Logo of a college football team that plays at the FCS level in the Southland Conference, the Nicholls State Colonels. Their program began play in 1972 and has won 6 conference titles over the years, the most recent in 2023. Former Colonels who have played pro football include Gary Barbaro, Mark Carrier, Johnny Meads, Lardarius Webb, Jay Pennison and Darryl Pounds.
Logo of a pro football team that actually never existed, the Boston Bulls. One of the main founding investors of the old World Football League, Howard Baldwin, had planned to enter this club in the league’s inaugural year in 1974, but pulled out before the season even began. The league, which was supposed to compete with the NFL and signed away some of their star players, only lasted 2 seasons before folding.
Secondary logo of a college football team that plays in the Mid-American Conference, the University of Buffalo Bulls. The school began play in 1894 but suspended the program in 1970. They restarted football again in 1977 and jumped to Division I level in 1999. They have won 4 division titles and a conference championship. Former Bulls who have gone on to play in the pros are John Stofa, Gerry Philbin, Willie Evans, James Starks, Steven Means, Naaman Roosevelt, Trevor Scott and current players Khalil Mack, Malcolm Koonce, K.J. Osborn, Cam Lewis, Ja’Marcus Ingram and Joe Andreessen.
This interesting and somewhat disturbing logo belongs to a small college football team of the past, the Los Angeles State Diablos. They began play in 1951 and in 1980, when the school was rebranded to Cal State Los Angeles University, the team’s nickname was changed to the Golden Eagles. As members of the California Collegiate Athletic Association they won 3 conference titles and the UPI small college championship in 1964. Former players from the school who went on to play pro football include Walter Johnson, Jim Weatherwax, Tom Kennedy, Johnnie Gray, Howard Kindig and Bobby Kemp.
Logo of a pro football team that plays in the West Division of the Canadian League, the Edmonton Elks. Known as the Eskimos until 2021 when they changed the name, the team was founded in 1949. They have won 14 Grey Cups (CFL equivalent of the Super Bowl) over the years, the most recent in 2015. Notable Edmonton players from their past include Johnny Bright, Henry “Gizmo” Williams, Dave Cutler, Tommy Joe Coffey and Warren Moon. Their list of past coaches is impressive – Frankie Filchock, Pop Ivy, Darrell Royal, Kay Stephenson and Ron Lancaster.
Former logo of a college football team that plays in the Mid-American Conference, the Eastern Michigan Eagles. Yes, the logo says Hurons, and that was the team name until the school changed it to Eagles in 1991. The name change has stayed controversial to this day, with school alumni refusing to make contributions until it is changed back. The groups wanting the Huron name restored include a few Native American ones. Anyway, the team has won 10 conference titles over the years and boasts an impressive list of players who have gone on to play pro ball, including Charlie Batch, John Banaszak, Kevin Walter, Chuck Shonta, Clarence Chapman, Jason Jones, T.J. Lang, Jim Pietrzak, L.J. Shelton and Dave Pureifory, and also Hall of Fame coach George Allen.
Logo of a Division II college football team that plays in the Mountain East Conference, the West Liberty Hilltoppers. Based in West Virginia, the school joined the conference in 2012 after playing in the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference as a founding member since 1924. Despite their small college stature, the school has sent a couple of players on to the NFL – Mark Murphy and Lou Piccone.
Used from 1974 until 1992, this is the logo of a college football team that plays in the Sun Belt Conference, the Troy State University Trojans. The program began play in 1909 and has won 3 small college national championships, 23 conference titles and 6 bowl games. Former Trojans who have enjoyed pro careers include Demarcus Ware, Osi Umenyiora, Mario Addison, Lawrence Tynes, Willie Tullis, Steve McClendon, Leodis McKelvin, Sherrod Martin and Elbert Mack.
Logo of a pro football team that played in the old World Football League, the Portland Thunder. The team began play in 1974 as the Portland Storm, but changed their name in ’75, their only year with that name. The league only made it through half a season in ’75 before folding. Hall of Fame tackle Ron Mix was the club’s general manager, and they were coached by Dick Coury, a former Denver Bronco assistant. One standout player for the team was running back Rufus “Roadrunner” Ferguson, while the short-lived franchise also had a couple of aging former AFL veterans on the roster – QB Pete Beathard and DE Ben Davidson.
Logo of a football team that plays in the new spring league, the United Football League, the Michigan Panthers. The team comes over from the newest version of the USFL, which merged into Duane “The Rock” Johnson’s new version. The logo is a slight modernization of the Panthers’ logo from the original USFL of the 1980s. Some current Panther players are QBs E.J. Perry and Danny Etling, WR Marcus Simms and RB Wes Hills.