Iowa State University: Exploring the Symbols of Cyclone Pride
Iowa State University (ISU), founded in 1858, boasts a rich history and tradition. From its academic standing as one of the top universities globally to its vibrant student life and passionate athletics program, ISU holds a special place in the hearts of its students and alumni. Central to this identity are the symbols that represent the university: its colors, logos, and mascot.
The Colors of Iowa State: Cardinal and Gold
The official colors of Iowa State University are cardinal and gold. These colors are more than just aesthetic choices; they embody the spirit and history of the institution.
The Adoption of Cardinal and Gold
The selection of cardinal and gold as the official colors was not immediate. Initially, silver, gold, and black were considered. However, these colors proved impractical for athletic uniforms. In October, the university settled on cardinal and gold. A cardinal sweater with a gold letter was deemed a "commendable improvement" and a "distinctive and striking set of colors." According to the official style guide, cardinal is represented by PMS 202, Hex: 822433, and gold is represented by PMS 123, Hex: FDC82F.
The Significance of School Colors
School colors create a common visual identity and connection, evoking memories and experiences associated with ISU, both positive and negative. Gold signifies the "golden harvest," representing the university's agricultural heritage.
The Evolution of the Iowa State Cyclones Logo
The Iowa State Cyclones logo has undergone numerous transformations since its inception in the late 19th century, reflecting the evolving identity of the university's athletic teams.
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Early Logos (1894-1930)
The very first logo for the Iowa State Cyclones was created at the end of the 19th century, in 1894, and featured a bright vivid yellow and white color palette. That was a simple yet elegant IAC monogram with the smooth capital letters overlapping each other. In the same year, another logo version was introduced. This time it was an angular and strong inscription in the same yellow and white color palette, but with a completely different mood. The capital sans-serif letters of the inscription were set in horizontal space, slightly jumping above the line and separated by two solid yellow dots. The logo design from 1896 was much stronger and brutal than the previous badges. The dots were removed and the “ISC” abbreviation was set in a straight horizontal line, with no shifts or inclinations. The sharp square Sans-serif letters were massive but perfectly balanced in terms of size and spacing. A surprisingly simple and laconic emblem replaced the strong masculine ISC badge in 1900. A medium-weight Sans-serif uppercase letter “A” in intense yellow color was the only element of the new badge. The “A” remained but was redrawn in a more modern Sans-serif typeface, and got placed on a solid burgundy background of the new circular medallion in a yellow framing of the same thickness as the bars of the letter. In 1930 the design concept of the Iowa State Cyclones visual identity was switched to a more elegant one. The yellow “ISC” monogram was now executed in two fonts - with the “I” in gothic serif, with sharp elements in the middle line of the vertical bar, and “S” and “C” in plain medium-weight sans-serif with regular shapes and contours. All three letters were overlapping each other. The badge stayed in use for a decade and was the last yellow and white logo in the history of the athletic club.
Mid-Century Designs (1957-1995)
In 1957, the Cyclones adopted a new logo where the lettering “ISC” was placed in a rectangle with rounded corners. The redesign of 1965 has introduced a different version of the Cyclones logo, with the cartoonish red cardinal bird as the only element. The bird was drawn walking to the left and holding a yellow triangular pennant with the contoured burgundy “ISU” abbreviation. It was drawn on a plain white background without any framing or additional lettering. This version of the logo stayed with the teams of the program for longer than a decade. The cardinal on the 1978 logo lost the flag and turned in the opposite direction (right). In 1983, a logo featuring a red cyclone wave was introduced. Above the wave, the lettering “Iowa State” in a handwritten font could be seen.
Modern Logo (1995-Present)
After another experiment with a cardinal and a cyclone wave in 1995, the Iowa State Cyclones logo became a typographic one. The logo, designed for the Iowa State Cyclones in 2007, looked strong and modern. The redesign of 2008 cleaned and refined all contours of the badge, enlarging both elements and making them more visible. Now the shades on the “I” and the “State” were distinct and made the badge look three-dimensional. Also, the straight lines on the letters reflected the strength and determination of the players, becoming a great representation of the team’s spirit and character.
Alternate and Secondary Logos
The Alternate logo of the Iowa State Cyclones program is a red bird with its bottom part stylized as a tornado swirl, overlapped by a dynamic banner in white and blue, with the full name of the teams written in a custom progressive typeface with sharp details. The Secondary logo of the teams from Iowa is the Cyclone swirl logo, red with gold highlights, lines uneven, thickness varying. Center not perfectly round, outer edges jagged. Gives impression of motion and energy, imperfectly drawn. Looks instantly recognizable, lively, with hand-crafted charm.
Helmet Design
The design of the Iowa State Cyclones players’ helmets is pretty simple yet very bright. Based on the crimson red color, the helms are accompanied by modest gray face guard grilles and massive yellow and burgundy emblems placed on the sides.
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Cy the Cyclone: The Embodiment of School Spirit
Iowa State's mascot, Cy the Cyclone, is a beloved figure who embodies the energy and spirit of the university.
The Origin of Cy
Iowa State became the Cyclones after a series of tornadoes (then called cyclones) ravaged the area in 1898. Because a cyclone was difficult to depict in costume, a cardinal was selected from the cardinal and gold of the official school colors. A cardinal-like bird was introduced at the 1954 homecoming pep rally. A contest was conducted to select a name for the mascot, and the winning entry of Cy was submitted by 17 people. The first to submit the name, Mrs.
Cy's Evolution and Role
Over the last half century, Cy has undergone several makeovers and redesigns. Due to the size and weight of the original costume, there were some physical requirements for students who wanted to fill the role of Cy. Applicants needed to be 5’11” (180.3 cm) to 6’2” (188 cm) and weigh 175 to 210 pounds (79.4 to 95.25 kg). When Cy first was introduced, only one student served as Cy. Cy makes appearances at various Cyclone sporting events such as football, men's and women's basketball, volleyball, wrestling, soccer, softball, and gymnastics. In addition to sporting events, Cy is often requested to make various appearances across the state of Iowa for a number of events.
Cy's Appearance
Cy the Cyclone has twisted body, irregular spiral shape, small jagged arms, uneven legs. Red mostly, gold highlights unevenly applied. Swirl lines rough, not uniform. Silhouette energetic but irregular, giving casual, sketchy, lively impression.
Athletics at Iowa State University
Iowa State University has a robust athletics program with a wide array of sports. The athletic teams are known as the Cyclones and compete in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I.
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Prominent Sports Programs
- Basketball: Both the women’s and men’s basketball teams play in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I athletics. Their home arena is Hilton Coliseum. The men’s team is coached by Steve Prohm, while the head coach of the women’s team is Bill Fennelly. Before the 2017-18 season, the men’s team had a 1339-1293 all-time record and competed in the NCAA Tournament 19 times. Attendance at Iowa State University women’s games have ranked in the top ten for almost twenty consecutive years.
- Football: The team fielded in 1892 uses Jack Trice Stadium as its home arena. The head coach is Matt Campbell. Today, the university’s football team plays in the Big 12 Conference and is a Division I FBS member of the NCAA.
- Soccer: The Iowa State Cyclones Soccer club, which home ground is the Cyclones Sports Complex, has both men’s and women’s teams. Does not have any significant achievements or titles. However, both teams are known for producing pretty successful players, especially goalkeepers. The women’s Cyclones team in soccer has made it to the conference championship nine times, but, unfortunately, never won it.
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