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General Ohio University Discussion/Alumni Events Topic
Topic: Ohio Updating Logo
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BobcatBurner
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Posted: 1/25/2026 7:25 PM
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Ohio is updating their logo. It appears OU is going to use the arch Ohio as the logo for the entire university. Smart.

However, it looks the university communications and marketing team has taken over. They have tweaked the Ohio logo. This small change is going to cost the athletic department 7 figures to replace. Seems like a terrible waste of money. Why not just use the old version or completely rebrand? Hopefully the new athletic director was made aware.

Begins at page 150 of the board of trustees agenda from this month.

https://catmailohio.sharepoint.com/sites/UCM-OhioWebsite/...
SBH
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Posted: 1/26/2026 7:45 AM
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Can't access the file.
BobcatBurner
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Posted: 1/26/2026 10:54 AM
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SBH wrote:expand_more
Can't access the file.
https://www.ohio.edu/trustees/meetings-archive

It’s found on this page.
Alan Swank
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Posted: 1/26/2026 10:57 AM
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BobcatBurner wrote:expand_more
Can't access the file.
https://www.ohio.edu/trustees/meetings-archive

It’s found on this page.
Under other considerations from the report, this ought to get OCF's blood boiling:

• Exploring the possible introduction of an “OU” mark • Currently, we do not have a trademarked “OU,” although we allow various use of
“OU” on merchandise. This creates inconsistency in brand presentation. • Interlocking version of OU currently trademarked by University of Oklahoma.
• Retaining the Paw as an alumni affinity mark.
• Retaining the Forever OHIO badge.
• Updates coming for some secondary marks such as OHIO Online and Ohio
University Foundation.

https://catmailohio.sharepoint.com/sites/UCM-OhioWebsite/...
Last Edited: 1/26/2026 10:58:34 AM by Alan Swank
Alan Swank
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Posted: 1/26/2026 10:59 AM
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BobcatBurner wrote:expand_more
Can't access the file.
https://www.ohio.edu/trustees/meetings-archive

It’s found on this page.
This takes you right to it.

https://catmailohio.sharepoint.com/sites/UCM-OhioWebsite/...
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 1/26/2026 11:11 AM
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Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
Can't access the file.
https://www.ohio.edu/trustees/meetings-archive

It’s found on this page.
Under other considerations from the report, this ought to get OCF's blood boiling:

• Exploring the possible introduction of an “OU” mark • Currently, we do not have a trademarked “OU,” although we allow various use of
“OU” on merchandise. This creates inconsistency in brand presentation. • Interlocking version of OU currently trademarked by University of Oklahoma.
• Retaining the Paw as an alumni affinity mark.
• Retaining the Forever OHIO badge.
• Updates coming for some secondary marks such as OHIO Online and Ohio
University Foundation.
The OU thing will be tricky, because UO is dyslexic, as are nearly half the schools in their former conference. And, as long as the Arched OHIO is the primary logo I can live with limited uses of the generic high-schoolish Paw for the age-cohort that still likes it. No blood boiling here. I'm very happy with the decision on the Arched OHIO. Long overdue.
Alan Swank
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Posted: 1/26/2026 11:28 AM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
Can't access the file.
https://www.ohio.edu/trustees/meetings-archive

It’s found on this page.
Under other considerations from the report, this ought to get OCF's blood boiling:

• Exploring the possible introduction of an “OU” mark • Currently, we do not have a trademarked “OU,” although we allow various use of
“OU” on merchandise. This creates inconsistency in brand presentation. • Interlocking version of OU currently trademarked by University of Oklahoma.
• Retaining the Paw as an alumni affinity mark.
• Retaining the Forever OHIO badge.
• Updates coming for some secondary marks such as OHIO Online and Ohio
University Foundation.
The OU thing will be tricky, because UO is dyslexic, as are nearly half the schools in their former conference. And, as long as the Arched OHIO is the primary logo I can live with limited uses of the generic high-schoolish Paw for the age-cohort that still likes it. No blood boiling here. I'm very happy with the decision on the Arched OHIO. Long overdue.
According to the report graphics, we already have the arched Ohio. All this does is increase the kerning.
BobcatBurner
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Posted: 1/26/2026 4:44 PM
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Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
Can't access the file.
https://www.ohio.edu/trustees/meetings-archive

It’s found on this page.
Under other considerations from the report, this ought to get OCF's blood boiling:

• Exploring the possible introduction of an “OU” mark • Currently, we do not have a trademarked “OU,” although we allow various use of
“OU” on merchandise. This creates inconsistency in brand presentation. • Interlocking version of OU currently trademarked by University of Oklahoma.
• Retaining the Paw as an alumni affinity mark.
• Retaining the Forever OHIO badge.
• Updates coming for some secondary marks such as OHIO Online and Ohio
University Foundation.
The OU thing will be tricky, because UO is dyslexic, as are nearly half the schools in their former conference. And, as long as the Arched OHIO is the primary logo I can live with limited uses of the generic high-schoolish Paw for the age-cohort that still likes it. No blood boiling here. I'm very happy with the decision on the Arched OHIO. Long overdue.
According to the report graphics, we already have the arched Ohio. All this does is increase the kerning.
Correct — why not just keep the current arch Ohio? It’s fine. I’d argue it’s good.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 1/26/2026 5:17 PM
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Yes, but the big difference is that as I read it Arch OHIO is going to be the primary university logo for the whole university, not just athletics. It appears that the AttackCat will also be relegated to secondary status. For instance, I suspect that they will stop using this one: https://www.ohio.edu /
Alan Swank
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Posted: 1/26/2026 5:31 PM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
Yes, but the big difference is that as I read it Arch OHIO is going to be the primary university logo for the whole university, not just athletics. It appears that the AttackCat will also be relegated to secondary status. For instance, I suspect that they will stop using this one: https://www.ohio.edu /
To Burner's point, why not just use the current arch OHIO for the university? To the casual eye, there is very little difference in the two unless you lay them side by side.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 1/26/2026 6:11 PM
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Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
Yes, but the big difference is that as I read it Arch OHIO is going to be the primary university logo for the whole university, not just athletics. It appears that the AttackCat will also be relegated to secondary status. For instance, I suspect that they will stop using this one: https://www.ohio.edu /
To Burner's point, why not just use the current arch OHIO for the university? To the casual eye, there is very little difference in the two unless you lay them side by side.
I agree with that. Don't know why they wanted to change it. I do know, because I once supervised two very good graphic artists, that sometimes they want to make changes just for the sake of change, or to satsify some rather esoteric principles of design philosophy only appreciated by other designers.
Last Edited: 1/26/2026 6:14:29 PM by OhioCatFan
Pete Chouteau
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Posted: 1/26/2026 6:51 PM
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I guess. It's been forever. I don't think we suffer by having two logos and mixing these graphic styles isn't exactly pleasing to the eye.

