To the University Community:

I write to you today about some exciting changes in the way the university will present our image and communicate about ourselves going forward under our newly adopted “visual identity” program.

As you know, as an institution with a global reach, we must compete at a high level for virtually everything: students, faculty, staff, grants, awards and donations, to name a few. 

And when we compete, we need to present ourselves at our very best, because how key audiences perceive our academic strength and overall reputation influences the choices they make.  Our image also plays an important role in reinforcing and building pride in UConn for our alumni, fans and supporters.  

But we sometimes have a tendency to look at things which fall into the category of “marketing” and “branding” with a skeptical eye, wondering how much it truly matters.

The truth is that it matters a great deal.

Our image and reputation need to be an accurate reflection of our attributes both academically and athletically.  This is true with every university – especially those great institutions which are our peers – as well as those we still aspire to rival.  

Part of that larger effort to strengthen our visual identity includes things like solidifying a uniform version of the word “UConn” as our primary “wordmark” for the entire institution.

Of course we are still very much the University of Connecticut and we will be keeping our traditional oak leaf and the university seal in place; but we will also capitalize on UConn as the name the nation thinks of when it thinks of us.   

Also, on April 18, the Division of Athletics will be unveiling some other terrific changes to our visual identity – including the latest version in the evolution of the Husky Dog logo.

Let me assure you:  our mascot is still the Husky, as it has been since a mascot was chosen, though he has taken many different forms over the years – some better than others.  

The updated identity package that will be presented on the 18th, like the wordmark, is intended to show what UConn and our student athletes convey every day: poise, confidence, competitiveness and the determination to succeed in the classroom and on the field and the court.

Most importantly, it will present a unified visual that our teams are very excited to wear proudly in representing UConn.

And contrary to speculation, the Husky will not appear to be mean, snarling or capable of frightening small children!  Instead, he will be rendered as the sleek, beautiful animal a real husky truly is.

It’s worth noting that our new Athletics graphic identity was designed for us by the artistic team at Nike at no cost to UConn following much study and testing with our athletes, coaches and other members of the university community.

Also, the images associated with our visual identity will be phased in over time rather than all at once. So those concerned about costs should know that all the various places the Husky or our other logos appear – walls, courts, business cards, signs and letterhead, among others – would have to be repainted, replaced and reordered anyway in the normal course of business over a period of years.

The only difference now is that new images will replace older ones when this occurs. 

I urge you to view the new wordmark and read the full story on our the new visual identity’s importance to us as an institution in UConn Today.

Updates to marks and logos are common, and done with tradition and unity in mind, not in spite of them.  As always, we are incredibly proud to call ourselves Huskies and prouder still of our university. 

Please join me in looking forward to the full rollout of this new program later this month and, as always: Go Huskies!

Sincerely,  

Susan Herbst
President
University of Connecticut

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Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The current Big East Conference has announced that it will be renamed the American Athletic Conference and will rebrand as such across all platforms, associations and media at the conclusion of the 2012-13 sports seasons. The announcement was made Wednesday by Commissioner Mike Aresco after unanimous approval by the Conference's Board of Directors.

"We worked with our institutions, sports marketing experts, media partners, and also solicited opinions and reactions from collegiate sports fans to create a compelling list of names," said Aresco. "Versions that included the word `American' led every list. American Athletic Conference represents a strong, durable and aspirational name for our reinvented Conference.

"We engaged our fans through social media and focus groups in multiple cities, and we conducted extensive quantitative research," Aresco added. "We also received terrific input from our partners at ESPN and CBS Sports. Our name is a nod to tradition, but at the same time makes clear our determination to be a Conference with national impact and appeal. The American Athletic Conference will represent core American values of optimism, energy, growth and innovation. We have a broad geographical footprint that represents unity as well as diversity."

"I am very happy with the outcome of the conference naming process," said UConn Director of Athletics Warde Manuel. "I look forward to UConn competing with a great group of universities in the American Athletic Conference."

 "Our exciting new name is the result of a thorough process that has energized our Conference," said Judy Genshaft, President of the University of South Florida and Chair of the Executive Committee. "The American Athletic Conference brand will embody the values of competition and sportsmanship that our student-athletes have always exemplified."

"The American Athletic Conference is a brand that suggests a national scope and quality membership," said Burke Magnus, Senior Vice President, College Sports Programming, ESPN. "It is an exciting time for the new conference and ESPN looks forward to our future together."

