Change?

There are few men as respected in college athletics as Michigan State University men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo. Having had the most successful run of any coach in school history, one could imagine that Coach Izzo could have his way with just about anything at MSU.

Apparently not so.

Recently word leaked out that he was working with the university president and with Nike to develop a consistent design for a school logo, which had not been consistent for many decades.

The picture here details the suggested changes – the old logo on the left, and the new one on the right. I can hardly see the differences.

For this Coach Izzo has endured a surprising level of criticism. One would think that he had suggested moving the school to Ann Arbor or Columbus judging from the uproar.

I guess when your team is 19-3 overall, 9-0 against the eleven (!) teams of the Big Ten, and ranked fifth in the country, as a fan there is little left to grumble about. So, you pick on the logo.

The church, it seems, is not the only institution resistant to change.

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As a footnote, many years ago, some progressive folk suggested a logo for the PCA. The one favored and put before the General Assembly showed a simple dove form with a single eye over top of an open Bible. I remember Dr. Ed Clowney saying it looked like a bird that had been shot in the head crashing into a book. He was right.

The PCA still has no logo.

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UPDATE: After Tuesday’s shelaccing at the hands of Wisconsin, MSU’s record now stands at 19-4 and 9-1. And I should add that I’ve always preferred the ‘Block S’ logo, but apparently that will be phased out. Bummer.