"Warriors" A Unique Brand

[Tugg Speedman]

I started a thread on this a year or two ago but this still amazes me.

MU dropped the Warrior nickname in 1994, almost 20 years ago.  Some of our current players were born AFTER that move.

Yet this past season:

* Announcer Kevin Harlen referred to us a Warriors
* Greg Gumbal, on the NCAA selection show, referred to us as Warriors
* In the thread "Marquette - Miami is a special game" they referred to us as Warriors.

I'm sure other can post more examples from this season.

It has been 20 years since we dropped the nickname yet the reference comes up over and over.  I find this amazing.  Other than "Oakland Raiders" long after they moved to LA, I cannot think of another example where a team changed its identification (either nickname or location) and 20 years later many were forgetting about the change.

What it suggest is "Marquette Warriors" is/was one of the strongest brands in sports.

Lots of companies would kill to have a brand so unique that 20 years after they dropped it, people still identified them with it.

Thoughts?

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

I've said this for years. Imagine if UCLA change from Bruins or Indiana from Hoosiers. It's that identifiable. A true tragedy and one that gets magnified when we make NCAA runs. I remember how unfortunate (and embarrassing) it was to hear our current name during our 2003 run...and it led to the offer from that BOT member to change it back.

[UticaBusBarn]

In world where branding is everything, one would think that the good Jesuits would wake-up and return to some variation of the Warrior name. For instance, instead of Weenie Eagles, it could just as easily be Warrior Eagles, without offending anyone.

Or, better yet, Warrior 'Roaches ... which, also would not offend anyone!

Anyway, your point is very well taken. It is sad that so many administrations have not had the common sense to keep Warrior brand name alive in some form.

But, then again, as Mark Twain said, the problem with common sense is that it is not very common.

[Warrior1969]

Now would be a great time, with the great success of late and the new conference etc.  It is simple call us the Warriors and have no indiam logos etc, why is that so hard?  Does anybody have an issue with the Golden State warriors???   

[Goose]

I am not sure that it compares with the Oakland Raiders, but no doubt many people still identify MU with the Warriors. It was our nickname for a long time and it remains our nickname for many fans and non fans today. Do find very pleasing every time someone in national media refers to us the Warriors. Lets hope all young fans MU students remember the Warriors for decades to come.

I think a run to the FF and numerous Warrior mentions on CBS in upcoming weeks will do wonders to enhance the "brand". Coming from a large Marquette family, over a dozen of us have gone or are going to MU, the name has always been the Warriors. Take great pride when I see my kids wearing Warrior shorts on game day.

[mugrack]

I say the name has always been Hilltoppers

[We R Final Four]

I started a thread on this a year or two ago but this still amazes me.

MU dropped the Warrior nickname in 1994, almost 20 years ago.  Some of our current players were born AFTER that move.

Yet this past season:

* Announcer Kevin Harlen referred to us a Warriors
* Greg Gumbal, on the NCAA selection show, referred to us as Warriors
* In the thread "Marquette - Miami is a special game" they referred to us as Warriors.

I'm sure other can post more examples from this season.

It has been 20 years since we dropped the nickname yet the reference comes up over and over.  I find this amazing.  Other than "Oakland Raiders" long after they moved to LA, I cannot think of another example where a team changed its identification (either nickname or location) and 20 years later many were forgetting about the change.

What is suggest is "Marquette Warriors" is/was one of the strongest brands in sports.

Lots of companies would kill to have a brand so unique that 20 years after they dropped it, people still identified them with it.

Thoughts?

I do not think they were "forgetting about the change". I think this is an intentional nod to the old school. I would agree if the guys who were 'forgetting' about the Golden Eagles were In Their 60s and 70s who grew up with the Warriors, but they are in their 40s who were 20 something when the change took place. Love it. My kids call them the Warriors.

