Seton Hill University, a private Catholic university in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, fields its intercollegiate athletic teams as the Seton Hill Griffins. The university’s official school colors are crimson and gold, and its mascot is the griffin, a mythological creature combining eagle and lion attributes. The Griffins compete at the NCAA Division II level.
Design and History
The Seton Hill athletic identity has evolved through several mascots. Before the griffin, the school’s teams were known as the Spirits, a nickname chosen in the 1970s by then-Athletic Director John Fogle. When Seton Hill joined the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics in the 1980s, Fogle selected Opus the Penguin, from the comic strip Bloom County, as the mascot to fulfill NAIA emblem requirements. Earlier still, a small stuffed tiger named Hermes represented the Women’s Athletic Association. [1]
In 2002, following the institution’s transition from college to university status, the campus community voted on a new mascot. The choices included the Griffin, the Spirit Hound and the Highlander. The Griffin idea was submitted by Lindsey Davis, a Seton Hill sophomore at the time, and it won by more than half the votes on November 2, 2002, with the announcement made at a men’s soccer game. Mary Ross Cox, then director of events and marketing coordinator, explained the choice: “Considering the medieval background of the Griffin as well as the strength of the lion and courage of the eagle, we feel that this symbol will be a good representation of the institution as well as the sports teams.” [1]
Seton Hill University has registered two distinct athletic marks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The first, registered in 2018 under registration number 5842479, consists of the word “GRIFFINS” with the “G” and the “S” in larger size, and the words “Seton Hill” positioned above between the “G” and the “S.” The wording overlays a stylized crest, with a stylized griffin positioned above and behind the crest and wording. [2]
A second, newer mark was filed on August 18, 2022, and registered on September 26, 2023. The USPTO record describes this mark simply as consisting of a stylized griffin, used in connection with entertainment services, namely, organizing and conducting collegiate athletic competitions and cultural events. [3]
Meaning and Symbolism
The griffin mascot was selected for its mythological pedigree. As Cox stated in 2002, the griffin’s medieval background, combined with the strength of the lion and the courage of the eagle, made it a fitting symbol for the institution and its sports teams. [1]
The university’s official colors are crimson and gold, as documented in institutional references. [4]
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