The new “Ram Head” secondary logo pumps life into the University’s athletic brand. PHOTO CREDIT: gorhody.com
This past Saturday, Rhode Island Athletics unveiled its new secondary logo to Rhody fans.
This logo has been in the works for the last eight months with the help of Summit Athletic Media and is meant to be an intimidating, forward-facing Ram Head that will be part of a new chapter in Rhode Island sports, according to Associate Athletic Director of Marketing and Fan Engagement Matt Moeller.
The reason this logo was even considered was because in college athletics today, the majority of schools around the nation have two logos that they utilize for sports teams, according to Moeller.
“Most college teams have a second logo that they utilize,” Moeller said. “Over the past few years, we have been working with the University and our licensing partner, Collegiate Licensing Company, to create a revised version of the ram head as the split R.I. logo has kind of taken over over the years.”
The new Ram Head stays true to the colors on the interlocking R.I. logo –– navy blue on the right side of the face transfers into the classic Keaney Blue in the middle, with the left side all white.
“There are a lot of sports teams with Ram mascots,” Moeller said. “We wanted to make sure that people knew that Ram represented URI just by looking at it.”
Rhody sports fans and athletes alike are very excited about the unveiling of the logo and students want this image on URI apparel as soon as possible.
“I think it is really cool-looking,” Tommy Finston, a junior at URI and member of the pep band said. “I think the R.I. logo was getting boring and this is a lot more exciting. I’d definitely buy clothes with that on it.”
Nicole Masone, a junior member of the club lacrosse team, hopes she gets the opportunity to wear the logo on her jersey.
“I definitely want to have a jersey with that logo on it,” Masone said. “It is very noticeable and I love the colors. I hope sports teams have a chance to have that on their uniforms.”
While this logo is a new and exciting way to represent Rhode Island athletics, Moeller emphasizes that the split RI logo that Rhody has been using for years will not be going anywhere.
“I want to make clear that the split R.I. logo will still be the primary logo,” Moeller said. “We just wanted to provide another brand identifier while also staying true to the split R.I.”
In terms of how the logo will be utilized, it will be in a similar way to the R.I. logo, with the image available on clothes at the University of Rhode Island Bookstore, at RamsZone inside the Ryan Center and in the stands at the Ryan Center.
After a long selection process Moeller feels this logo fills a huge need and gives Rhody athletics a new and exciting brand identifier for the future.
“We are very excited about this new logo and we think it is something that URI athletics was missing,” Moeller said. “We weren’t able to compliment our primary logo with a secondary one and this finally gives us that opportunity.”