Missouri Tigers Logo PNG
The Missouri Tigers logo is full of strength, passion, and drive. The emblem demonstrates nobility and willingness to fight with dignity in the sports arena for supremacy. The mark signifies numerous victories.
The Missouri Tigers began in 1890, when the University of Missouri in Columbia formed its first football team. The nickname came from the Missouri Tigers, armed volunteers who defended Columbia from Confederate guerrilla raids in 1864. On October 31, 1890, Missouri lost its first game, 28-0, to the University of Kansas, sparking a rivalry later known as the Border War.
In 1907, Missouri joined the Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the predecessor of the Big Six, Big Seven, and Big Eight. The Big Eight years shaped the program’s main rivalries, with Oklahoma becoming a major conference opponent. Coach Don Faurot, who led Missouri from 1935 to 1956, introduced the Split-T formation, which was later adopted across college football. Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium was named in his honor.
The 1960s brought one of Missouri’s strongest football periods under Dan Devine. In 1960, the Tigers finished the regular season 11-0 and were named national champions by several rating systems. The team spent several seasons in the national top ten. It appeared in major bowl games, including the Sugar Bowl and Cotton Bowl. In baseball, Missouri won the College World Series in 1954 and reached the final in 1952, 1954, and 1958.
In 1996, Missouri became a founding member of the Big 12. Under Gary Pinkel, hired in 2001, the football program peaked again. In 2007, the Tigers reached No. 1 nationally for the first time but lost the Big 12 title game to Oklahoma, 38-17. Missouri left the Big 12 for the SEC on July 1, 2012. After a difficult first season, it won the SEC East in 2013 and 2014, losing the title games to Auburn and Alabama. Pinkel retired in 2015 with 118 wins, the most in program history.
Meaning and History
The athletic field at the University of Missouri is currently under development. Over the past 40 years, its logo has changed several times. However, the tiger has always been part of the visual identity.
What are the Missouri Tigers?
An association of sports teams organized by MU students. Since 2021, the movement has been led by its first female director, Desiree Reed-Francois. The main mascot is the Truman tiger.
1980 – 1995
The team logo features the university’s original name and a picture of a real tiger looking out over the lettering.
The word Mizzou is an abbreviation of the state’s ancient name. The capital letters of the inscription underscore the importance the university plays in the community and the fame it has achieved through athletic victories.
The image of the tiger on the logo is related to the sports teams’ name, which they officially adopted in 1890. The decision was made to honor those who fought for the state in the war between the North and the Confederacy. A militia was organized in the county to defend against enemy incursions. It was called the Fighting Tigers of Columbia. Hence the name Tigers.
The animal on the emblem looks very belligerent and is ready to scratch anyone who approaches. It demonstrates students’ strength and readiness to defend the university’s honor on the athletic field.
1995 – 1999
In 1994, the basketball team became the leader of the Big Eight, and the players had a new coach, which prompted an update to the visual sign in ’95.
The new sport symbol became softer. They removed the aggressive image of a tiger, leaving only a print of its paw, on which the letter M is written – the first letter in the university’s name. The print resembles a friendly greeting, is better suited to student meetings, and presents athletes to the world in a friendlier light.
1999 – 2014
In ’99, the teams returned to the tiger image, but in an artistic style. The predator’s muzzle in profile retained its aggressiveness and “loud growl,” but the lack of eye contact directly reduced the sense of direct threat to the viewer. The image was so successful that it had been used in logos for the past 20 years.
The massive letter M with clear outlines increased the university’s weight in the logo, signifying the Missouri Tigers’ affiliation with the institution.
2014 – 2016
In 2013, the Tigers were ranked second nationally due to their participation in the SEC Championship. Their new visual sign showed the team’s growth, moving beyond “kids'” competition. The emblem lacks a hint of a university. The Tigers are known for their athletic accomplishments, not for the university. The logo shows some degree of independence from the university.
The tiger’s head looks out of the black oval window. The figure is a sign of harmony and perfection, pointing to the masters of their craft. The beast moves from the darkness into the light. From intramural games to a higher level, from obscurity to glory.
2016 – 2018
All further changes concerned the color scheme, leaving the tiger image in the oval constant. In 2016, the coat’s orange hue shifted toward gold to match the team’s primary colors.
2018 – today
The Missouri Tigers logo, created in 2018, only has a color change from the previous version. It still depicts a forest animal (a tiger) in an attacking pose. The new logo has a rich yellow color that is more vibrant than the previous version. In general, the logo design remains traditional and recognizable to the team’s fans.
Font and Colors
The athletic teams’ emblem is in the university’s primary colors of black and gold, with a small amount of white added.
- Black: strength, impressive age of the sports movement, and attachment to their land.
- Gold: victories, medals, leadership, and elite.
- White: youthfulness of athletes, the opportunity to make a career, and compliance with the rules.
The combination of colors speaks of nobility and confidence.
The font used in the Missouri Tigers logo is called “Mizzou” and was specially created for the University of Missouri. This font does not belong to any particular family; it was designed as a unique identifier for the university.