Hilltoppers Alternate Logo

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers have a long and storied history of athletic excellence, but one thing that is often overlooked is their alternate logo history. From the early days of the school’s founding in 1906 to modern times, there has always been an alternate logo associated with this proud university. In this blog post, we will explore some of these logos and how they have evolved over time.

The first known use of an alternate logo by WKU was in 1925 when a shield-shaped crest featuring two crossed swords was adopted as part of its official branding efforts. This design featured prominently on all sorts of merchandise including pennants, posters, and other memorabilia for decades afterward until it eventually faded away from general use during the 1960s.

In 1967, WKU unveiled its now iconic red “W” emblem which became synonymous with the university for many years thereafter; however, it wasn't until 1984 that another alternative mark made its debut – a stylized version depicting two white horses galloping across a red background representing speed and agility (the “Running Topper”). The Running Topper would become increasingly popular throughout campus life before being retired in 2003 when yet another new look emerged: A fierce-looking Hilltoppers mascot head wearing sunglasses – nicknamed "Big Red" - complete with flames emanating from his eyes! This bold design remains today as one-half (of three) primary marks used by Western Kentucky University Athletics teams both at home & abroad to represent them proudly wherever they go!

Overall then, while much attention is given to WKU's traditional main logos over time there are several lesser-known alternatives that have also played important roles within their visual identity system since inception more than 100 years ago; each providing unique opportunities for fans & alumni alike to show off their allegiance towards such an esteemed institution no matter where they may be located around the world!