May 22, 2007
Rutgers getting a new logo?
What a difference a winning season makes. You find your way to a bowl game, and then merchandise sales go up, revenues increase, hits to the enrollment website go up, and it's high cotton.
And then the state Legislature wants a piece of the action.
Lawmakers in New Jersey are pushing Rutgers -- whose "official" name is Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey -- to show a little more Garden State in the school's sports logos.
A New Jersey Assembly committee Thursday approved a resolution requesting Rutgers redesign the "R" logo to include the letters "NJ," a move designed to give the state credit for recent success at the school."There are folks saying, 'Rutgers, where exactly is that located?"' said Assemblyman Patrick Diegnan, D-Middlesex.
To demonstrate what an ...ahem... outstanding idea this was, Assemblyman Diegnan enlisted the help of his wife to craft a mockup of a new Rutgers logo with "NJ" shown within the block "R".
No disrespect to the Assemblyman or his lovely (I'm sure) wife, but.... are you f'ing kidding me?!?!
Apparently not, since the Higher Education committee passed the resolution 7-1. One lone, sane voice dissented.
Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R-Morris, was the lone legislator to oppose asking the university to change its logo, calling it "micromanagement gone nuts.""Rutgers can decide what it's logo is," he said. "Rutgers is Rutgers. It has its own proud name and doesn't need to have New Jersey appended to it."
Amen.
Comments:
Eye of the Tiger said:
posted on May 22, 2007 3:16 PM — 138.163.0.38 — link — abuse?
I can understand why they would want to do this. NJ is always shadowed by the big bad brother New York. Last year when one of their games was televised the focus was on New York. Of course, New Jersey wants to be recognized. It's sort of like the Napolean complex I guess. Anybody remember the old New York license plates with the Statue of Liberty on it? Anybody know why New York has a different license plate now? When I lived there in '00-'03 the word I got was NJ owned the statue and wanted NY get something else. Even the New York Giants and Jets play in New Jersey! I don't know...maybe it's time New Jersey gets at least a little recognition. Even if it's for a small school known as Rutgers.
goodolnuma5 said:
posted on May 22, 2007 10:33 PM — 65.60.178.58 — link — abuse?
Tony Soprano is behind this.
"New Joisey State"? genius, pure genius.
Don said:
posted on May 23, 2007 12:03 PM — 208.41.158.138 — link — abuse?
I find it interesting the the assemblyman proposing the change was prompted to do so after seeing the Rutgers logo on the floor at the NCAA regionals at the Continental Airlines Arean, home court of Seton Hall. Also interesting is the fact the he is Seton Hall graduate. Green-eyed monster rearing its ugly head?
PS. Joisey? hmmm no one I know pronounces it that way. Only non-New Jerseyans who think they're witty.
Tomcat said:
posted on May 23, 2007 11:49 PM — 68.90.179.209 — link — abuse?
#4 Changing the name of any University comes at great expense and really when it is a state funded school shouldn't that expense be deemed inappropiate? These politicians should focuss on more important issues than changing a logo, and I'm sure their constituants would agree after all they paying for it.
P.S. Tony S was seen riding around the campus on a vespa scooter.
Go Scarlet KnightsRegan said:
posted on May 24, 2007 4:42 PM — 192.24.243.21 — link — abuse?
Agreed. This guy really needs to get a life. Does it really matter where any schools are located?
If only Rutgers was in a conference whose name might indicate what region of the country it is in...
Sadly, I'd be willing to bet that there's a huge chunk of kids that couldn't find New Jersey on a map to begin with, so why bother?
Geez, where on earth does he think everyone believes 'Temple' is?
Don said:
posted on May 24, 2007 6:04 PM — 208.41.158.138 — link — abuse?
RU Alum #12 I made a similar point in an email to my assemblymen. Clemson, Purdue & Auburn are all state universities that make no mention which state. I know where they are located. If other Americans are geographically stupid that's their problem. Rutgers has been in the same place since 1766 and since the 1820s with Rutgers as its name. Gee what were the 20 or 25 states back then?
Zac said:
posted on May 25, 2007 8:26 AM — 65.31.230.72 — link — abuse?
West Virginia became a state in 1863. But, R U ready for this? WVU began as a military academy supplying officers for the South, in what eventually became a state loyal to the North. They didn't begin football until 1891. Before ND lost 9 bowl games in a row, WVU had the distinction of being tied for the NCAA record longest consecutive bowl win drought. Sadly, and undeservedly, Don Nehlan was head coach for all of them. In that 8 game stretch, they lost 5 of those games by a total of 20 pts. They also lost the '88 Fiesta Bowl to a ND squad considered to be one of the Top 10 teams of all time. Yes, they also got clobbered by FL in the '93 Sugar Bowl, but let's not forget; they beat FL handily in the '81 Peach Bowl. For now, however, it's this team from Joizy, way-a all da boids go choip, that I'm worried about. WVU plays them in Piscataway. No easy task, not this year.
U. of S.C. 1978 said:
posted on June 7, 2007 8:04 PM — 24.158.36.108 — link — abuse?
If Rutgers can continue to compete on a higher level, people will come to know who and where they are. Otherwise, they will sink back into obscurity and the politicians will want to snatch the stupid NJ off the time honored logo. Leave tradition alone I say.
Zac said:
posted on June 7, 2007 10:30 PM — 65.31.230.72 — link — abuse?
Sharp: Interesting, but among the information I was given to provide as an APO tour guide (did it for 5 years) discussed WVU's ole Military Academy days. I can't remember precisely, but I think it was 1857: Chitwood, E-Moore, and Woodburn halls were the original institution when it 1st stood, before WV became a state. That doesn't mean it didn't wind up as you described. It only means that's how it ended up at one point. Because, as you and I both know, it's not an A & M now. Let's hope it never has to be again. Now, in all fairness, my memory is a little rusty on this; it has been almost 30 years since I gave my last tour. If you've got some good links, post them. I wouldn't mind doing some brushing up. Thanks!!!
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TigerEducated said:
posted on May 22, 2007 11:43 AM — 65.0.125.227 — link — abuse?Well, thankfully, a resolution isn't binding on any party in terms of state Assemblies. Think of it like this...
Every year, the Louisiana Legislature passes concurrent resolutions, resolutions, etc., regarding congratulations for every tom, dick, and harry high school in the state that won a state championship...They could pass a resolution saying it's "TigerEducated Day" in Louisiana tomorrow, if they wanted.
But, resolutions aren't binding, and they don't carry the weight of law behind them. The Assembly can make their will known with an up-or-down vote that makes it out of committee, but it's not binding on Rutgers, in any way...