But... Did they match the arch height on this new logo to the profile of the Convo from ground level? Looks close. Major props if it's not accidental. May have perfected the athletic logo with that.

Major pans to the height of the bar across the H above the cat. Way too high. Giving "if the cat looks ill" vibes.
Alan Swank
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Posted: 1/26/2026 7:24 PM
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Pete Chouteau wrote:expand_more
I guess. It's been forever. I don't think we suffer by having two logos and mixing these graphic styles isn't exactly pleasing to the eye.

But... Did they match the arch height on this new logo to the profile of the Convo from ground level? Looks close. Major props if it's not accidental. May have perfected the athletic logo with that.

Major pans to the height of the bar across the H above the cat. Way too high. Giving "if the cat looks ill" vibes.
Agreed. The cross of the H should be half way between the top of the letters and the top of the cat head.
SBH
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Posted: 1/27/2026 9:02 AM
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Every new marketing/communication/creative chief wants to make big branding changes so they can fill out their portfolio. My only criticism of the "new" logo - and it's a big one - is that it's difficult to read from a distance. It looks like a solid/blurry arc from more than 15 feet away.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 1/27/2026 4:50 PM
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SBH wrote:expand_more
Every new marketing/communication/creative chief wants to make big branding changes so they can fill out their portfolio. My only criticism of the "new" logo - and it's a big one - is that it's difficult to read from a distance. It looks like a solid/blurry arc from more than 15 feet away.
Yep!
OU_Country
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Posted: 1/29/2026 5:35 PM
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This says the athletic department didn't even know about the branding change until it was basically decided upon. Classic.

https://x.com/i/status/2016977888239611997
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 1/29/2026 8:42 PM
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OU_Country wrote:expand_more
This says the athletic department didn't even know about the branding change until it was basically decided upon. Classic.

https://x.com/i/status/2016977888239611997
Not surprising, we’ve been stepping on our Dicks for decades now with stupid decisions.

Is this the major announcement that SBH hinted at?

The bigger question is, who ordered that? President? We got a BOT that is “very involved”?
Victory
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Posted: 1/31/2026 1:51 PM
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They simultaneously made only a minor change but managed to make it look considerably worse, IMO

Seems pointless
Last Edited: 1/31/2026 1:53:13 PM by Victory
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 1/31/2026 3:05 PM
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I guess I'm in the minority, but I like the new arched OHIO better. I always thought the letters were too crunched together before. Made the OHIO logo hard to read on uniforms, particularly on the football uniforms. This new one should be easier to read from a distance, IMHO, despite the opposite comment from at least one poster. My wife, however, disagrees with me, so I'm probably wrong!
BSC 91
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Posted: 1/31/2026 5:55 PM
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Our branding and marketing continue to suck. The mashup of the paw and the Attack Cat/arched Ohio on the basketball court (and now being used elsewhere) is just gawd awful.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 2/1/2026 12:05 PM
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OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
I guess I'm in the minority, but I like the new arched OHIO better. I always thought the letters were too crunched together before. Made the OHIO logo hard to read on uniforms, particularly on the football uniforms. This new one should be easier to read from a distance, IMHO, despite the opposite comment from at least one poster. My wife, however, disagrees with me, so I'm probably wrong!
You will notice no difference from a distance on uniforms. Waste of money and resources. Just adapt the ICA mark to rest of campus.
spongeBOB CATpants
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Posted: 2/19/2026 3:34 PM
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I'm a little confused by the communication of this change. Is the attack cat no longer the main logo for athletics? The post I read made it sound like the arch Ohio with University underneath is going to be the main logo for both academics and athletics moving forward.
OhioCatFan
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Posted: 2/19/2026 5:16 PM
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spongeBOB CATpants wrote:expand_more
I'm a little confused by the communication of this change. Is the attack cat no longer the main logo for athletics? The post I read made it sound like the arch Ohio with University underneath is going to be the main logo for both academics and athletics moving forward.
It was confusing in the way they explained it, but the AttackCat is still the athletic logo, and they will use the arched OHIO alone and with "University" underneath it for various unspecified, as far as I can tell, uses.
Pete Chouteau
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Posted: 2/21/2026 9:38 AM
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I keep looking at it. It keeps getting uglier.
BillyTheCat
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Posted: 2/22/2026 2:15 PM
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Pete Chouteau wrote:expand_more
I keep looking at it. It keeps getting uglier.
+1 and for the money!!!!
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