NCAA - University of Pittsburgh

U. of Pittsburgh Unveils New "PITT" Logo and Football Uniforms

Pitt is once again it.

Evoking its rich and accomplished past, the University of Pittsburgh unveiled a new, yet familiar, logo to represent its proud athletics program — a block-letter Navy blue “Pitt.”

The Pitt logo, unveiled by Athletic Director Jeff Long today, will be utilized by each of the Panthers’ 19 intercollegiate sports teams. The new football uniforms, which were also on display today, will feature the block Pitt on both sides of the helmet. Pitt’s standardized color scheme of Navy blue and Vegas gold, introduced in 1997, will remain the same.

The Panthers previously had Pitt on their helmets from 1973-96 in a script lettering. The block-style Pitt actually has much earlier origins in Panther sports lore, dating back as early as the Jock Sutherland football-coaching era of the 1920s.

While the athletic department has solely emphasized the Pittsburgh name in referencing itself the last seven years, it will now give equal emphasis to the classic Pitt moniker.

“We are excited to reintroduce the Pitt mark to our overall athletic image and identity,” Long said. “The Pitt name has its origins deep in the storied history of the University. Even when it was deemphasized, the Pitt moniker never left the consciousness of our fans. I recall saying upon my appointment as athletic director that I believe there are appropriate times to be recognized as 'University of Pittsburgh' and other times when we want to be recognized as 'Pitt.' We will promote the Pitt name to a more prominent place in the identification of our athletic teams and continue to use the University of Pittsburgh reference as well.”

Fans watching the Panther football team this fall can also expect other eye-catching uniform changes.

The home and away jerseys will remain Navy blue and white, respectively. Each jersey, however, will have gold side panels that blend into the pants. The jersey numbers have been softened, making them more readable and visually attractive.

Merchandise featuring the new Pitt logo will be available in stores throughout the Pittsburgh area and the Panthers Team Store located in the Petersen Events Center. Fans can also purchase Pitt gear online by clicking here.

Pittsburgh is gone, Pitt back as Panthers unveil different football uniforms, logo

Old meets new

By Paul Zeise, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

It is Pitt. Again.

The University of Pittsburgh -- which had been referred to as Pittsburgh for the past eight years -- has adopted a block-letter arched Navy blue "Pitt" as its new athletic logo. The new logo reverses a 1997 decision by former athletic director Steve Pederson to bar the moniker "Pitt" from uniforms and official publications and refer to the athletics teams as Pittsburgh.

Pederson's decision was not well received by many fans and was roundly criticized. Pitt athletic director Jeff Long, who was hired in May 2003, said he began thinking about changing the logo back after talking with fans and alumni.

"Even when de-emphasized, the Pitt moniker never left the consciousness of our fans," Long said. "The stimulus for this change actually came from the very first press conference when I was introduced as the director of athletics. The first question was, 'Are we Pitt, or are we Pittsburgh?' and my reaction was, 'We're both.' I didn't realize at that time that the athletic department had pretty much banished the Pitt logo from our athletic gear.

"But as I looked around the university, the university had not abandoned the Pitt logo, and it was synonymous with the University of Pittsburgh. The other thing that I found was that our Pitt alumni and fans had never put aside the Pitt logo. They proudly refer to themselves as Pitt alumni and Pitt fans."

Long said the logo, designed by adidas along with key members of the athletic department, is arched to symbolize the arch that holds up the Cathedral of Learning. The school's colors will remain navy blue and Vegas gold.

There had been reports that Pitt was going back to the old mustard and blue colors and scripted Pitt logo, and there was a push among some fans to make it happen. Long said that option was never seriously considered.

"Pitt script is a line in our throwback uniforms and apparel you can see in our team store, but certainly only as an era piece," Long said. "As we looked and talked to people and used some focus groups, while there are some vocal folks who would love to see us go back to those colors, those really are the minority of people."

The logo seems to have been embraced by Pitt fans. It was unveiled at a news conference yesterday morning, and by early afternoon, the athletic department's Web-site traffic was way up with people looking to purchase the new merchandise.

Lori Burens, Pitt's assistant director of licensing and advertising, said anytime there is a change in logo, there is usually a spike in merchandise sales. But the real windfall won't come until the fall.

"People usually respond to what the coaches and players are wearing," Burens said. "When they see the new logo on the helmets, they are going to want that logo on whatever merchandise or apparel they are going to buy."

U. of Pittsburgh Cap

Burens said that the transition from old to new already has begun in stores which sell officially licensed Pitt merchandise. She said the easiest way to purchase it now is online.

Pederson's decision to change to Pittsburgh still is unpopular.

"It has always been Pitt, regardless of what Steve Pederson said," said Ron Kosey, a longtime Team Pittsburgh member and season-ticket holder. "I wish they'd have gone all the way back to the scripted Pitt, but I am happy with Pitt being put back on the helmets. I like Pitt a lot better than Pittsburgh, because Pittsburgh is the Steelers and the Pirates; Pitt is this university and its sports teams.

"I feel like part of my identity was taken from me when they tried to do away with Pitt."

Quarterback Tyler Palko and linebacker H.B. Blades modeled the new football uniforms, which have two big changes: The helmets have the new "Pitt" logo on them instead of a Panther head, and the word "Panthers" is written in block letters across the front of the uniforms. There is also a gold side panel that blends into the pants and the jersey numbers are easier to read.

Palko, a West Allegheny High School graduate, said he's pleased the university has gone back to its tradition and glory years.

"We're really excited about it, even though it is not that big of a change," Palko said. "It is nice to play for Pitt and not the University of Pittsburgh, especially for someone like me because this has always been Pitt to me. It is good to go back to the old days, especially with [assistant] coach [Matt] Cavanaugh and [head] coach Wannstedt being back here and having that tradition."

All teams' uniforms will be changed to reflect the new logo, but that process will take at least a year to complete because of the way uniform contracts are written.

These articles were taken from www.pittsburghpanthers.com and www.postgazette.com.  All rights reserved.