The Evolution of the Slippery Rock University Logo: A Symbol of Pride and Tradition

Slippery Rock University (SRU), also known as "The Rock," has a rich history and tradition. Founded in 1889 as Slippery Rock State Normal School, the institution has evolved into a comprehensive public university and a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE). Throughout its history, SRU has developed a strong identity, symbolized in part by its logos and mascots.

Early Years and the Need for a Mascot

In its early years, Slippery Rock State College (SRSC) lacked a mascot. In 1978, Bob Jones, a freshman English major, recognized this absence and created "Rocky I." This first iteration of Rocky debuted at a football game against California State College.

Rocky I: The Original Embodiment (Early 1980s - 2000)

Rocky I, the first official mascot, emerged in the early 1980s. While embodying the spirit of SRU, its appearance as a simple rock didn't fully capture the university's pride and dynamic spirit.

Rocky II: A Lion's Pride (2000-2007)

In 2000, SRU introduced "Rocky II," a lion mascot. The lion was chosen because of the two male African Lions guarding the gates of West Gym. While Rocky II represented the university's pride, it didn't fully reflect the unique identity of Slippery Rock University.

Rocky III: The Modern Mascot (2007-Present)

In 2007, Slippery Rock University unveiled "Rocky III," the current mascot. This iteration aimed to combine the best aspects of its predecessors, embodying both pride and the unique character of SRU. Rocky III's design incorporates green highlights and gray colors, inspired by the mossy green and grey rocks of Slippery Rock Creek, connecting the mascot to the university's geographical roots. Rocky III was introduced at the men’s and women’s basketball games on February 21, 2007, against California University of Pennsylvania.

Read also: SRU Football History

Rocky III's Design and Symbolism

The developers of Rocky III aimed to create a mascot that was both original and representative of the university's spirit. The green mane and gray fur were specifically chosen to reflect the natural environment of Slippery Rock.

Rocky's Personality and Role

Rocky is more than just a mascot; he's a symbol of the university's spirit and traditions. He is known as "The Pride of The Rock" and embodies the university's athletic tradition and overall pride. Rocky is a four-year letter winner in all sports at Slippery Rock University.

Rocky's Availability

Rocky's schedule is packed with classes, athletics, and other university functions.

Rocky's Physical Attributes

Rocky stands 6 feet, 4 inches tall and weighs 18.89 stone (a British measurement).

Rocky's Backstory

Rocky's full name is Rocky III and he was "born" on January 1, 2007, on the banks of the Slippery Rock Creek. After training in the Rocky Mountains, Rocky debuted at the SRU men's basketball game vs. California University of Pennsylvania.

Read also: SRU Tuition and Fees Explained

Rocky's Interests

Rocky's favorite hangout is any of The Rock's athletic weight rooms to work on maintaining rock-hard abs. He lists The Rolling Stones as a favorite rock group, and his favorite song is "Love is Like a Rock" by Donnie Iris. He enjoys Fruity Pebbles cereal for breakfast and is a big fan of reruns of "The Flintstones". Rocky vacations at the Rocky Mountain National Park and his favorite movie star is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. His favorite movies are the "Rocky" film series.

The "Rocketman"

Back in 1949, a mascot by the name of “Rocketman” paraded around the then Slippery Rock State Normal School. This mascot was short-lived.

The Significance of Green and White

The university's colors, green and white, are said to be derived from the mossy green and grey rocks of Slippery Rock Creek.

Nickname: The Rock

Slippery Rock University is known as "The Rock".

The Evolution of the Logo

While information on specific logo changes is limited in the provided text, the evolution of the mascot reflects a broader evolution of the university's visual identity. The logos likely adapted over time to reflect the changing mascots and the overall image the university wished to project.

From Normal School to University: A Transformation

Founded as a teacher training school, Slippery Rock State Normal School, SRU has undergone significant transformations:

1889: Founded as Slippery Rock State Normal School. James E. Morrow was the first president.
1926: Renamed Slippery Rock State Teachers College, becoming a four-year institution.
1960: Renamed Slippery Rock State College, authorized to award undergraduate and graduate degrees in liberal arts and professions.
Present: Slippery Rock University, a comprehensive public university. Karen Riley took office in 2023. William J. Behre served from 2018 to 2022. Cheryl Joy Norton, the university's first female president, was in office from 2012 to 2017. The university’s first president, then known as the principal, was James E.

Academic Excellence and Recognition

SRU has consistently been recognized for its academic quality:

Offers 51 programs with national accreditations.
92% of faculty members hold a Ph.D.
Ranked among U.S. News & World Report's Best Regional Universities for 17 straight years.
Named a 'Top Public' and 'Best Value' school in U.S. News rankings.
Recognized as a 'Best Mid-Atlantic' college by The Princeton Review.

A Safe and Friendly Community

Slippery Rock is a safe and friendly community located about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh. Slippery Rock is a name known around the world. It's the name of the university we host, a creek and our village.

The Legend of Slippery Rock

There are a lot of legends about how Slippery Rock got its name. Legend has it that in colonial times, soldiers were being chased by the local Seneca Indians. The troops, wearing heavy boots, were able to cross the creek, but the Indians, wearing moccasins, slipped on the rocks in the creek bed. They named the creek Wechachochapohka - a slippery rock. Some versions of the story have George Washington as the object of the Indians' pursuit. While a young Washington did visit the area, (we are near the George Washington Trail), his place in the story is highly suspect.

Notable Facts and Traditions

Slippery Rock ice hockey joined other colleges and universities in the region to form the College Hockey Mid-America (CHMA) in 2006. Slippery Rock men's rugby won the 7s rugby National Championship at the Collegiate Rugby Championship in Washington, D.C.
The green and grey colors are said to be from the mossy green and grey rocks of Slippery Rock Creek.
SRU has a rich tradition of pride.
In 1959, Michigan Stadium public address announcer Steve Filipiak laid the groundwork for years to come when he started to include Slippery Rock in his list of out-of-town scores.
In 1936, the Associated Press poll released its first-ever ranking. A story was released using logic backed by the transitive property that Slippery Rock should be the top team in college football.
Slippery Rock's game at Fenway Park against Boston University is announced in the Boston Globe. Boston University was the first to host SRU in 1937 as the teams met at Fenway Park before a crowd of around 6,000 people.
Michigan Stadium has become something of a home for the Rock.

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