There many fun team names in the field for the 2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball tournament. Below are my favorites, with links (click images or marks) to their USPTO trademark records.
Note how many have not properly protected their trademarks, which is shocking given the amount of money involved in televising tournament, the apparel and other promotional merchandise sold by every team, and that these are institutions of higher education.
- University at Albany Great Danes
- Manhattan Jaspers
- Coastal Carolina University Chanticleers
- North Florida Ospreys
- Lafayette Leopards
- UC Irvine Anteaters (this trademark application was wisely filed last March)
- Harvard Crimson (their only trademark registration is for GOCRIMSON.COM)
- Dayton Flyers
- Xavier Musketeers (registration for MUSKETEER CLUB booster club)
- Utah Utes
- Iowa State Cyclones
- Valparaiso Crusaders
- New Mexico State Aggies
Truth told, there are an abundance of wonderful names I didn’t list — like Terrapins, Buckeyes, Hoyas, Friars, Axtecs, Sooners, Boilermakers and more.
My favorite logos in the field this year are:
New Mexico St. Aggies
Eastern Washington Eagles
UAB Blazers
Dayton Flyers
San Diego State Aztecs
Here are some of the overall NCAA trademarks related to basketball (click for USPTO information):
- THE ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR
- ROAD TO THE FINAL FOUR
- FINAL FOUR
- THE FINAL FOUR
- FINAL 4
- ELITE EIGHT
- NCAA SWEET SIXTEEN
- MARCH MADNESS
See also: Best Mascots: NCAA Edition
