Logo of a defunct college football team, the George Washington University Colonials, whose program existed from 1881 until 1966, when it shut down for various reasons, including not having a suitable stadium to play in. They won their only bowl game appearance, capturing the Sun Bowl in 1956. Colonial alumni who played pro football include Mike Sommer, Bob Nowaskey, Garry Lyle and Hall of Famer Tuffy Leemans.
The college football bowl season will be upon us starting this weekend, and this is the logo of the first of those games to be played this year, the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl. Formerly known as the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, it has been played since 2014. Located in Nassau, the game matches teams from the Mid-America Conference and Conference USA, with this year’s contest being played between the University at Buffalo Bulls and the Charlotte 49ers.
This is a logo “patch” celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Cardinals’ NFL football team’s stay in St. Louis. They relocated there from Chicago in 1960, and unfortunately only lasted 3 seasons after this anniversary celebration before moving again in 1987, this time to Phoenix, Arizona. The NFL agreed to allow the franchise to move to St. Louis in 1960 to fend off possible competition from the fledgling AFL, which began play that year and had considered putting a team there. They only qualified for the postseason 3 times during their time in St. Louis and never won a playoff game while located there. Still, the winning percentage of .481 they had in the Gateway city is far better than the records they have put up in the other 2 locations they have been in.
Logo of a college football team that plays in the Mountain West Conference, the New Mexico Lobos. Founded in 1892, the school has won 4 conference titles and appeared in 13 bowl games. Lobo alumni who have played professionally include Ben Agajanian, Paul Smith, David Sloan, Don Perkins, Glover Quin, Robin Cole, Preston Dennard, Andy Frederick, Terance Mathis, Don Woods and Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher.
An early logo of a professional football team that plays in the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals. Founded by Paul Brown as an AFL franchise in 1968, they spent 2 seasons in the Western Division of that league until the league merged with the NFL in 1970. Brown coached the team for it’s first 8 seasons, and they were a highly successful expansion franchise, forging a winning record by their third year, with a roster of young talent that included 1968 AFL Rookie of The Year Paul Robinson, Bob Trumpy, Essex Johnson, Bob Johnson, Greg Cook, Lemar Parrish and Bill Bergey.
Logo of a small college football team that plays in the Missouri Valley Conference, the Northern Iowa Panthers. The school first fielded a team in 1895 and has won 33 conference titles. Notable former Panthers who have gone on to play pro football include Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, Mike Furrey, James Jones, Austin Howard, Brad Meester, Steve Wright, Dedric Ward, Bryce Paup and Chad Rinehart.
This is an old alternate logo of a college football team that plays in the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference, the Missouri Tigers. The program began play in 1890 and spent most of the last century in the Big Eight and Big 12 conferences. They’ve won 15 conference titles and played in 33 bowl games over the years. Former Mizzou players who have gone on to pro careers include Hall of Famers Roger Wehrli and Kellen Winslow and also Chase Daniel, Curtis Brown, Byron Chamberlain, Jeff Cross, Blaine Gabbert, Mel Gray, Tony Galbreath, Henry Marshall, John Matuszak, C.J. Mosely, Andy Russell, George Seals, Eric Wright and Russ Washington.
Logo of a small college football team, used from 1968 until 1971, the North Texas State Eagles. Also known as the “Mean Green”, the team began play in 1913 and currently plays in Conference USA. Also, the school is known today as the University of North Texas. They have won 24 conference titles, and it’s most notable alumni who has gone on to play pro football is Hall of Famer Joe Greene. Other former Eagles who have played in the NFL or AFL include Cedric Hardman, Spider Lockhart, Abner Haynes, Bill Bishop, Dennis Swilley, J.T. Smith, Ron Shanklin, Ray Renfro, Beasley Reece and Willie Parker.
Logo of a small college football team that plays in the Patriot League, the Fordham Rams. The school fielded it’s first football team in 1882 and at one time was a college powerhouse. Their offensive lines of the 1930s were known as “The Seven Blocks of Granite”. Some notable former Ram players include Vince Lombardi, Alex Wojciechowicz, Ed Danowski, Kurt Sohn and Harry Jacunski.
Alternate logo of a team that plays in the National Football League, the Chicago Bears. The team entered the NFL as a charter member in 1920 when they were known as the Decatur Staleys. When founder George Halas moved them to Chicago, he received permission to play home games at Wrigley Field, home of baseball’s Cubs, and renamed the team the Bears as a thanks to the baseball team. The Bears’ history is long and storied, and includes Hall of Famers like Halas, Bronko Nagurski, Red Grange, Paddy Driscoll, Sid Luckman, Bulldog Turner, Bill George, Gale Sayers, Dick Butkus, Mike Ditka, Walter Payton, Mike Singletary and Richard Dent.