FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[GoldandBlueBU]

...one can't help but notice another MIAC team literally has the number "1" imbedded in its logo.

Yeah, that "1", it goes along with this. 

Whitewater and UMU seem to have missed that memo...

[USTBench]

...one can't help but notice another MIAC team literally has the number "1" imbedded in its logo.

Yeah, that "1", it goes along with this. 

Well then in good faith you have to relinquish the "1" after 2004 Stagg Bowl then. Which would have been 10 years ago in my estimation.

[SagatagSam]

...one can't help but notice another MIAC team literally has the number "1" imbedded in its logo.

Yeah, that "1", it goes along with this. 

Fixed it.

[DuffMan]

Fixed it.

Perfect.

[DuffMan]

Which would have been 10 years ago in my estimation.

And U$T's most recent NCAA football title was when?  Oh, that's right.  U$T and Bethel are tied in that respect. 

[USTBench]

Which would have been 10 years ago in my estimation.

And U$T's most recent NCAA football title was when?  Oh, that's right.  U$T and Bethel are tied in that respect. 

We don't use the number 1 in our logo either. Neither does our basketball, baseball or softball teams, which do have a few National Championships.

[Mr.MIAC]

...one can't help but notice another MIAC team literally has the number "1" imbedded in its logo.

From Thom Woodward '70, the creator of the SJU#1 logo:

Part of my legacy over the decades is the SJU#1 logo that I designed some time ago. It was never meant to proclaim "WE ARE NUMBER ONE." It's meant to be a reminder that we need to strive to be Number One, to work to be the best ... in athletics ... in the classroom ... as an alumni association ... as sons and fathers and as husbands ... as employers and employees. It's like when we sing the "Johnnie Fight Song": Show the world what SJU can do.

For those that want the citation: Saint John's Magazine, Winter/Spring 2012 Issue, p. 41 (p. 43 of the digital publication in the link below)
http://issuu.com/csbsju/docs/2012_winter_spring_magazine

Just because I like to cite myself....

There's nothing wrong with striving to be the best in life, but the creator behind the SJU "1" logo seems to have: 1) missed the purpose of a logo and 2) overlooked how it might be perceived by others. A logo, originating from the Greek logos or "word," is defined as "a symbol or other small design adopted by an organization to identify its products, uniform, vehicles, etc." Therefore, its primary function is to serve as an identifier, not as some sort of reminder of an organization's aspirations.

In the contemporary world logos have come to be closely associated with advertising, defined as "describing or drawing attention to a product, service, or event in a public medium in order to promote sales or attendance." The public nature of advertising means that the SJU logo is recognized as an identifier not just by the SJU community, but also by the wider world. I'd assume the SJU community doesn't need to be reminded that it's striving to be the best (to be fair, not too many successful organizations are striving to be mediocre so the whole thing is rather elementary). For external observers, though, the striving aspect is unclear based on the logo alone and it just comes off as presumptuous.

Maybe replacing "1" with a similarly hubristic phrase—the sh!t—might help make the point:

It was never meant to proclaim "we are the sh!t." It's meant to be a reminder that we need to strive to be the sh!t, to work to be the best ... in athletics ... in the classroom ... as an alumni association ... as sons and fathers and as husbands ... as employers and employees. It's like when we sing the "Johnnie Fight Song": Show the world what SJU can do—be the sh!t...

[hazzben]

I wonder what next year will bring...new QB and all.  Is there is an heir-apparent, as there was with Peterson when Aakre graduated, or if it is completely open competition for next year?

Also I heard it was a torn ACL with Mathis...hopefully he can be back full force next season.

Yes, torn ACL. Hopefully he gets back to full speed. He was playing well this year.

And as for QB, I'm not sure about what we have in house. But I do know they've got their eyes on a likely recruit (it's between us and walking on at Northwestern or Wisconsin, but it sounds like he's leaning hard BU) who'd have the potential to be the best QB we've ever had at Bethel. He'd be the real deal. Imagine a Wetzel/Aakre, Kirchoff/Peterson combo. He's got that kind of athleticism and I think his arm is that quality as well. Here's to hoping we can close the deal! I'll send you more info in your messages.

[OzJohnnie]

Jeeeesus, Rev. You got to DC too late.  You would have been great with Tipper Gore and all those other killjoys trying to ban that eeeevil music.

I read your post and could see you smiling like that smarmy s**tbird on Big Bang Theory. Talk about being unaware of the impression you make.

[Mr.MIAC]

Jeeeesus, Rev. You got to DC too late.  You would have been great with Tipper Gore and all those other killjoys trying to ban that eeeevil music.

I read your post and could see you smiling like that smarmy s**tbird on Big Bang Theory. Talk about being unaware of the impression you make.

Mission accomplished...   

[sfury]

Going back a few pages to recruiting. No doubt SJU's added a lot of playmakers, on the defensive side especially, and seem to have nice depth. But worth pointing out the three most indispensable offensive players--Sura, Martin and Bungum--all came to play for Gagliardi.

[hazzben]

I noticed no comment on the biggest factor mentioned, ego.  There is an "I" in family.

Nearly all top ranked coaches have sizable egos; their egotism is just presented differently.

Yeah, but not all top ranked coaches have developed the habit of referring to themselves in the 3rd person 

[DuffMan]

We don't use the number 1 in our logo either. Neither does our basketball, baseball or softball teams, which do have a few National Championships.

Only because SJU beat you to the punch.  And those other sports?  While I would agree that U$T's had a good deal of success, I tend not to give a rat's hind end about those sports.  We're talking, real, 'Murican football, here, Bench!

[2115 Summit]

http://www.tommiemedia.com/news/hennes-authors-biography-on-oshaughnessy/

I think this will be an interesting read!

[sfury]

Let's not forget the 1 could also symbolize SJU's place atop the D3 golf world a few years, a fact that surely bothered many of the Tommies as they sipped on their beverages at the Wayzata Country Club and discussed their love of John D. Rockefeller.