Drake Bulldogs Logo PNG
The mascot, which depicts the Drake Bulldogs team logo, was founded in 1956 at the local university and has an unconventional design. Fierce yet not threatening, with a thoughtful gaze, it symbolizes thoughtful tactics, hidden strength, and confidence, as well as a constant readiness for action.
Drake Bulldogs: Brand overview
The athletic program at Drake University began in 1893 with football, baseball, and track, while basketball was added in 1906. In 1907, the school became a founding member of the Missouri Valley Conference, where it competed for most of its history.
In 1908, coach John Griffith shaped the program and helped establish the “Bulldogs” name. In 1910, he launched the Drake Relays, which were first held during a snowstorm with a limited number of participants. By the 1920s, the event drew large crowds and became one of the first track meets broadcast on the radio.
Drake Relays grew into a major national event. Jesse Owens competed there in 1935 before his Olympic success, and Drake Stadium, with its “Blue Oval,” became its symbol. Athletes like Carl Lewis also appeared in later decades.
Track success extended beyond the meet. Drake won national cross-country titles in 1944, 1945, and 1946, while Fred Feiler took individual titles.
In 1951, the assault on Johnny Bright during a game against Oklahoma A&M exposed racial tensions in college sports, leading Drake to leave the conference before returning in 1956–57.
Basketball reached its peak in 1969, when Drake advanced to the Final Four, defeating Texas A&M and Colorado State before losing to UCLA. The Boston Celtics and the Dallas Cowboys drafted Dolph Pulliam.
Golfer Zach Johnson later won the Masters in 2007 and The Open in 2015. The rowing program competes in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.
Meaning and History
The department’s logos feature its main mascot, the bulldog. From 1956 to 2004, it was depicted as an anthropomorphic figure: walking on its hind legs and waving its front paws like hands. The letter “D” on the animal’s sweater indicated the emblem’s affiliation with Drake University teams.
In 2005, the dog stopped resembling a cartoon character. Artists drew a real bulldog, even highlighting the skin folds. To the right of the animal, the inscription “Drake Bulldogs” appeared. Both words differed in font: the first was stylized, with an original letter “D,” and the second was simple, with a standard font. After the emblem’s redesign in 2015, the overall style was preserved, but the dog began to look less realistic.
What is Drake Bulldogs?
Drake Bulldogs is the sports department at Drake University, comprising 18 student teams and located in Des Moines, Iowa. It is affiliated with Drake University and represents it in NCAA Division I as part of the Missouri Valley Conference. Athletes also participate in the Summit League, Atlantic Athletic Conference, and Pioneer Football League.
1974 – 2005
2005 – 2011
2011 – today
Drake Bulldogs Basketball
The basketball program at Drake University began in 1893. The men’s team became famous for reaching the Final Four in 1969. It also had many victorious seasons. The most successful period was from 1960 to 1986, when the “Bulldogs” regularly appeared in national rankings.
Drake Bulldogs Football
Since 1893, Drake University has participated in intercollegiate football competitions. The men’s team competes in the Pioneer Football League, which it joined in 1991. Currently, the head coach of the football players is Rick Fox, who took the position in 2013.