"We congratulate the American Athletic Conference on the selection of a terrific new name for college sports," said Sean McManus, Chairman, CBS Sports. "We look forward to partnering with The American as they introduce their new brand and increase their presence as a conference going forward."

Beginning with the 2014-15 academic year, the American Athletic Conference will consist of the University of Central Florida, the University of Cincinnati, the University of Connecticut, East Carolina University, the University of Houston, the University of Memphis, Southern Methodist University, the University of South Florida, Temple University, Tulane University and the University of Tulsa. The U.S. Naval Academy will become a football-only member in 2015. With 12 football schools in the fold by 2015, it will play a football championship game.

A full set of marks for the American Athletic Conference will be presented in the coming weeks.

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STORRS, Conn. – Junior Stefanie Dolson and sophomore Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis have been named to the United States Basketball Writers Association All-America Team as announced by the USBWA on Wednesday.

Dolson and Mosqueda-Lewis are the 12^th and 13^th Huskies all-time to earn a spot on the USBWA All-America Team.  2012-13 marks the seventh time UConn has had multiple players selected to the squad.

Mosqueda-Lewis, who was recently honored as a Second Team All-American by the Associated Press, was named to the Bridgeport All-Region Team and the 2012-13 All-BIG EAST First Team after having an outstanding sophomore campaign. She currently leads the Huskies with 17.7 points per game and is registering 6.3 rebounds per game. Mosqueda-Lewis’s has been stellar from behind the arc shooting 48.9 percent from the three which is first in the nation. With 112 made 3-pointers in 2012-13, she is now UConn’s all-time single season leader.

Dolson, a 2012-13 All-BIG EAST First Team selection, leads the team at 7.2 rebounds per game and is second on the team with 13.8 points per contest. Dolson is also second on the team with 51 blocks and continues to climb UConn’s all-time blocks list as she currently sits at No. 7 with 154 career blocks. Dolson, an AP Third Team All-American, boasts an impressive 59.2 field goal percentage which is third in the country.

The USBWA Women's All-America Team is the nation's best ten players, regardless of position, as selected by the USBWA membership based on regular-season performance. These ten standouts are finalists for the USBWA's Ann Meyers Drysdale Award as national player of the year, which will be announced Sunday at the New Orleans Sports Arena prior to the start of the NCAA semifinals.

The U.S. Basketball Writers Association, formed in 1956, has named a women's All-America team since the 1996-97 season. The association has also named a national player of the year since 1987-88 and a national coach of the year since 1989-90. In 2002-03, the USBWA initiated an award for the nation's top freshman. For more information about the USBWA and its award programs, contact Executive Director Joe Mitch in the Missouri Valley Conference office at 314-795-6821. 

For a full look at the 2012-13 USBWA Women's All-American Team, please click on the continue reading button below if you're on the home page.

Paw Prints is our daily look at the happenings for the UConn Huskies football, men's basketball and women's basketball teams as well as the other sports the student-athletes engage in. We will do our best to bring you the links from all of the media that covers the Huskies on a daily basis. As always, links can be found by clicking on the read more button below if you're on the home page.

Thank you for stopping by and making SOX & Dawgs your home for UConn Huskies news.

While I was away.....

STORRS, Conn. - The University of Connecticut and Boise State University will play a two-game non-conference football series in the 2014 and 2018 seasons. UConn and Boise State will meet on September 13, 2014 at Rentschler Field and then on September 8, 2018 at Bronco Stadium.

Boise State, a member of the Mountain West Conference, has the highest overall winning percentage in college football since the 2000 season with a record of 147-21 for a .875 percentage. The Broncos are also the highest scoring team in the country in the same time period at 41.04 points per game.

The Broncos are third on the NCAA's list of all-time winningest FBS programs at .723 - only trailing Notre Dame and Michigan. Boise State has won nine conference championship and posted undefeated seasons in 2006 and '09. BSU has played in a bowl game in 11 consecutive seasons, including wins in the '06 and '09 bowl games.

"We are very excited to announce that we will compete against another nationally prominent opponent will be visiting Rentschler Field," said UConn Director of Athletics Warde Manuel. "We are committed to playing top teams throughout the country and giving our fans an exciting football schedule each year and we believe this series with Boise State will be an important piece of that. Husky supporters should be enthusiastic as we will playing home games against Michigan, Maryland, Tennessee, BYU, Virginia and now Boise State in upcoming seasons."

