Logo of a college football team that plays in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, the University of Findlay Oilers. The school has won 4 NAIA national championships in their history. Former Oilers who have gone on to play pro football include Odell Barry, Jason Moore, Andrew Ogletree, Tony King, Harold Jones-Quartey and current Seattle Seahawk Michael Jerrell.
Logo of a college football program that began play in 1896 and disbanded in 1992, the Santa Clara University Broncos. The school was a Division II independent and had an overall .587 winning percentage over the years, while compiling a 3-0 bowl game record. Their list of alumni who played pro football is a long one, and includes Brent Jones, Dan Pastorini, Gern Nagler, Lee Artoe, Visco Grgich, Frank Cope, Bryan Barker, Doug Cosbie, Ted Connolly and Hall of Famer Tom Fears.
Used from 1961 until 1984, this is the logo of a defunct college football team, the Long Beach State 49ers. They began play in 1955 and disbanded the football program in 1991. The 49ers competed as both an independent program and as members of the Big West Conference, where they claimed 3 conference titles. Former players and coaches who went on to pro careers include George Allen, Jim Fassel, Willie Brown, Terrell Davis, Russ Bolinger, Mike Horan, Les Shy, Ben Rudolph, Billy Parks, Terry Metcalf, Dan Bunz and Jeff Severson.
Logo of a pro football team that played a single season in the now defunct World Football League, the Jacksonville Sharks. They were one of the original franchises when the league began play in 1974, but folded before their first season ended. The Sharks lost 4 of their first 6 games which led to the firing of coach Bud Asher, who had actually lent the owner of the team money to meet payroll. The team’s roster was sprinkled with some veterans with pro experience like John Stofa, Ike Lassiter, Drew Buie and Larry Gagner.
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.