Missouri Southern has unveiled a new logo and uniforms for its teams.

“We simply felt the time had come for a new look and a new identity,” said Sallie Beard, director of athletics.

“Our identity as a department had become a bit fragmented,” Beard said. “Some coaches used the old logo and some didn’t. Some had even come up with alternative logos.”

Prior to this year, if someone were to go into the MIAA offices in Kansas City, they would have found the logo on Southern’s pennant was the globe with the words “Missouri Southern State University” written around it. And they would have found this right between the roaring Tiger of Fort Hays State and the snarling Bearcat of Southwest Baptist University.

The process of deciding on a new logo took about two years. There were focus group sessions to receive feedback over that span. Local graphic artist A.J. Wood painted the roaring Lion as we now see it. He then converted it to a digitized version that we could use as a logo. The final product was approved by former University President Julio León.

In addition to the new logo, each team will be receiving new uniforms. The football team has already shown off it’s new look online with a television commercial advertising their first home game Sept. 8 with Harding. The commercial features senior defensive ends B.J. Russow and Elbert Johnson sporting the home green uniforms and senior All-American wide receiver Colin Bado and junior quarterback Adam Hinspeter showing off the road whites.

“We think this logo is one that our athletes and fans will wear with great pride,” Beard said. “One thing is for certain, when you wear this logo, you are a Lion.”