...but not the one you thought might be.

This is an appeal for someone - ANYONE!!! - to create a wikipedia entry on the history of the MSU athletics logos. Or dedicate a blog to it.  Whatever.  If there is such a thing I haven't found it.  I only bring this up because we are all up in arms over the change in the logo and "brand".  But where did the current logo come from?  Gruff Sparty was laid to rest in 1989, but when did Gruff Sparty come to life?  That chap does not look like he was conceived in 1902 or anything.  Did all sports convert simultaneously in '89?  Had they done it before during other changes?  Do/did various sports use different/slightly different logos?  Why is our green always all over the place?

I'm just asking this because it figures back in '89 plenty recent alumni must have been upset at the death of Gruff Sparty (logical diagnosis: cirrhosis), but didn't have RCMB or FaceBook to give it The Man.  What about the alumni from the 50's-60's glory years, who saw their ugly brother to USC's fugly logo be washed away in history?  Add that to have them forced to sit through 1970's MSU football, Duffy shown the back door and all... seems like far greater insult than what we're "suffering" today.  And what was the first logo?  I bet there is an angry letter from 1925 somewhere complaining about the loss of the land grant roots when the school went from the Aggies to the completely disconnected Spartans.

Just saying, if we are going to be from a school that changes symbols regularly, then maybe that's not lack of tradition -- maybe that IS the tradition.  Or something.  It's a confusing time for me.  I don't know what to think.  I need someone to hold my hand through it.  Maybe show me some cool pictures and logos from the past so I can cry and laugh emotionally at the same time.  Traveling pants type stuff.  So long as changing logos is going to be our thing, there should at least be some way to have fun with it.  For the sake of us all, someone needs to bang this project out.

I promise you I would if I could.  I'm going to have to take the "No Child Left Behind" defense:  I have two, both under 3, and it's tight being their father and being a semi-attentive fan as it is.  So please, someone - ANYONE!!!  I know there is one of you out there, aged 18-25, just cranky and meticulous enough, as I once was, to dedicate some time to this.  Consider it your soon-to-be claim to fame.  Every Spartan in your family will love it.  Your friends will think it's awesomest thing they've ever seen when you leave your laptop logged in and set them up to "accidentally" find out what it is you are working on.  I can guarantee every regular reader of this site will rain imaginary +1's on you.  So come on:  what have you got to lose, and consider what you may win.

This has been an appeal.  Thank you.