The Tulane Green Wave is the athletics identity of Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. The program’s visual identity centers on two official marks: the “Angry Wave,” a scowling, human-shaped wave with clenched fists, and the “T-Wave,” a block letter “T” crossed by green and blue waves. The Angry Wave has served as the athletics department’s primary logo since July 1, 2017, with the T-Wave remaining as the secondary mark.[1]
Design and History
The Green Wave nickname dates to October 20, 1920, when Earl Sparling, editor of the Tulane Hullabaloo student newspaper, wrote a football song titled “The Rolling Green Wave.” A month later, a report of the Tulane-Mississippi A&M game in the Hullabaloo referred to the team as the Green Wave, and by the end of the season the term was applied to all Tulane athletic teams.[2]
Before the wave imagery appeared, Tulane’s mascot was depicted as a pelican riding a surfboard, an image that lasted for more than 50 years.[3] In 1945, local cartoonist John Chase created “Greenie,” a mischievous boy in a football helmet who served as the team’s mascot on programs and products for approximately 20 years.[4]
When Dr. Rix Yard became athletic director in 1963, he felt Tulane needed a more virile symbol for its teams. Working with Eldon Endacott, manager of the Tulane bookstore, Yard arranged for a new mascot to be created. Several sketches were submitted by Art Evans, art director for Angelus-Pacific Co. in Fullerton, California, who had created such noted college mascots as the Purdue Boilermaker and Southern California Trojan.[2] The angry-looking wave was adopted in 1964 and became the mainstay logo of the athletic department for 34 years.[5]
In 1986, a new logo consisting of a white block “T” with green and blue waves crossing its center was adopted as the primary symbol for official uniforms, though the Angry Wave cartoon continued to be used in licensed products. The block “T” design adorned Tulane uniforms through 1997.[5]
On August 19, 1998, a new set of athletic logos was unveiled. Known as the “T-Wave” and the “Wordmark,” the marks accentuated the Tulane colors of green and blue and the Green Wave nickname, and re-established the pelican as a visual symbol. A new pelican mascot was introduced and given the name Riptide by a vote of Tulane students.[3]
Tulane Athletics reintroduced the Angry Wave logo as a secondary mark during the 2016-17 academic year, and on July 1, 2017, officially made the Angry Wave the Green Wave’s primary mark, with the T-Wave remaining as the secondary mark.[1] In 2016, a new and improved Angry Wave was designed for the Tulane Athletics logo.[6]
Meaning and Symbolism
The Angry Wave was commissioned by athletic director Rix Yard in 1964, who felt Tulane needed a more virile symbol than the existing “Greenie” mascot, which he considered too soft.[4] The design features clenched fists and a scowling look, intended to convey a determined, fierce presence for the athletic teams.[6]
Tulane’s official colors are Olive (PMS #342) and Blue (PMS #279).[7] The university’s athletic teams were known as the Olive and Blue from 1893 to 1919, before the Green Wave nickname was adopted.[2]
Typography and Design
The Tulane Athletics Branding & Style Guide provides detailed information outlining the proper use of Tulane Athletics’ official colors, marks and typography across communication and social media channels.[1] The Angry Wave and T-Wave marks are reserved for Tulane Athletics and may not be used by academic departments, student organizations, or external vendors without prior permission.[8]
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