The Mississippi University for Women have been absent from the athletics scene for a few years, well more than a few actually — 14 to be exact. Ever since a tornado in 2002 unfortunately destroyed their primary sports venue.
But all that is in the past now, and “The W” has a new name and a new logo as they begin their return to intercollegiate sports.
Introducing “The W Owls”.
“This is a great day for The W and Owls Athletics,” Jason Trufant, director of athletics said in the press release. “This new logo provides a fresh and powerful mark for our teams and university to market to potential student-athletes, their families, alumni and supporters of The W.”
As mentioned earlier, the school (which despite the name is co-ed) hadn’t fielded a intercollegiate team since 2002 when they were officially known as the MUW Blues, the logo at the time featured “Ody Owl” who has been the official school mascot since 1982.
The new logo introduced today was designed by Joe Bosack & Co. (Boise State, Colorado Avalanche, Hershey Bears), it modernizes Ody’s look while also incorporating the school’s “W” mark.
“It is the perfect blend of the university’s well known ‘W’ mark and the new owl mascot. This logo gives our department a face for all to see and embrace as their own,” Trufant added in the release.
The university adopted the owl as the official school mascot in honour of an owl statue which had been perched on top of an on-campus chapel since the 1880s.