New “branding” makes all teams The Bulldogs except WBB.https://latechsports.com/news/2023/8...uvmTVhoQtyEEc4
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New “branding” makes all teams The Bulldogs except WBB.https://latechsports.com/news/2023/8...uvmTVhoQtyEEc4
RUSTON – As the branding for Louisiana Tech Athletics has been developed and refined over the years, the department announced that effective immediately all women's sports other than women's basketball will now compete under the nickname, "Bulldogs."
"During my time at LA Tech, I have witnessed a growing urge for our women's sports, outside of women's basketball, to refer to themselves as Bulldogs," said Director of Athletics/Vice President Dr. Eric A. Wood. "After receiving the brand proposal by our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and getting feedback from leaders on campus, benefactors, as well as the head coaches who were all in full support, making this branding change is the right decision for our present and our future."
The women's sports that will be impacted by this change are bowling, cross country, soccer, softball, tennis, track and field, and volleyball.
The women's basketball program is not part of this transition because of the rich history of the Lady Techster program built by coaches Sonja Hogg and Leon Barmore as well as all the legendary student-athletes that have put on the Columbia blue jerseys for the last half century.
"The Lady Techsters nickname and script logo is a national brand synonymous with our women's basketball program," added Wood. "It is a name and a symbol that honors and recognizes the almost 50-year history that began back in 1973 and has included three national titles and 13 Final Fours. Excluding this from this transition was a no brainer. Lady Techsters will now only belong to them."
The department joins a growing movement across college sports in which the men's and women's teams hold the same mascot identity.
Streamlining branding isn't always best and I think this is one example of an idiosyncrasy that was worth keeping. There is something beneficial to having an original and different naming convention. It sets Tech apart. What other university had a completely different nickname for half the sports? But I guess now we can just be generic bulldogs like all other bulldog universities.
If they are working towards streamlining the branding and making it consistent but maintain some originality and tradition, then I think they ought to allow every team to be called Techsters or Bulldogs, not try to eliminate the Techsters name.
So Lady Bulldogs? Female dogs?
Despite an initial negative reaction, I'm not really that opposed to this move if it's what the student-athletes wanted. I am glad they retained Lady Techsters for WBB, though.
What about only allowing the WBB team to use the name when they are winning championships. Fall off the map, lose the name.
Our AD is making too much money to be focusing on this kind of crap.
I can tell you the softball players that have played under the name "Lady Techsters" are pissed!!!
Facebook fans love it which is all I need to confirm it's a terrible idea.
We lost a good bit of uniqueness yesterday...
Another marketing fail -
''Don't be a bad dagh..."
Not a good move at all.... At least they kept it for WBB.
Even if a bunch of student athletes were in favor or at least okay with it, we always tend to change where no change is warranted.