Logo of a team that plays in the NBA Developmental League, the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, who came into existence in 2006, and who won their first D-League championship in 2014. Developmental teams in the NBA’s league usually have multiple affiliations, and over the years the Mad Ants have had ties with 13 different NBA teams. The team’s nickname is a salute to the city’s and fort’s namesake, General “Mad” Anthony Wayne.
Logo of a college football team that plays in the Big Sky Conference, the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks. The school fielded its’ first football team in 1931. They have played for the Division 1-AA national championship five times, winning once, in 2003. Lumberjack alumni who have played in the NFL include Michael Haynes, Mike Mercer, Rusty Tillman, Frank Pollack and Al Clark.
Logo of an old minor league hockey team that played in the American Hockey League, the Quebec Aces, whose existence spanned the era from 1959 until 1971. They were affiliated over the years with the Montreal Canadiens, then the Philadelphia Flyers, and some of their former players include Red Berenson, Yvon Cournyer, Jacques Lemaire, Serge Savard, Bill Clement, Andre Lacroix, Simon Nolet and Doug Favell.
Logo of a small college football program, the Saginaw Valley State Cardinals, who play at the Division II level in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. The list of Cardinal players who’ve gone on to play in the NFL is small, and includes Paul Spicer, Ruvell Martin and Eugene Marve.
Logo of the Oregon State Beavers, a major college football program. This logo was used from 1973 until 1996, when the team was part of the Pacific Eight Conference, which has now grown into the Pac 12. The school fielded its’ first team in 1893. They had one Heisman Trophy winner, Terry Baker in 1962. Former OSU players who have played in the pros include Vic Sears, Chad Johnson, Sam Baker, Bob Grim, Paul Lowe, Stephen Jackson and Brandin Cooks.
A classic team logo, used from 1951 until 1962, of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks. A major college program, the Razorbacks are now part of the Western Division of the powerful Southeastern Conference, after being long-time members of the old defunct Southwest Conference. The “Hogs”, who began play in 1894, claimed a national championship in 1964 when they defeated Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl to complete a perfect season. Former Arkansas players who’ve gone on to play in the pros include Lamar McHan, Pat Summerall, Preston Carpenter, Lance Alworth, Joe Ferguson, Steve Atwater, Dan Hampton, Jason Peters and Darren McFadden.
Logo of a major college football program, the Brigham Young Cougars, used from 1969 until 1998. The school, owned by The Church of Latter Day Saints, first fielded a team in 1922 and has been aligned with various conferences, most notably the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), which they were part of when this logo was used. The Cougars, who compete as an independent now, won the national championship in 1984, and had a Heisman Trophy winner in 1990 with Ty Detmer. Former BYU players who played pro football include Jim McMahon, Steve Young, Todd Christensen, Ryan Denney, Virgil Carter, Trevor Matich and Bart Oates.
Used from 1980 until 1984, this is the logo of the University of Colorado Buffaloes, a major college football team. They were long-time members of the Big Eight/Big Twelve Conference before moving to the Pacific 12 Conference this season. They won a national championship in 1990, and had one Heisman Trophy winner, Rashaan Salaam in 1994. Numerous former Buffaloes have gone on to play in the NFL, including Tom Brookshier, Boyd Dowler, Dick Anderson, Kordell Stewart, Cliff Branch, Eric Bienemy, Mark Haynes and Ted Washington.
Logo of a major college football program, the Baylor Bears. The school fielded its’ first team in 1898 as an independent, then joined the old Southwest Conference in 1914. This logo was used from 1969 until 1996, which was the last season before the conference disbanded and the Bears moved to the Big 12. Baylor players who went on to play pro football include Bill Glass, L.G. Dupre, Cotton Davidson, Shane Nelson, Jim Ray Smith, Robert Griffin III and Hall of Famer Mike Singletary.
Logo of a former National Football League team, the Rock Island Independents. They were founded in 1907 as an independent team and joined the NFL in 1920. The club played through the 1925 season but never finished higher than fifth place, and eventually folded. The club did have four Pro Football Hall of Famers on its’ roster over the years – Jimmy Conzelman, Joe Guyon, Ed Healey and Jim Thorpe.