"College football fans around the country know all about Boise State and their tradition of competing as a perennial top 25 team," said UConn head football coach Paul Pasqualoni. "We have built a very competitive and exciting schedule for our fans over the next several seasons and we look forward to their support of our Husky team as we strive to become one of the top teams in the country."

Game times and television coverage for the two games will be announced at a future date.

The following is a complete summary of future non-conference games under contract for UConn football:

2013: August 29, Towson; September 14, Maryland; September 21, Michigan; September 28, at Buffalo.

2014: August 28, BYU; September 6, Stony Brook; September 13, Boise State.

2015: September 5, Villanova; September 26, Tennessee; October 31, at BYU.

2016: September 3, at Tennessee; September 17, Virginia.

2017: September 16, at Virginia.

2018: September 8, at Boise State.

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ATLANTA (April 2, 2013) – Senior guard Kelly Faris has been tabbed as a finalist for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association’s Division I Defensive Player of the Year presented by United States Marine Corps as announced by the WBCA on Tuesday morning. Faris is joined by Baylor’s Brittney Griner and Stanford’s Chiney Ogwumike as one of three finalists for the prestigious honor.

The Defensive Player of the Year award honors the best defensive collegiate Division I women's basketball player. All Division I conference defensive players of the year are eligible to be nominated for the award.  A selection committee makes the final decision on the winner. If a conference does not select a defensive player of the year, the conference representative can nominate one player to be considered.

Faris, named to the 2013 Bridgeport All-Region Team, leads the Huskies in assists (4.0 apg) and steals (2.5 spg), while also averaging 10.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. She is fourth in the BIG EAST in field goal percentage with .533 and second in assist/turnover ratio with 2.1.

“These finalists are the ones who make their opponents change up offenses in hopes of being able to find ways to score,” said WBCA CEO Beth Bass.  “The age-old adage, ‘defense wins games,’ continues to be a dominant factor in the game and each of these women have made it a key component in their play.  I wish each of these ladies the best of luck at the WBCA Awards Show in New Orleans!”

The winner will be announced during the WBCA Awards Show, which will be held at 5 p.m. CT Monday, April 8, in New Orleans. This event is part of the WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA Women's Final Four.

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STORRS, Conn. – Kaleena Mosqueda-Lewis, Stefanie Dolson and Kelly Faris have each earned AP All-America honors as announced by the Associated Press on Tuesday morning. Mosqueda-Lewis was named a Second Team All-American, Stefanie Dolson was selected to the Third Team and Faris was picked as Honorable Mention All-America.

Mosqueda-Lewis and Dolson are the 15th and 16th Huskies to be honored on either the AP First, Second or Third Team and a Husky has earned mention on one of the AP teams a total of 31 times. This marks the 18th time a Husky has been named Honorable Mention.

Mosqueda-Lewis, a 2011-12 AP All-America Honorable Mention selection, was recently named to the Bridgeport All-Region Team and the 2012-13 All-BIG EAST First Team after having an outstanding sophomore campaign. She currently leads the Huskies with 17.7 points per game and is registering 6.3 rebounds per game. Mosqueda-Lewis’s has been stellar from behind the arc shooting 48.9 percent from the three which is first in the nation. With 112 made 3-pointers in 2012-13, she is now UConn’s all-time single season leader.

Dolson, a 2012-13 All-BIG EAST First Team selection, owns a team-best 7.2 rebounds per game and is second on the team with 13.8 points per game. Dolson is also second on the team with 51 blocks and continues to climb UConn’s all-time blocks list as she currently sits at No. 7 with 154 career blocks. Dolson boasts an impressive 59.2 field goal percentage which is third in the country.

Faris was recently named a finalist for the WBCA Division I Defensive Player of the Year award after guiding the Huskies’ shutdown defense with team-bests in steals (2.5 spg) and assists (3.9 apg), while adding 10.1 points and 6.3 boards per game. Faris’s senior accolades include a spot on the 2012-13 Bridgeport All-Region Team, BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year, BIG EAST Most Improved Player of the Year and All-BIG EAST Second Team selection.

To see the full 2013 AP All-America Teams, please click on the continue reading button below if you're on the home page.

BROOKLYN, N.Y.  -- UConn will kick off the 2013-14 men's basketball season in New York City, facing Maryland at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. 

The Huskies, who finished 20-10 in Coach Kevin Ollie's first season last year including wins over nationally-ranked Syracuse, Michigan State, and Notre Dame, will meet the Terrapins on Friday night, Nov. 8.

