Southeast unveils logo for Redhawks

Southeast Missouri State University officially has a Redhawks logo now, one that is slightly modified from the design the board of regents approved less than three weeks ago.

"The right wing of the bird is less vertical. The tail is quite a bit narrower. The right hip of the hawk was redesigned. We added some color accents to the left wing," athletics director Don Kaverman said Wednesday.

School officials unveiled the official logo, which includes several trademarked designs ranging from a soaring hawk atop the name Redhawks to a hawk's head, at a news conference Tuesday at the Show Me Center to promote the upcoming basketball season.

Kaverman said the Redhawks head design will be used extensively by the athletics department. "That would be appropriate on uniforms and as a helmet decal," he said.

Even though the university now has a logo, the new nickname won't become official for more than two months.

That's because the university won't start using the Redhawks nickname for its sports teams until a Jan. 22 basketball game at the Show Me Center when Southeast's new costumed mascot will be unveiled.

Kaverman said regent Edward Matthews III of Sikeston, Mo., helped fine-tune the logo. The university then turned to Phoenix Design Works in New York City -- which had helped draw up the initial designs -- to make the final changes.

The university will begin selling Redhawks T-shirts and other merchandise on Dec. 8 following a noon fashion show and ceremony at the University Center.

Diane Sides, director of university relations, said she expects some Southeast fans will start wearing Redhawks shirts to basketball games prior to the planned Jan. 22 celebration.

Kaverman said the university wants to start selling Redhawks merchandise in early December to take advantage of the Christmas shopping season.