Utes Alternate Logo

The Utah Utes have a long and storied history, stretching back to their inception in 1892. Throughout this time, the team has gone through several iterations of its logo, with each one having its own unique story behind it. From the classic "U" crest to more modern designs featuring an anthropomorphic Ute mascot, these logos represent different eras of Utah football. In this essay, we will explore the alternate logo history of the University of Utah's beloved football program and how they have evolved over time.

The most iconic version of the Utah Utes' logo is undoubtedly their classic "U" crest which was introduced in 1917 as part of a uniform redesign for that year's season opener against Colorado College. This simple yet powerful symbol quickly became synonymous with not only university athletics but also with Salt Lake City itself; so much so that when people refer to “the 'U’ they are usually referring to either The University or The Team". This emblem remained unchanged until 1978 when it was replaced by an updated version featuring two crossed tomahawks above a stylized letter “u” - representing strength and courage on behalf of all Native American tribes associated with The University of Utah.

In 2001, another change occurred when then-head coach Ron McBride decided he wanted something more dynamic than just a plain old letter mark for his squad. As such, he commissioned artist Donald Jackson Jr., who had previously worked on various projects involving both professional sports teams as well as college programs across America, to create what would become known as Swoop –a cartoonish depiction of a college student dressed up like an anthropomorphized Ute warrior. Since then Swoop has become one of the most recognizable logos in college football and is still used by the University today as its alternate logo for special events and special occasions alike!