Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 7, 1995 TAG: 9504070068
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The school embraced the ``V'' as its primary sports logo, but also introduced four graphic designs university officials hope will lead to an increase in licensing revenues.
School licensing director Steve Heon said there was an increase in royalties of 6 percent over the period 1991-94, down from 41 percent during the previous three years.
``We were looking for creating ways in which we could get a higher growth rate,'' Heon said. ``One that has been highly successful on the professional level is the development and alteration of logos.''
UVa, which receives 7 1/2 percent of the price of each item sold with its official logos, conducted a search for a new symbol with the assistance of The Collegiate Licensing Company. They chose the New York graphics firm Sean Michael Edwards Design, whose clients include the Florida Panthers of the NHL and the new Toronto Raptors of the NBA.
``One thing that came out of our initial meeting was we felt the introduction of a horse was something that might be popular,'' Heon said. ``We've kind of de-emphasized the Cavalier. Retailers have been wanting us to do this for a while. The `serious' Cavalier does not sell.''
Of the new designs, however, three included a Cavalier on a horse.
``We showed these designs to the coaches, and they have been received in a very positive manner,'' Heon said. `` It has almost total - if not total - support from the coaching staff.''
The ``almost total'' support apparently did not include head football coach George Welsh.
``I saw a group [of designs] they were going to pick from,'' said Welsh, who spoke about spring football practice at a news conference later Thursday. ``I didn't like any of them ... frankly.''
Virginia's football helmets feature crossed sabers below a ``V,'' a look designed by Welsh's son, Matthew.
``The crossed sabers we used last year will continue to be used for football,'' said sports information director Rich Murray.
Many among the media were confused by the distinction made by Heon between UVa's new primary logo and a new ``primary mark,'' consisting of a Cavalier on a horse encircled by a ring with ``University of Virginia'' on it.
``The `primary mark' doesn't mean it's going to be promoted more,'' said Jon Kates, director of the University Bookstore. ``It's just a descriptive term meaning it encompasses the image of the university.''
Heon said the new designs came at no cost to the school. The old V-Virginia design, which he termed ``our most popular design by far,'' didn't cost anything because it was designed by students.
``It started out as a student idea that was very team-specific and we just made it generic,'' Kates said. ``The athletic department had nothing to do with the V-Virginia for many years. It was a tremendously successful logo for no other reason than it appealed to our customers.''
WILLIS OFF: Welsh said a couple of former regulars, quarterback Symmion Willis and kicker Kyle Kirkeide, are devoting full attention to baseball and will not participate in any practices or the annual spring game April 14 at University of Richmond Stadium.
Kirkeide, a redshirt sophomore, entered the week with a team-high .389 batting average, but had played in only nine of UVa's first 32 games. Willis, a fourth-year junior, had two hits in his first 12 at-bats.
Welsh said he was not inclined to move Willis to another position in his fifth year, especially if No.1 quarterback Mike Groh loses any time to injury. However, the staff will decide during the summer whether Willis should enter the preseason as UVa's No.2 quarterback.
POINDEXTER HURT: Anthony Poindexter, a freshman defensive back from Jefferson Forest, was on crutches Thursday after injuring a knee in Wednesday's practice. The former Group AA player of the year underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in the fall and was redshirted.
ODDS AND ENDS: UVa's top returning wide receiver, Patrick Jeffers, pulled a hamstring in the Cavaliers' first practice in pads and has been sidelined for nine days. ... Right offensive tackle Chris Harrison has not practiced all spring while rehabilitating an injury to his left leg - not the leg he broke before the 1993 season. Injuries to Harrison and left tackle Jason Augustino have caused guard John Slocum to return to tackle, where he started in 1993. ... Defensive end Eddie Robertson has moved to inside linebacker to provide depth behind Skeet Jones.
by CNB