Hatters Alternate Logo

The Stetson Hatters have been a proud part of the collegiate sports landscape since its inception in 1901. Throughout the years, their iconic logo has remained largely unchanged, but there have also been some interesting alternate logos that were used over time. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of these unique designs and explore how they reflect changes in college athletics throughout history.

The earliest known version of an alternate logo for the Stetson Hatters was created by artist Henry Dreyfuss in 1929 as part of his “Sports Series” line for Jantzen Sportswear Company. This design featured an image of two crossed swords with a star between them and was intended to represent strength and courage – values that were important to both athletes and fans alike during this period. The design quickly became popular among students who proudly wore it on t-shirts or hats around campus as well as other merchandise such as mugs or pennants featuring the same image.

In 1967, another variation on this theme appeared when designer John Bielenberg created what is now referred to as “the hatchetman logo” for use by Stetson University teams competing outside Florida state lines (such competitions are still referred to today simply as "away" games). This new emblem featured an axe-wielding knight wearing full armor atop a shield emblazoned with two crossed swords - again symbolizing strength while also paying homage to medieval chivalry which had become increasingly popularized through literature like Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe during that era. It is believed that Bielenberg's work served not only to boost team spirit at away games but also provided added motivation due to its resemblance to historic battle flags from wars past - something many students would be familiar with given their studies into military history classes across campuses nationwide at that time.

Finally, in 2000, the most recent iteration of Steton Hatters' alternate logo emerged when designer Jeff Fiedler updated the classic design for modern audiences. This new version features a black and white hat with an aggressive stance over a starburst background which is said to represent the unstoppable force of the Hatters' athletic program. It is now used to do some of Stetson University's merchandise including team jerseys and hats while also being displayed in venues where they play their games around Florida and surrounding states.