The Tampa Spartans are the athletic teams of the University of Tampa, an NCAA Division II program competing in the Sunshine State Conference. The university’s athletic identity centers on a Spartan warrior motif, anchored by a Spartan head logo originally created in the early 1980s. In March 2016, the university introduced a new Spartan head in profile and an updated “complete” Spartan head logo, both derived from that original 1980s mark. Designer Joe Bosack, of Pennsylvania-based Joe Bosack & Co., created the new visual identity. The new Spartan logo and updated Spartan head logo joined the existing interlocking UT as the university’s athletic identity. [1]
Design and History
The 2016 rebrand was announced by the University of Tampa as an effort to “enhance, strengthen and unify the UT athletic and institutional brand.” The new marks included a Spartan head in profile and an updated “complete” Spartan head logo, which was derived from the Spartan head logo originally created in the early 1980s. The interlocking UT remained part of the athletic identity alongside the new marks. [2]
The university filed a trademark for “THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA SPARTANS & DESIGN OF CIRCULAR LOGO WITH STYLIZED RIGHT PROFILE & HEADDRESS OF AN ANCIENT GREEK WARRIOR SURROUNDED BY TWO CONCENTRIC CIRCLES” in March 2016, with the trademark recorded as active. [3]
A separate trademark registration for “THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA SPARTANS” describes the mark as “a stylized design of a spartan wearing a helmet with a plume within an inner circle,” with the wording “THE UNIVERSITY OF TAMPA” in stylized font around the top of the circle. [4]
Meaning and Symbolism
The official athletics site identifies the Spartans as the university’s mascot, with the university competing in the Sunshine State Conference and NCAA Division II. [5] The university’s faculty handbook notes that the Spartan seal “should only be used for athletic-related publications unless otherwise approved by the Office of Public Information.” [6]
Typography and Design
The official athletics site lists the university’s athletic colors as Red (PMS 186), Black and Gold (PMS 116). [7] The university’s faculty handbook separately lists institutional colors as UT Burgundy (PMS 202c), UT Gold (PMS 124c) and UT Blue (PMS 295c), noting that the official colors of the University are distinct from the athletic palette. [6]
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