The old Albany Great Danes logo introduced in 1993 featured a capital “A” in gold and purple. The horizontal bar was replaced by a large white stripe with the text “Albany” inside. The text was in purple.
Meaning and history
The Albany Great Danes, a notable athletic program, were founded as part of the University at Albany, SUNY, in Albany, New York. The University at Albany was established in 1844, but the exact year when the athletic program started is less clear. However, it has grown significantly since its inception, becoming a crucial part of the university’s identity. Over the years, the Albany Great Danes have achieved remarkable success in various sports, particularly in men’s basketball, women’s basketball, and lacrosse. The men’s basketball team, for instance, has made several appearances in the NCAA Tournament, earning a reputation for competitiveness and skill. In women’s basketball, the Great Danes have won numerous conference championships and have made multiple NCAA Tournament appearances, showcasing their dominance in the America East Conference. The lacrosse teams, both men’s and women’s, have also achieved notable success, with the men’s team reaching the Final Four in the NCAA Tournament. These achievements underscore the program’s commitment to excellence in collegiate athletics. As of now, the Albany Great Danes continue to compete at a high level, with their teams frequently participating in national tournaments and championships. Their current position reflects a blend of historic legacy and ongoing dedication to sports excellence, making them a significant and respected entity in collegiate athletics.
What are Albany Great Danes?
Albany Great Danes are the name of the athletic program of the University at Albany, which is based in New York, USA. The program’s most famous team is men’s basketball, though there are 16 men’s and women’s teams that form Albany Great Danes, in such disciplines as Baseball, Football, Soccer, Lacrosse, and many others.
1993 – 2003
The logo, designed for Albany Great Danes in 1993, featured a minimalist and bright combination of a stylized yellow and purple letter “A” with the “Albany” wordmark replacing its horizontal bar. The inscription was set in the uppercase of a bold serif typeface, in purple color, and set on a white background between two thick purple horizontal lines. It was a very powerful and eye-catching emblem, with a special and unique character.
2001 – 2008
In 2001, a dog appeared on the emblem. To the left, the lettering “Great Danes” in two lines could be seen. Below it, there was the text “University at Albany.” This line was hardly legible, especially at a smaller size. To begin with, the letters were tiny in comparison with the name of the team. To make things worse, they were given in yellow over the purple background, which made them almost disappear.
2008 – 2019
The current emblem, which was adopted in 2008, has the same structure as the 1993 logo, but the shapes are slightly more refined.
2020 – Today
The logo of the University at Albany, SUNY, capturing the essence of the institution’s mascot, the Great Dane. The representation is a stylized, forward-facing head of a Great Dane in varying shades of purple, the school’s distinctive color, which symbolizes royalty, wisdom, and dignity. Notably, the ears of the Dane form a ‘U’ shape, creatively incorporating the initial of the university’s name. Below the image of the Great Dane, the word “UALBANY” is boldly inscribed in capitalized, sans-serif font, which is outlined in purple and filled with a golden hue that adds a dynamic contrast and suggests a regal quality. The simplicity of the design ensures that it is easily recognizable, while the use of color and the depiction of the mascot effectively convey the spirit of the university and its community. This logo is a visual representation of the pride and strength that the university embodies.
Football
The team plays in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision. In 2013, they competed in the CAA for the first time, after a 14-year tenure in the Northeast Conference.
Basketball
The team coached by Will Brown plays its home games at SEFCU Arena. One of the latest achievements has been that the team made the CIT in 2016 and 2017.
Colors
PURPLE
PANTONE: PMS 269 C
HEX COLOR: #461660;
RGB: (70, 22, 107)
CMYK: (78, 100, 0, 33)
GOLD
PANTONE: PMS 124 C
HEX COLOR: #EEB211;
RGB: ( 238, 178, 17)
CMYK: ( 0, 28, 100, 6)