As part of its 60th anniversary celebration, the Southland Conference recently unveiled a new logo that includes the four points of a compass with its needle pointing toward the region of the country where its 10 member schools are located.
“Our conference encompasses the proving grounds for the finest athletic talent our country has to offer, and we’re proud to give the best a place to compete on the field, commit in the classroom and contribute in the community,” commissioner Chris Grant said in a statement.
“This new brand reflects our member schools’ enduring commitment to helping our student-athletes navigate the pathway to significance in academics, athletics and life. Their ultimate success is our North Star.”
Along those same lines, the northern point of the compass is supposed to represent the academic and athletic aspirations of the member schools, while the western and eastern points are meant to represent the history and future of the conference, respectively.
The logo, which is gold and black but also comes in school colors for use on uniforms and playing surfaces, made its first appearance at center court of the Southland Conference men’s and women’s basketball tournaments, which tipped off earlier this week.
As mentioned, the Southland Conference – which was founded in 1963 – consists of 10 schools in Louisiana and Texas, including Houston Baptist, Incarnate Word, Lamar, McNeese State, New Orleans, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, Southeastern Louisiana, Texas A&M-Commerce and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.
“It’s fitting to commemorate our 60th season of athletic competition with a new look that honors the trailblazing spirit of the athletes and coaches who have gone before us,” Grant said. “The instantly recognizable mark reflects the spirit of a conference that is unified and on the move with a clear vision in tempestuous times.
“We look forward to seeing it worn with pride by our athletes, students and supporters whether they’re competing and cheering for championships or returning for a reunion. We’re going places, together.”