June 19, 2008

Press Conference Photo Gallery

POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - The Marist Athletics Department unveiled its new family of logos today in a press conference at the McCann Center.

In an effort to build a stronger brand and achieve more consistency with its athletics logos, the Marist Athletics Department worked with Phoenix Design Works based in New York City to redesign the current athletics logos and add more options.

"We wanted to use the unique characteristics of the Red Fox logo that have been part of the Marist tradition for a number of years to update our logos," said Marist Director of Athletics Tim Murray. "This project was not about getting rid of our old logo; it was about taking what we had and enhancing it to build a more recognizable brand."

Over the past five months, Phoenix Design Works created a new family of athletics logos that will serve as the foundation of the Marist Athletics brand. A new family of logos has been created for the Athletics Department's use on apparel, printed materials, digital applications and merchandise. Varsity sports, club sports, spirit groups and various departments will be given their own "sports specific" logo. The new family of logos also includes traditional collegiate marks that will be featured on Marist Athletics apparel.

"We are pretty unique in that we are the only Red Foxes in the country," Murray said. "We have a very distinctive mascot that we are showcasing in our new logo, along with the Marist name, to form what we think will be a strong brand that our fans, alumni, faculty, staff and students will be proud of."

Phoenix Design Works has been instrumental in creating and developing some of the most recognizable brands in the world today, including over 150 of America's best known colleges and universities such as Arkansas, Harvard, LSU, Oklahoma, Tennessee, UMass and UCLA.

Phoenix has created new franchise identity branding, property development, and event branding for the NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB. All visual identity, logo marks and uniform design for the Florida Marlins, Colorado Rockies, Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia 76ers were products of the New Your City-based company. Phoenix has also created event identity branding for the Super Bowl, Indy 500, Brickyard 400, MLB Opening Day and the MLB All-Star Game. They have recently completed the theme art being used for this year's U.S. Open Tennis tournament.

History of the Red Foxes

A 1961 meeting marked the adoption of the Red Foxes as the official nickname and mascot. Athletic Director Brother William Murphy decided to organize a varsity basketball team to play scheduled games against other schools and thought a nickname and logo would be appropriate.

While glancing at a sports magazine, Br. Murphy noticed a reynard, more commonly known as a red fox, on the cover of the book. The red fox was indigenous to the Hudson River Valley, making it a perfect fit for Marist. He decided this fury little creature was to become the mascot and logo of Marist College teams.

The Reynard was a cunning, intelligent character in a set of stories from Medieval France. Because the term Reynard was so uncommon, Brother Murphy chose to call the team the "Red Foxes". Although the football team briefly changed their name to the "Vikings" during the early 1970s, the Red Fox has been the college mascot from 1961 until the present.

In the 1960s and early 1970s, the Red Fox was pictured wearing a sailor's hat. This was due to the fact that the sailing team won the ECAC championship during the 1960s and was the dominant Marist sports team at the time.