Super interesting article from the Raleigh News & Observer on UNC-Chapel Hill’s efforts to establish a consistent brand across 28 varsity sports teams:

Finding consistency – in colors, in lettering, in numerals on different uniforms – was among the primary of objectives of a project between UNC and Nike, the university’s longtime apparel partner, that began 18 months ago.

“I think the main goal was to build on our tradition, and then come up with something that is exciting for recruits and current student athletes, and then gain some consistency across all of our sports and across the university,” Bubba Cunningham, the UNC athletic director, said on Monday before UNC unveiled its refreshed logos and color scheme. “It’s really hard trying to get the same Carolina blue on all kinds of different product – whether it’s a paper product or clothing product or helmet.”

The timing is also interesting, given the university  could well get hammered by the NCAA again. It might have made more sense to do as the school comes off any probation the NCAA may choose to impose rather than before.
Bonus article: Speaking of UNC-Chapel Hill and the NCAA, the N&O also has an article out on how the NCAA is treating the university as a partner in its investigation of academic fraud at the university.