The name Dayton Flyers, whose logo is stylized as the first letter, is a tribute to the Wright Flyer I airplane by the Wright brothers. The symbolism of flight, motion, and speed is conveyed through symbolic graphics and font. The emblem reflects the swiftness and rapidity of actions that distinguish the brand’s athletes.
Dayton Flyers: Brand overview
Meaning and History
The emblem of the intercollegiate teams is made in an abstract style. It does not contain images of airplanes, pilots, or wings. The theme of flight is expressed allegorically through associative graphic images. For example, from 1995 to 2013, the logo featured the inscription “Dayton Flyers” with underlining at the top and bottom. The logo looked dynamic, as the words were positioned at an angle of about 40 degrees, and the two diagonal lines expanded upwards.
In 2014, the trend changed: the agency 160over90 developed a fresh concept inspired by the symbolism of aviation brands. The new emblem consisted of a stylized letter “D” and three blue stripes symbolizing a wing. In addition, designers used the Vitesse font, whose name translates to “speed” from French. In 2015, the blue elements turned red, which caused mixed reviews.
What is Dayton Flyers?
The Dayton Flyers is the sports department of the University of Dayton, which has assembled 16 student teams to participate in an intercollegiate program. These representatives of the state of Ohio are part of the Pioneer Football League, the Atlantic 10 Conference, and the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, and compete at the Division I level in the NCAA. They got their name in honor of the first airplane that demonstrated stable flight – the Wright Flyer I.
1984 – 1994
1994 – 2014
2014
2014 – today
Dayton Flyers Basketball
The first men’s basketball team of the University of Dayton appeared in 1903. It competed with opponents from various clubs, schools, and colleges across the region. Now, the Flyers’ basketball players play in the Atlantic 10 conference and are coached by Anthony Grant. Their home stadium is called UD Arena.
Dayton Flyers Football
The first season of the intercollegiate American football team took place in 1905. During its time in NCAA Division III, the Dayton Flyers won two national championships. The team also won 11 conference championships in the Pioneer Football League. The players’ head coach is Rick Chamberlin.
Dayton Flyers Soccer
The University of Dayton has sponsored soccer since 1956. It is represented by a men’s team that is part of the Atlantic 10 conference. As of 2020, it has participated in four NCAA tournaments.