The knightly theme is the main subject that has constituted the logo of the Holy Cross Crusaders, the sports division of the college, since 1884. The team’s colors and a knight with a raised sword and a white cross on the shield symbolize courage, honor, the pursuit of victory, and loyalty to the team’s ideals.
Holy Cross Crusaders: Brand overview
Founded: | 1966 |
Headquarters: | Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. |
Website: | goholycross.com |
Nearly a quarter of the students at the College of the Holy Cross participate in sports programs. The university owns twenty-five Holy Cross Crusaders teams in thirteen women’s and twelve men’s sports. The teams compete at the NCAA Division I level and in various conferences: Patriot League, Atlantic Hockey, and EARC. Only the women’s hockey team is part of Division III and is listed in the Hockey East Association.
The nickname Crusaders appeared back in 1884 when a banquet for graduates was decorated with a knight on horseback. In 1925, Stanley Woodward used the word Crusaders to describe the baseball team. That same year, the name was put to a vote and adopted as the official name for the entire sports department. It surpassed other options (Sagamores and Chiefs) by a wide margin.
Meaning and History
The main image of the 1966-1998 emblem is a knight on horseback. The rider holds a triangular shield with a cross and, above his head, flutters a long flag with the inscription “Holy Cross.” The horse is depicted in motion, conveying the dynamic nature of the picture. The palette is done in purple shades, complemented by white.
In 1999, artists made several changes to the logo. They removed the horse and placed the crusader in the center, turning him to face the viewer. The knight raised his sword and revealed a square shield with a pointed base. On the left is the word “Holy,” and on the right, “Cross.”
The 2014 redesign touched upon minor details. The letters were enlarged, a black-and-white outline appeared on the drawing, and the shield with the cross once again acquired a triangular shape. The color scheme, with a predominance of purple, remained unchanged.
What is Holy Cross Crusaders?
The Holy Cross Crusaders is the athletic division representing the College of the Holy Cross in intercollegiate competitions. It consists of 25 student teams competing in NCAA Division I and competing in the Patriot League. The hockey teams play in the Atlantic Hockey Association (men) and Hockey East (women). Rowers compete as part of the Eastern Association of Rowing Colleges. The baseball team has won the NCAA championship twice.
1966 – 1999
1999 – 2014
2014 – 2018
2018 – today
Holy Cross Crusaders Basketball
The men’s basketball team boasts victories in the NCAA national championship (1947), the NIT tournament (1954), and numerous Patriot League matches. The women’s team debuted in 1974. The team is known for winning the Patriot League women’s basketball tournament eleven times.
Holy Cross Crusaders Baseball
Holy Cross Crusaders is the only team from the northeastern part of the USA that has taken first place in the College World Series. Additionally, the team won the NCAA national championship in 1952.
Holy Cross Crusaders: Interesting Facts
Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts, is known for its sports teams, the Crusaders. They play in the top college league, NCAA Division I, and are mostly part of the Patriot League, which cares a lot about being good at sports and doing well in school.
- Basketball Win: In 1947, Holy Cross won a big college basketball championship. This shows they’ve been good at basketball for a long time.
- Bob Cousy: Bob Cousy went to Holy Cross and became a famous basketball player with the Boston Celtics. He’s remembered as one of the best players ever.
- Football History: Holy Cross has a strong football team. It once beat Boston College in 1942 and won many league championships.
- Baseball Success: The baseball team has attended the College World Series several times and finished third in 1952. Some of its players have gone on to play in the major leagues.
- Rowing: Holy Cross’s rowing teams are known nationally, and the men’s team even competed in a big rowing event in England.
- Women’s Sports: The women’s teams at Holy Cross, like soccer, basketball, and field hockey, have also done well.
- Studying and Sports: Holy Cross ensures its athletes do well in their classes, not just their sports. This is important to the Patriot League.
- Helping the Community: The sports teams help out in their community, which is part of the school’s mission to serve others.
- Fitton Field: This old field is where the football and baseball teams play, making it a place with a lot of sports history.
- Changing the Mascot: In 2020, Holy Cross stopped using knight images for its Crusader mascot, wanting it to reflect its values and history better.
These facts show how Holy Cross isn’t just about winning in sports but also values doing well in school and helping out in the community.
Font and Colors
Holy Cross Crusaders color codes
Purple Heart | Hex color: | #602d89 |
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RGB: | 96 45 137 | |
CMYK: | 30 67 0 47 | |
Pantone: | PMS 526 C |
Black | Hex color: | #000000 |
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RGB: | 0 0 0 | |
CMYK: | 0 0 0 100 | |
Pantone: | PMS Process Black C |