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One aspect of this realignment relates to how athletics represents the college graphically. The logo system that has been in use for the past two decades has some limitations and does not complement the college’s current visual identity, which was launched in 2011. We knew it was time to update our athletics visual identity while keeping intact our Bombers nickname. Last November we created an athletics identity team and were thrilled to have Jason DeLand ’98 volunteer as a strategic advisor for the group. Jason is a former Ithaca College baseball player and cofounder of the award-winning agency Anomaly, which is best known for its Budweiser Super Bowl ads. The development process included creative input from current and alumni student-athletes, coaches, and staff in the athletics and marketing communications offices. We held dozens of focus group meetings, and one message our student-athletes made clear is that they wanted to feel united as “one family,” that being part of the larger athletics community at the college is central to their experience. Thus, I am proud and excited to announce the unveiling of the new logo system representing Ithaca College athletics—logos with a sharp, clean, strong look, giving us a progressive and assertive way of expressing who we are and who we strive to be. The updated identity includes a redesigned athletics website — athletics.ithaca.edu — which has a sleek, modern appearance and is compatible with all mobile devices. There you can see a video that we have put together to give you a better idea of the thinking that went into creating the new designs. Beginning with the fall sports season, our team uniforms, equipment, apparel, playing surfaces, scoreboards, and other signage will begin a multiyear evolution to this new system. As an Ithaca College alumna, I am filled with great pride in being a part of this exciting evolution in our athletics program’s identity. We recently completed one of our most successful athletics years ever, finishing at number 12 in the Division III Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup, which ranks the country’s elite intercollegiate athletics programs based on their finish in national championship events. I hope you will agree that the new logo system reflects the characteristics that have come to symbolize this kind of winning tradition in Bombers athletics: strength, unity, and a long-standing commitment to excellence. Susan Bassett ’79
A New Look for Ithaca College Athletics Comment from
claus on
08/20/14
"it's a great day to be a bomber" ???? Really??!! Wow...
A New Look for Ithaca College Athletics Comment from
kaufmanf on
08/21/14
I've long hoped IC would somehow change the offensive "Bomber"
name, that it would quietly go away, but now it is embraced ever more firmly and we're even told it is a great day to be one! Imagine explaining that to someone. Rick Kaufman A New Look for Ithaca College Athletics Comment from
mismith on
08/21/14
In an age of suicide bombers, of bombs blowing off the legs of U.S. servicemembers, of bombs killing kids and wedding parties? A great day to be a bomber? Really?
A New Look for Ithaca College Athletics Comment from
kmulligan on
08/25/14
In the past several years I have had the privilege of visiting Pakistan as a Fulbright Specialist. On one of my visits, I brought frisbees from our college bookstore as gifts for the children of friends I have made there. As I was photographing my friend's two adorable sons with their gifts, I noticed for the first time our college mascot's name printed on the gifts (my "bad" that I did not notice before). I cringed. I know that "Bombers" has another meaning in football, but in today's world, how many people are going to make that association before thinking of the much darker meaning? I regret that it took me this long to wake up to how offensive our school mascot's name is to the world, but I add my voice to the comments already left. This name needs to be changed.
A New Look for Ithaca College Athletics Comment from
mferris on
08/25/14
Where the slogan, "It's a great day to be a bomber" might raise an eyebrow, the notion that an interpretation of that slogan promotes, embraces or is any way affiliated at any level with current events of a terrorist nature as stated by other posts here is reprehensible.
There is nothing offensive in the name unless you let it. And demanding a change is a victory for those who actually commit those violent acts you so adamantly rail against and inaccurately accuse the Bomber name to directly or indirectly affiliate with. Suicide bombings are nothing new to this world and those types of actions probably predate Ithaca College. They only seem more predominate based on the technological access of through social media and camera phones. "Imagine having to explain that so someone," is one of the complaints. So explain it. Point out that it is a name that proudly represents an academic and athletic community rooted in excellence. A commitment to shaping the careers and lives of the young people who pass through here. It is a good day to an Ithaca College Bomber and to be able to say that. Instead let's make those who have turned that into a negative connotation by performing terrorist acts responsible for their actions. Instead of pressuring some small upstate college in New York to change it's long traditional school name, put the onus on those who would do us harm and have them change their ways. There's your mission. Mike Ferris |
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When I returned to my alma mater in 2013 to serve as director of intercollegiate athletics and recreational sports, one of my primary tasks was to determine how the athletics program could be better aligned with the overall mission, vision, and strategic direction of the college.