 "We are looking forward to opening our 2013-14 basketball season in such a wonderful way, playing a great program like Maryland in a beautiful facility like Barclays Center," said UConn Coach Kevin Ollie, who expects to return his top six scorers and top five rebounders, including All-Big East first team pick Shabazz Napier. "I know all our student-athletes, but especially the ones from the New York City area, are very excited about the opportunity." 

Maryland, which is 25-12 this season as it heads into Tuesday night's NIT semifinal against Iowa, should also have a strong club in 2013-14, with all five starters and eight of the 10 players in this year's rotation expected to return. 

"We're looking forward to returning to Barclays Center to play a quality opponent in Connecticut," said Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon. "This will be a great experience for our players and fans." 

UConn and Maryland have played a total of five times, with UConn holding a 3-2 edge. Their most recent game against each other took place on March 24, 2002, at the NCAA East Regional Finals in Syracuse, which Maryland won, 90-82. 

 "We couldn't be more pleased to open our basketball season at Barclays Center against Maryland," UConn Athletic Director Warde Manuel said. "We have a large and passionate fan base in and around New York City that has demonstrated a consistently high level of support to our men's basketball team. We look forward to this opportunity to play against one of the top programs in the nation at a world-class facility, while showcasing our team and the passion of Husky Nation."

Tickets for Maryland vs. Connecticut will go on sale soon and will be available through Ticketmaster by visiting www.barclayscenter.com or www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. Tickets will also be available at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center, or through group sales 800-GROUP-BK.

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STORRS, Conn. - Former University of Connecticut assistant coaches Sam Rutigliano and Dave Adolph along with former players Dave Lalima and Stan Rajczewski will serve as honorary coaches for the UConn Blue-White Spring Football Game on Saturday, April 20, 2013, at Rentschler Field.

Admission and parking are free with a noon kickoff, parking lots opening at 9:30 a.m. and stadium gates opening at 10:30 a.m. with a FanFest inside.

Rutigliano was the defensive backs coach at UConn in 1964 and 1965 and went on to a successful career in professional football. Rutigliano was also an assistant coach at Tennessee and Maryland before joining the staff of the Denver Broncos of the American Football League in 1967. He was an assistant coach in the professional ranks until he became the head coach of the Cleveland Browns in 1978. Rutigliano was the NFL Coach of the Year in 1980 as the Browns won the AFC Central title.  He later served as the head coach at Liberty University from 1989-99. Adolph was on the UConn staff from 1965-68 and worked with both the offensive and defensive lines.

Adolph also served as an assistant coach at Ohio State, Illinois, Kentucky and Akron. He spent his entire pro coaching career (21 years) in the AFC, including 14 years as a defensive coordinator and 12 seasons in the AFC West, making 11 career playoff appearances in the process. Prior to joining the Chiefs, Adolph spent two years ('97-98) as linebackers coach for the Oakland Raiders. He signed on with Oakland after a two-year stint ('95-96) as defensive coordinator for the San Diego Chargers. During his three-year tenure as Kansas City's defensive coordinator from '92-94, the Chiefs made three straight playoff appearances.

Adolph originally came to Kansas City after spending three seasons ('89-91) as defensive coordinator for the L.A. Raiders. He spent the '86-88 seasons as defensive coordinator of the Cleveland Browns. Adolph began his NFL career as the Browns defensive line coach in 1979. He took over the club's linebackers in '81 before assuming duties as defensive coordinator midway through the '84 season when Marty Schottenheimer was named head coach. He then spent one season ('85) as an assistant for San Diego before rejoining the Browns in '86. He later returned to the college ranks as an assistant coach at the University of San Diego.

Lalima, a native of East Longmeadow, Mass., was a halfback and defensive back, who lettered for the Huskies in 1964 and ’66. After graduating from UConn, Lalima earned a law degree from Boston College. He served as regional counselor for social services in the state of Massachusetts during his career. In retirement, Lalima spends two week a year in Uganda working with a medical team to provide care to poverty-stricken residents of that country.

Rajczewski, a native of Stamford, Conn., was an offensive lineman for the Huskies and was an All-Yankee Conference selection in 1968. He lettered from 1966-68. Rajczewski had a long English teaching career from 1972-2003 at Mount Vernon (N.Y.) High School, the same high school that former UConn men’s basketball start Ben Gordon attended. Rajczewski was an assistant football coach at Mount Vernon and also was the strength and conditioning coach. He currently resides in Newtown, Conn.

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