[Stretchdeltsig]

I always loved the Warriors because it meant that the team played hard to win.  What does Golden Eagles mean?  Their aren't any in Wisconsin.  Now is the time, with the start of the new conference, to correct this tragic brand error and go back to Warriors.  Marquette will always be Warriors in my heart.  Go team!

[Groin_pull]

It will never happen...but it should.

[Norm]

I think the best thing to do would be to bring back the Warriors name and keep the eagle mascot. If Marquette is worried about people showing up at games with the old Indian head logo, offer an exchange program at the Spirit Shop where you can turn in an old t-shirt or sweatshirt, hat or flag or whatever and get a new one in return with the new Warrior/eagle combo.

[BrewCity83]

Sadly, it will never happen...but it should.   

[real chili 83]

I share the same feelings.  It really doesn't seem to be that tough of a decision.

Supposedly, the tribe that owns the casino/bingo hall made a donation of some sort to the MU.  Supposedly, part of the deal was that MU would drop Warriors.

Others on this board can speak more eloquently to this supposed arrangement.  Bottom line is that many speculate that MU sold the Warriors brand.

[GGGG]

I share the same feelings.  It really doesn't seem to be that tough of a decision.

Supposedly, the tribe that owns the casino/bingo hall made a donation of some sort to the MU.  Supposedly, part of the deal was that MU would drop Warriors.

Others on this board can speak more eloquently to this supposed arrangement.  Bottom line is that many speculate that MU sold the Warriors brand.

That is the insinuation.  My understanding is that they are bound by contract not to make the change.

But if you notice the Golden Eagle imagery is never used with regards to the basketball program and the use of "Warrior" as a unofficial nickname has at least the tacit approval of the administration.

I will point out however that it doesn't help when you see students wearing fake headresses during games.

[Tugg Speedman]

I do not think they were "forgetting about the change". I think this is an intentional nod to the old school. I would agree if the guys who were 'forgetting' about the Golden Eagles were In Their 60s and 70s who grew up with the Warriors, but they are in their 40s who were 20 something when the change took place. Love it. My kids call them the Warriors.

Kevin Harlen is the only "40 something" I'm aware of that has publicly called them warriors on TV.  His dad was Bob Harlen, former President of the Packers so he is probably "closer" to MU than most.

[Henry Sugar]

Never is a long time.

Don't give up hope.

[ZiggysFryBoy]

In world where branding is everything, one would think that the good Jesuits would wake-up and return to some variation of the Warrior name. For instance, instead of Weenie Eagles, it could just as easily be Warrior Eagles, without offending anyone.

Or, better yet, Warrior 'Roaches ... which, also would not offend anyone!
Anyway, your point is very well taken. It is sad that so many administrations have not had the common sense to keep Warrior brand name alive in some form.

But, then again, as Mark Twain said, the problem with common sense is that it is not very common.

That might offend Congress, as roaches are viewed more favorably than Congress.

[Avenue Commons]

This thread is full of unique and novel contributions.

[Benny B]

But if you notice the Golden Eagle imagery is never used with regards to the basketball program and the use of "Warrior" as a unofficial nickname has at least the tacit approval of the administration.

Perhaps some of you late 80's/early 90's alums can speak more on the topic, but I know several alums from that era who, although they have come to terms with no longer officially being Warriors, still manifest a vitriolic response when the eagle logo is in their presence.  I suppose that's not exactly the kind of reaction the "pit bosses" want to their sacred tribal imagery.

The other side is that - IIRC - the MU logo replaced the eagle in 2005, i.e. the first year in the Big East.  It might have quite simply been a re-branding effort, too?

[🏀]

Perhaps some of you late 80's/early 90's alums can speak more on the topic, but I know several alums from that era who, although they have come to terms with no longer officially being Warriors, still manifest a vitriolic response when the eagle logo is in their presence.  I suppose that's not exactly the kind of reaction the "pit bosses" want to their sacred tribal imagery.

The other side is that - IIRC - the MU logo replaced the eagle in 2005, i.e. the first year in the Big East.  It might have quite simply been a re-branding effort, too?

