Delaware State University’s athletic teams, the Hornets, compete under a visual identity built around a blue hornet mascot and a red and Columbia blue color scheme. The current primary athletics logo, introduced in August 2023, presents a contemporary rendering of the hornet mascot that has represented the university’s teams for decades.
Design and History
The Hornets mascot name traces back to the “Blue Hornet” nickname for the blue bus that transported the football team of the then-State College for Colored Students to away games. By the time the College formally joined the Colored Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1945, the “Hornet” had already been adopted as the mascot name for the institution’s sports teams.[1]
In 2001, Delaware State replaced its long-standing cartoon Hornets mascot with a set of 11 new licensed logos. The new primary mark featured a redesigned hornet, created by New York-based Phoenix Design Works after input from the DSU administration, athletic department and students. This was the first time Delaware State had licensed its logos.[2]
On August 10, 2023, Delaware State University unveiled a new Hornet athletics logo alongside a new academic logo. The university determined it was time to refresh its brand after a decade of record enrollment and expanding programs.[1] The Hornet redesign was the collaborative work of university marketing team staff members Antonio “JR” Fuondjing and Jasmine Couch.[3] Director of Athletics Alecia Shields-Gadson described the new mark as “a work of branding art that reflects all that our intercollegiate teams are striving for, consistent bold and strong performances on the field of play that are packed with an unrelenting sting.”[1]
The 2023 athletic logo features a contemporary version of the blue hornet mascot, providing an updated take on the university’s cherry red and Columbia blue theme with a black banner.[4]
Meaning and Symbolism
The mascot name’s origin is directly tied to the university’s history. The “Blue Hornet” nickname referred to the blue bus that transported the football team of the then-State College for Colored Students to its away games, and the Hornet was formally adopted as the mascot name by 1945.[1]
The university’s traditional blue and red colors are described by DSU marketing leadership as reflecting “our inspiration and loyalty.”[1] The athletics department lists the official colors as Red (hex #d51c28), Blue (hex #009cdb) and Light Blue (hex #72cdf4).[5]
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