UAB Blazers Logo

UAB Blazers LogoUAB Blazers Logo PNG

The UAB Blazers logo symbolizes the strength, tenacity, and sportsmanship of the University of Alabama at Birmingham teams. It combines tradition with a desire to win, recalling the club’s constant struggle and new challenges. Each season is a story of overcoming, but one thing that remains unchanged is the excitement of rivalry and the thirst for victory.

UAB Blazers: Brand overview

UAB’s story began when it became independent and joined the University of Alabama system in 1969. The athletic journey started shortly after, adopting the energetic Blazers name and dragon mascot. Men’s basketball quickly made headlines, with coach Gene Bartow leading the team to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen early on. Growth accelerated when the university joined the Sun Belt Conference and later Conference USA, giving the sports programs more visibility. The football program had a unique journey, rising rapidly from Division III to Division I-A (now FBS). Infrastructure also expanded, highlighted by the opening of the Bartow Arena, which honors the legendary basketball coach. The football team’s sudden cancellation in 2014 shocked students and fans, but strong public support reversed that decision, resulting in a triumphant return. The program quickly excelled, winning its first C-USA Conference championship and moving into the impressive Protective Stadium in downtown Birmingham. A significant milestone came when the university joined the American Athletic Conference in 2023, marking its continued growth. Both football and basketball have produced professional athletes, and basketball remains consistently successful in the NCAA Tournament, highlighting UAB’s remarkable evolution into a respected Division I program.

Meaning and History

UAB Blazers Logo History

What is UAB Blazers?

It is a team representing the University of Alabama at Birmingham at the NCAA Division I level, competing in various sports. Athletes compete in the American Athletic Conference, participating in baseball, basketball, soccer, and American football. The talisman is a dragon named Blaze. Home American football matches are held at the Protective Stadium, located in the center of Birmingham. The basketball team’s strong traditions and the football team’s development attract loyal fans, who, in green and gold colors, create a bright atmosphere in the stands.

1978 – 1994

UAB Blazers Logo 1978

The Blazers are the University of Alabama sports teams at Birmingham, participating in NCAA collegiate tournaments since the late 1970s. Their first logo is energetic and full of character. The inscription is placed at the top, with an arrow pointing to the right beneath it. It symbolizes the team’s drive toward victory.

The name is written in a lively, handwritten cursive font, with letters that smoothly flow into each other, and the capital “B” stands out in size. Under the word is a line extending from the final letter “s.” It connects the text and the symbol, visually emphasizing their relationship.

The arrow at the bottom of the logo adds a dynamic feel. It is a large, dark-green triangle, inside which two thin white lines resemble arrows. The symbol is perceived as an indication of speed and aspiration.

The deep, dark green color symbolizes stability and composure, highlighting the institution’s athletic nature and academic status. The logo looked excellent on uniforms and symbolized the Blazers’ athletes’ energy, speed, and determination.

1996 – 2003

UAB Blazers Logo 1996

In 1996, the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s teams received a new logo that looks extremely energetic and aggressive. The name “UAB Blazers” is surrounded by a huge green dragon, which has become the primary symbol of the university’s athletes.

The dragon’s body arches, creating a background for large text in bold, slightly italicized letters outlined in gold. Inside the letters, flames are visible red elements that add heat and a fiery atmosphere to the team’s name. Slightly above the word “BLAZERS” is the inscription “UAB,” white, with a thin gold outline visually dividing the composition into two parts and indicating the team’s university affiliation.

The dragon is depicted in great detail: green scales, black outlines, spread wings with veins, and sharp-clawed feet create an image that is both aggressive and powerful. With its open mouth, the dragon’s head extends beyond the text, emitting a fiery stream of red and orange colors that emphasizes the team’s athletic character, strength, and will to win.

The color palette is rich and diverse: the dominant green relates to the university’s tradition, while the combination of gold, red, and orange details adds energy, reflecting a passion for sports and excitement. The logo became iconic for the university teams, conveying a sense of assertiveness and the pursuit of high results in collegiate sports competitions.

2003 – 2009

UAB Blazers Logo 2003

In 2003, the logo of the UAB Blazers teams changed slightly; the dragon and the inscription remained in place, but the shades became somewhat calmer and less vivid. The green color of the dragon appears more muted and softer, creating a less aggressive and more balanced overall appearance.

The name “BLAZERS” retained its powerful serif letters with a golden outline, inside which flames are still visible. Everything remains in place, but without the previous vibrancy of colors.

The dragon began to look slightly calmer, losing some of its earlier color and aggressiveness but retaining the dynamic pose and shape. The flame from the dragon’s mouth, combining orange and red, appears softer.

2009 – 2015

UAB Blazers Logo 2009

In 2009, the UAB Blazers logo underwent a redesign. It is executed as a triangular shield with clear borders and sharp angles. The new emblem appears athletic and solid, fitting the style of the university’s teams.

At the top of the shield is the inscription “UAB BLAZERS.” A bold, serifed athletic font is used. The letters are uppercase, slightly elongated vertically, and tilted forward, creating a sense of forward momentum. The white text is complemented by a yellow outline, making the lettering stand out against the black background.

Below, the text depicts only a dragon’s head looking to the right. The head is drawn in detail: green scaly skin, sharp white teeth, yellow eyes with black pupils, and an open mouth from which flames burst forth, transitioning from yellow to bright red. The fire spills beyond the shield’s borders, emphasizing the athletic intensity and energy of the teams.

The shield background is black with a double-colored outline: red and golden-yellow. The logo’s color palette includes traditional Blazer shades of green for the symbol, vivid flame colors, and white text with yellow outlines, making the emblem more emotional.

The overall impression of the logo is athletic and aggressive, reflecting the team’s character, emphasizing their confidence, energy, and readiness to compete on the field.

2015 – today

UAB Blazers Logo

Since 2015, the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB Blazers) teams have used a concise emblem featuring a single main symbol, the dragon’s head, without additional frames or inscriptions.

Previously, the logo was enclosed in a frame and accompanied by the team’s name. Now, the dragon stands alone. It faces right with a fierce expression, yellow eyes, and clearly defined black pupils. The mouth is wide open, revealing sharp white teeth and a red tongue. Flames burst from the mouth, colored yellow and red, highlighting the aggressive athletic spirit of the teams.

The dragon’s skin is green, with pronounced scales and dark contours highlighting its texture and details. The head is slightly tilted, giving the emblem an asymmetrical shape. The flames from the mouth stretch to the right, adding energy and power to the image.

The emblem’s color scheme is bright and contrasting. Green connects to the university’s historical colors, while black defines contours. Red and yellow serve as key accents, representing fire and emotion.

Font and Colors

The UAB Blazers use a deep green base with vivid red and gold splashes. The dragon mascot, breathing fire, symbolizes strength rooted in university lore. Officially, UAB’s brand palette offers multiple green shades, including PMS 3425, PMS 350, and PMS 376, paired with vibrant yellow (PMS 109), warm gold (PMS 7503), and a subtle smoke gray (PMS Cool Gray 9). Originating from student votes in the 1970s, the dragon imagery became an iconic representation of competitive spirit for athletics teams.