Georgetown Hoyas Logo PNG
Georgetown University athletes are distinguished by a modern and concise style, which emphasizes their club affiliation and club colors, making the Georgetown Hoyas logo recognizable and memorable.
Georgetown Hoyas: Brand overview
Over twenty Georgetown Hoyas teams represent Georgetown University in the NCAA Division I. They participate in the Big East Conference and other sports associations such as MAISA, EARC, and Patriot League. The most popular program is football, although other sports are also widely represented.
The name Hoyas originates from the phrase “Hoya Saxa,” which is the official greeting of university students. The first word is found in biblical texts and means “what” or “such,” while the second translates from Latin as “stones.” The use of the nickname Hoyas in teams began in the 1920s.
Meaning and History
The exact origin of the name Georgetown Hoyas is unknown, as its history dates back to the 1890s. Rumor has it that it was formed from the official greeting “Hoya Saxa!” which translates from Latin as “What stones!”. Equally, the phrase may refer to the wall around the campus, the nickname “Stonewalls,” or the incredible resilience of football players. However, the university team’s mascot has nothing to do with the word “Hoya.” Their main symbol is Jack the Bulldog. He was depicted on the old athletes’ logo: a stylized dog’s head in a cap with the letter “G”, a key element of the Georgetown Hoyas’ identity for several years.
Over time, the letter “G” gained the right to exist independently. It began to be used as a full-fledged emblem, separate from the mascot’s image. Its pointed edges resemble the teeth of a predator, and the rounded curve creates a deceptive sense of security. That is, the associative hint of the bulldog remains, but it is difficult to notice.
What is Georgetown Hoyas?
The Georgetown Hoyas are the sports department of Georgetown University. It represents the university in intercollegiate competitions, participating in NCAA Division I as a member of the Big East Conference. The football team also competes in the Patriot League FCS in Division I. The university has 23 student teams, the most famous of which is basketball. There are also representatives in CSA (women’s squash), MAISA (sailing), and EARC (rowing).
1978 – 1995
The 1978-1995 emblem embodies the Jack the Bulldog mascot. Following tradition, artists depicted a fierce dog with a spiked collar on the emblem. However, not entirely, but only the head. The right ear is covered by a striped baseball cap with the letter “G.” The color palette is dark shades of gray and blue. This combination was first used to visually identify Georgetown University teams in 1876.
1995 – today
The new sports logo, introduced in 1995, retained the classic colors. Only the graphic component changed: instead of the bulldog’s head, the emblem features the letter “G” – probably the same one on the dog’s baseball cap. It differs only in the font: this time, the two sides of “G” are closed, forming an incomplete circle.
The creation of the men’s basketball team dates back to 1907, and the women’s team to 1970. The men’s basketball team has participated in thirty NCAA tournaments and reached the final five times. It has also participated in six National Invitation Tournaments. The women’s team has four NCAA tournaments and five NITs.
The football team appeared in 1874. In the 1940s, it was recognized as one of the best among similar sports programs but was closed in 1951 due to significant losses. In 1964, students were allowed to play club football. Only in 1970 did the team regain university status and begin representing Georgetown University in the NCAA.
Font and Colors
The Georgetown Hoyas have an official font, Adobe Caslon. However, the creators of the sports team’s emblem used a distinctive style: they drew a unique letter, “G,” with unusual angles and protrusions.
The emblem’s palette fully corresponds to the university tradition. It is based on two colors:
- Gray (Pantone 409);
- Dark blue (Pantone 282).
They began to be used in 1876 at the initiative of the rowing team, who considered such a combination of shades ideal for a boat club. The combination of gray and blue has passed through the centuries and adorns the modern logos of the Georgetown Hoyas.
