Alabama State Hornets Logo PNG
Designers created a complex filigree logo for the Alabama State Hornets teams to sting opponents like a hornet, giving them no moment’s peace. The division’s logo features a ruthless insect. It overwhelms opponents with painful attacks, maintaining leading positions. Terrifying power and determination, that’s what this emblem conveys.
Alabama State University was founded in 1867 in Marion, Alabama, as Lincoln Normal School, which aimed to train Black teachers in the post–Civil War South. In December 1874, it became the first state-controlled institution for African Americans in the United States. In 1887, the school moved to Montgomery.
Athletics developed in the early 20th century. The first football game was played in 1901 against Tuskegee University, beginning a long-standing rivalry. In 1913, Alabama State became a founding member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and won football titles in 1935 and 1939.
In 1975, the program left SIAC and, in 1982, joined the Southwestern Athletic Conference, moving to NCAA Division I. The shift raised competition and expanded recruiting opportunities.
The football team peaked in 1991 with an unbeaten 11–0–1 season and a SWAC title. Another conference win followed in 2004. More than twenty players from the program reached the NFL.
Key traditions include the Magic City Classic against Alabama A&M in Birmingham and the Turkey Day Classic against Tuskegee in Montgomery.
Men’s basketball made five NCAA Tournament appearances. In March 2025, Alabama State earned its first tournament win, defeating Saint Francis in the First Four.
Across all sports, the program has claimed over 120 SWAC titles. Facilities include Dunn-Oliver Acadome, with 7,400 seats, and ASU Stadium, which opened in November 2012 and has a capacity of 26,500.
Meaning and History
The sports department’s logo of this university has remained unchanged since 1999. It consists of two interrelated parts – graphic and textual. The latter is represented by an abbreviation consisting of the first letters of the university’s name, “ASU” (Alabama State University), emphasizing the teams’ affiliation. The font is strict, simple, wide, and sans-serif. The stroke is stylized as a stinger, and the bottom half is tightly pressed to the base. All letters are connected and have a transition.
The graphic sign is an enraged hornet. It’s the mascot of the sports department, representing the Vespa genus, resembling a wasp externally. The insect’s wings, eyes, legs, and antennae are colored grey, and the body is black and yellow striped. It has a sharp stinger at the end. Meanwhile, the hornet is flying through the letter, threatening opponents. Although the letters predominate on the emblem, the mascot is still visible because of the contrast.
What is Alabama State Hornets?
Alabama State Hornets is the name of 16 sports teams associated with Alabama State University, located in Montgomery, Alabama. They participate in NCAA Division I and compete in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.
1972 – 1984
1984 – 2001
2001 – today
Alabama State Hornets Football
The university’s soccer team was formed in 1901. It competes in the NCAA Division I soccer championship. It hosts home games at its new Hornet Stadium, which opened in November 2012. The athletes’ coach is Donald Hill-Eley.
Alabama State Hornets Basketball
The university has men’s and women’s basketball teams. They are part of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Since 2019, they have been coached by Lewis Jackson, who has held this position for the 14th season.