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University of Massachusets Athletics
UMass Sticks With Minutemen
 |  Athletic Director Ian McCaw announced today that the Minuteman will continue to serve as the school's nickname and that an updated version of the logos will be introduced publicly sometime next month. |
May 14, 2003
AMHERST, Mass. -- After a three-month review of all logos currently utilized by the University of Massachusetts Athletic Department, Chancellor John V. Lombardi and Athletic Director Ian McCaw announced today that the Minuteman will continue to serve as the school's nickname and that an updated version of the logos will be introduced publicly sometime next month.
"Due to an overwhelming show of public support, we believe that the Minuteman should continue to serve as our nickname and mascot," said McCaw. "We looked at several different options throughout this process, but in the end, everyone believed that the nickname's uniqueness, combined with its historical tie to the Commonwealth, made it an easy decision to retain the Minuteman as a symbol of our athletic programs.
"Early in this project, Phoenix Design Works presented us with several updated designs for the Minuteman, and we are in the process of refining those as we speak," he added. "Now that people have affirmed the Minuteman, we encourage the University community to rally together and support a more critical concern with the same passion--the state budget crisis.
"It is wonderful to have a new Minuteman mascot, however, we need resources in order to support a first-rate University and a high-quality, Division I athletic program," McCaw said.
In February, McCaw, members of the athletic staff and others in the University community began a complete review of all logos currently used by the school's 22-sport athletic program. As part of its task, the committee was asked to review the color schemes and fonts that are currently utilized in an effort to develop a consistent look in all of its presentations, from publications to uniforms.
The nationally-respected Phoenix Design Works was brought into the process in March, and provided the University with preliminary artwork of both a new and improved Minuteman and a potential animal mascot in mid-April. Phoenix has recently led similar projects for Notre Dame, Arkansas, Saint Joseph's, Tennessee, the Cincinnati Reds and selected NFL teams.
Phoenix Design Works then conducted eight on-campus focus groups with 85 individuals (47 men, 38 women), with each group being shown the new-look Minuteman and the animal mascot. Members of the UMass student body, UMass Alumni Association members, UMass Athletic Fund contributors, Head Coaches, Senior Staff, current student-athletes and members of other University constituencies participated in the focus groups.
The University reviewed the feedback it received from the focus groups and other sources prior to making today's decision.
"It has been wonderful to see that so many of our alumni and friends are passionate about the University and its athletic programs," McCaw said. "All of us look forward to a successful outcome that will provide an identity system which includes the Minuteman and that is embraced by the entire UMass community.
"This decision is in the best interests of the University and our department, and will provide us with the opportunity to maintain our tradition, while affording us longevity and marketability with a new logo identity program," he added.
UMass athletic teams were called the Aggies and Statesmen in the early years, and were called the Redmen from 1948 until 1972 when the student body voted to change the nickname to the Minutemen. UMass' women's athletic teams are referred to as the Minutewomen.