“Gramblingparaphernalia sells all over the country. We’re losing money hand overfist,” said football coach Melvin Spears.
Athleticsdirector Willie Jeffries confirmed the logo change, and said an unveiling couldcome as early as this week.
Some schoolsupporters have a notable lack of enthusiasm.
“Brandidentity is not something to play with,” said 1990 Grambling graduate KennRashad, who operates a Web site devoted to the Southwestern Athletic Conferencecalled SWACPage. “Establishing a successful brand isn’t something that canhappen overnight.”
Since the1980s, Grambling used an oval-shaped “G” on its football helmetssimilar to that of the NFL’s Green Bay Packers and the NCAA’s Georgia Bulldogs,except in color scheme. Grambling featured a black-and-gold palette, sometimescircled with an accent of red.
Butgovernment records show Grambling lost the copyright on that logo almost sevenyears ago, as well as protection for its school seal.
Once thelapse was discovered by new Grambling president Horace Judson, plans to changethe logo got under way, according to Jeffries.
“Thebig ‘G’ will still be in play,” Spears said. “But we’ve got to dosome things that make sure our logo is identified only with us, not with GreenBay or Georgia, as well. The ‘G’ will still be on the helmet. It will be a formof that, with a tiger as well.”
Jeffriessaid updated helmets will be ready in time for football season, and the designwill be standard across all university-sponsored sports.
Still, theuniversity administration has been peppered with e-mail protests about theplan.
“It’sa sad day,” said Grambling booster John Wilborn. “I know that someindividuals think we are too close to the Green Bay and Georgia ‘G.’ The color,however, is the difference.”
