ABILENE, Texas – McMurry University revealed its new “War Hawks” logo Saturday afternoon at an unveiling event held on campus. After forgoing a nickname since 2007 under pressure from the NCAA to remove McMurry's “Indians” mascot, the university's board of trustees approved McMurry's new “War Hawks” nickname March 11.

At the event, every student on campus was given a free t-shirt with the new primary logo across the chest, and several administrators bore new white polos with the War Hawks' head logo on the chest.

McMurry hired Studio Simon, a sports brand identity development firm out of Louisville, Kentucky, to re-brand the athletic department's logos. Their portfolio of work includes official marks for two NFL Super Bowls, two NFL Pro Bowls, the brand identity systems for the MLB Winter Meetings from 2003-10, and several notable minor league baseball teams including the latest brand for the Texas Rangers' newly acquired minor league affiliate, the Round Rock Express.

“When we began to research the possibilities of a design firm to help us rebrand, we ended up selecting Studio Simon because of the quality of their overall body of work,” said McMurry sports information director Kyle Robarts. “While other firms had put out some good sports identities, we felt that Studio Simon stood alone in its ability to consistently put out impressive and appealing looks for its respective clients. We are pleased with the outcome, and look forward to the McMurry War Hawks becoming a truly recognizable brand.”

The logo identity committee was headed by McMurry vice president of institutional advancement Steve Crisman, executive director for university relations Nancy Smith, and Robarts along with two members of the board of trustees, one coaching staff member, two student-athletes, a staff member from student services and McMurry president Dr. John Russell.

The primary logo features a unique maroon hawk in flight with black and white accents. The logo boasts stern hawk head, elegant wings, and fierce talons with the wording “McMurry War Hawks” across the wing-span above the head. The university and the athletics department will also have use of several elements of the War Hawk including, a stand-alone bird, the hawk's head, a wing, a talon, and a beak-and-eyes only logo created by Studio Simon for use on official uniforms and gear.

In addition, Studio Simon helped standardize the “McM” logo implemented in 2007 after the loss of the “Indians” nickname, which will remain as the secondary logo for the athletic department.

Studio Simon president and founder, Daniel Simon, said that the firm has goals for every client, as demonstrated in the firm's latest product with McMurry University's War Hawks.

“Any brand identity developed by Studio Simon is created with these goals in mind: to stand apart from -- and above -- the competition, and to increase in value through positive perception and the emotional link that these brands build with students, athletes, alumni and fans,” Simon said.

Robarts said that the need for several elements was essential to the new brand for McMurry and its athletic department.

“That was one of the major concerns I had when we went into discussion about something new. We had been restricted without a nickname for the past four years to use only the “McM” logo,” Robarts said. “Now, with our new brand, our teams will have a multitude of creative and quality options. We have landed a big-time sports brand identity with Studio Simon's product, and I look forward to the ways our teams will put them to use.”

Simon said that the cohesive effort between firm and university solidified the quality brand.

“The most successful brand identities are ones where the process is a joint effort between the creative team and the client, and the McMurry University project was indeed a collaborative endeavor,” said Simon. “Ideas, coming from both sides of the table, were shared, and the finished product was stronger as a result.”

Although some athletic programs at McMurry may put the new War Hawks logos to use this season, many will begin implementing the new brand beginning with the 2011-12 school year.