Used from 1966 until 1979, this is a logo of a college football team that plays in the Mid-American Conference, the Bowling Green Falcons. They first began play in 1919, and won a junior college national championship in 1959. They’ve claimed 12 conference titles over the years also. BGSU players who’ve gone on to play pro football include Bernie Casey, Martin Bayless, Bob Reynolds, Bob Schnelker, Phil Villapiano and Shaun Suisham.
Logo of a major college football team, the Louisiana State Tigers, used from 1977 until 2002. L.S.U. plays in the Southeast Conference and their program has existed since 1893. They’ve won a total of eight national championships, either shared or outright, and produced a Heisman Trophy winner, Billy Cannon in 1959. Besides Cannon, former Tigers who have gone on to the pros include three Hall of Famers in Steve Van Buren, Y.A. Tittle and Jim Taylor, along with Mel Branch, Ryan Clark, A.J. Duhe, Alan Faneca, Kevin Faulk and Dalton Hilliard.
Logo of a small college football team, the McNeese State Cowboys, who play in the Southland Conference, and first fielded a team in 1940. They’ve won 14 conference titles over the years, while Cowboy alumni who’ve gone on to play pro football include B.J. Sams, Don Breaux, Leonard Smith, Buford Jordan, Flip Johnson, Kavika Pittman and Tom Sestak.
Logo of a college football team that plays in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, the Alcorn State Braves. The school fielded its’ first team in 1921, and they have won a total of 15 conference titles, including the last two in 2014 and 2015. The Braves have had many players go on to play pro football, including Donald Driver, Steve McNair, Isaac Holt, Jimmie Giles, Roynell Young and Lawrence Pillers.
Logo of the Birmingham Vulcans, a pro football team that lasted almost one season in the old World Football League. They replaced the Birmingham Americans, who had been WFL champions in the league’s first season in 1974, after that team failed financially. The Vulcans continued the winning tradition, as they posted a 9-3 record, the best in the league, until the entire league ceased operations before completing its’ ’75 season. Since their record was the best of the teams still in the league, they were declared champions for ’75 when the WFL folded.
Not a team logo, but the logo of the NFL’s old “Playoff Bowl”, officially known as the Bert Bell Benefit Bowl. Played each year from 1960 until 1969 at Miami’s Orange Bowl, the game was played between the two second place teams in each conference. The game was named for Bell, the NFL commissioner until his untimely death in 1959, and the proceeds of it went toward the Bert Bell Players’ Pension Fund. Over the decade it was played, over a million dollars was raised for the fund.
Logo of an Arena League football team, the Philadelphia Soul, who have played in three AFL championship games in their existence, winning the title in 2008. They are one of the few Arena League franchises that have had staying power, and are known mostly for their celebrity owners. They were once owned by rocker Jon Bon Jovi, with bandmate Richie Sambora as a minority owner. Today, former NFL player and current ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski owns the club, with the minority owners including Dick Vermeil and NFL players Jahri Evans and Marques Colston.
Logo of a college football team, the University of North Carolina Tar Heels, used from 1954 until 1967. The school plays in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and fielded their first team in 1888. The Tar Heels are not a football power, as the school is known mostly for it’s basketball dominance, but has sent many players to the NFL, including Lawrence Taylor, Chris Hanburger, Harris Barton, Jeff Saturday, Willie Parker, Ken Willard and Julius Peppers.
Logo of a team that plays in the Arena Football League, the New Orleans Voodoo, which has officially ceased operations in the league but may return in 2016 if a new ownership group can be found. This franchise was originally founded by NFL Saints owner Tom Benson. They played some home games in the Superdome, but mostly played at the indoor Smoothie King Center, affectionately known by the team’s fans as “The Graveyard”.
Logo of a college football team, the University of Nevada Wolf Pack, that plays in the Mountain West Conference. The school’s program started back in 1896, and is currently coached by Brian Polian, son of former NFL front office giant Bill Polian. Wolf Pack alumni who have gone on to play in the NFL include Hall of Famer Marion Motley, Charles Mann, Brock Marion, Tony Zendejas, Nate Burleson and current players Duke Williams and Colin Kaepernick.