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News Nuggets, 05.29.05
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Grambling loses control over its famous 'G' logo

GRAMBLING, LA — After letting rights lapse to its familiar ``G'' on football helmets, Grambling State University is planning to introduce a new logo for the first time in decades — much to the consternation of some fans.

Since the rights to the logo lapsed, outside vendors can produce and sell items with the logo, all without giving a dime to the school.

``Grambling paraphernalia sells all over the country. We're losing money hand over fist,'' said football coach Melvin Spears.

Athletics director Willie Jeffries confirmed the logo change, and said last week that an unveiling could come quickly.

Some school supporters have a notable lack of enthusiasm.

``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.''

Since the 1980s, Grambling 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. Grambling featured a black-and-gold palette, sometimes circled with an accent of red.

But government records show Grambling lost the copyright on that logo almost seven years ago, as well as protection for its school seal.

Once the lapse was discovered by new Grambling president Horace Judson, plans to change the logo got under way, according to Jeffries.

``The big 'G' will still be in play,'' Spears said. ``But we've got to do some things that make sure our logo is identified only with us, not with Green Bay or Georgia, as well. The 'G' will still be on the helmet. It will be a form of that, with a tiger as well.''

Jeffries said updated helmets will be ready in time for football season, and the design will be standard across all university-sponsored sports.

Still, the university administration has been peppered with e-mail protests about the plan.

``It's a sad day,'' said Grambling 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.''

MWC sanctions Lubick over scheduling remarks

COLORADO SPRINGS — The Mountain West Conference last week reprimanded Colorado State football coach Sonny Lubick for comments he made in reaction to the conference's decision to change the date of the Rams' game against Air Force in the upcoming season.

``Concerns and criticisms must be expressed through internal channels, not via the public or media,'' MWC Commissioner Craig Thompson said.

Two weeks ago, the conference and ESPN announced Air Force would play at CSU on Sept. 29. The game originally was set for Oct. 1 but was shifted to accommodate ESPN's national broadcast schedule.

The Rams have a game the previous Saturday, but Air Force will not have played since the previous Thursday, giving the Falcons two more days to prepare.

``If you follow college football, you know that this is unfair,'' Lubick told the Coloradoan newspaper in Fort Collins after the schedule change was announced. ``It just doesn't seem like this is right. I don't think any other league would do this to two of its teams.''

CSU athletics director Mark Driscoll said he did not have more to add.

``I've talked to Sonny about it, we had our conversation and we're moving on,'' he said in a phone interview.

Under the conference's sportsmanship policy, further violations could bring another reprimand and a two-game suspension each.

Lubick's teams are 8-4 against Air Force. Last season, the Falcons won the contest, 47-17.

The game will be CSU's 14th appearance on a prime-time ESPN or ESPN2 broadcast since 1998.

C-USA Tournament brackets, scores & schedule

Results through 05.28.05.

Compiled from Bonesville.net staff, Conference USA and other reports.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from Associated Press and other sources. Copyright 2005 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:24 PM