The monogram was released with the 'Gold'. Luckily, only the monogram stayed.

[GGGG]

Perhaps some of you late 80's/early 90's alums can speak more on the topic, but I know several alums from that era who, although they have come to terms with no longer officially being Warriors, still manifest a vitriolic response when the eagle logo is in their presence.  I suppose that's not exactly the kind of reaction the "pit bosses" want to their sacred tribal imagery.

The other side is that - IIRC - the MU logo replaced the eagle in 2005, i.e. the first year in the Big East.  It might have quite simply been a re-branding effort, too?

Other athletic teams at MU use this logo.

http://www.marquette.edu/alumni/enews/images/gr_newgoldeneaglegraphic.jpg

The basketball team does not.  Ever since the last "election" that reaffirmed Golden Eagles, I think there has been a conscience effort to keep Golden Eagles and the basketball program at arms length.  I don't think this logo is used at all with the basketball team.

To be honest though, the Eagle head seems to be getting phased out all over...

[mu-rara]

Hilarious how few GE items are carried in Spirit Shop.  Even the administration isn't willing to risk $$ on the GE.

[Abode4life]

To be honest though, the Eagle head seems to be getting phased out all over...

I was just in the spirit shop a couple weeks ago and there is still a lot of shirts and hats that have the chicken on them.  I don't know how accurate that is.

[Norm]

Perhaps some of you late 80's/early 90's alums can speak more on the topic, but I know several alums from that era who, although they have come to terms with no longer officially being Warriors, still manifest a vitriolic response when the eagle logo is in their presence.  I suppose that's not exactly the kind of reaction the "pit bosses" want to their sacred tribal imagery.

The other side is that - IIRC - the MU logo replaced the eagle in 2005, i.e. the first year in the Big East.  It might have quite simply been a re-branding effort, too?

Well, I graduated in '91, and to this day I have never bought anything with the eagle logo on it - and I know a lot of my classmates don't buy anything with Golden Eagles on it also. My kids all call the team the Warriors, and I still have some Warriors sweatshirts and t-shirts from back in the day (although only one of them has the Indian head logo). Now, if we went back to the Warriors and kept the eagle mascot and logo, I'd have no problem with that and would not filter what I buy in the Spirit Shop to avoid the eagle.

[Blue Horseshoe]

The other side is that - IIRC - the MU logo replaced the eagle in 2005, i.e. the first year in the Big East.  It might have quite simply been a re-branding effort, too?

There has only been one reason why MU has chosen to rebrand. That reason is to avoid offending others. In 2005 the University spent an entire year researching if the nickname "Warriors" is offensive. Thanks to the easily offended and an incompetent BOT Marquette's nickname became "Gold" for a week. Common sense prevailed (momentarily) and MU became the Golden Eagles again. Before all of that nonsense I had no qualms about the eagle logo. In fact, it was much more unique than the current eagle. You know, the eagle that is a doppelgänger for the Southern Miss logo. As for the MU letter logo, I think they did a very nice job with that. I've often criticized the University and the athletic department for being stuck in a paradigm. I hate using the word, "edgy" but I'd much prefer a darker image.

[Benny B]

There has only been one reason why MU has chosen to rebrand. That reason is to avoid offending others. In 2005 the University spent an entire year researching if the nickname "Warriors" is offensive. Thanks to the easily offended and an incompetent BOT Marquette's nickname became "Gold" for a week. Common sense prevailed (momentarily) and MU became the Golden Eagles again. Before all of that nonsense I had no qualms about the eagle logo. In fact, it was much more unique than the current eagle. You know, the eagle that is a doppelgänger for the Southern Miss logo. As for the MU letter logo, I think they did a very nice job with that. I've often criticized the University and the athletic department for being stuck in a paradigm shift. I hate using the word, "edgy" but I'd much prefer a darker image.

Call me a skeptic, but the whole "Gold" thing in my opinion was somebody trying to take a page from the New Coke playbook, i.e. a publicity stunt.