60-Yard Mural Celebrates DU's Athletes & History

(above) The "Home Of Champions" mural celebrates DU's Athletics' history and prominently features you know who
photo credit: Adam Hammerman

From: DU Clarion
by Caitlin Hendee

A 60-yard mural depicting prior student-athletes while they play in one of DU's 17 varsity sports was painted on the wall outside of the entrance of the Coors Fitness Center last week as part of an athletic branding project that began late last summer.

"What we wanted to do is get the varsity sports up there so people know," said Paul Pogge, assistant athletic director. "We want to emphasize the fact that we play successful Division I athletics here at DU."

The mural is the first component of the Ritchie Center branding project, which may take "a couple of years depending on the budget and as teams are successful and achieve new things," according to Pogge.

"It is a foremost priority to use athletics as a means of developing the institution's brand so that we bring well-deserved additional exposure to the many outstanding units," said Pogge.

The mural reads, "Home of Champions" on it. Pogge said the university wants to build its branding project around the "Home of Champions" theme.

"We think it goes way beyond athletics," said Pogge. "We think we have champion-caliber academic programs, champion-caliber leadership and champion-caliber professors. Lastly, in athletics we aspire to win championships."

DU has 28 NCAA championships, seven in hockey and 21 in skiing [read entire article].

7 comments:

dggoddard said...

Awesome painting.

miller said...

I was pleasantly surprised to see Boone in the mural.

dggoddard said...

DU will be the presenting-sponsor for Denver International Airport's (DIA) latest public art project, "Terminal Kings," which includes 10 days and 10 nights of events prior to the five-year installation of street art by Sam Flores, David Choe and "Highraff."

http://www.duclarion.com/news/du-to-sponsor-airport-art-project-1.2741931?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_term=The_Clarion_2&utm_campaign=The_Clarion_2_20121162229#.TxWiyCOziME

vizoroo said...

Does the mural give Boone "official" recognition?

dggoddard said...

Nope.

Just another small step in the right direction.

anonevermore said...

I like it. Looking forward to seeing it in person at the CC game.

old pio said...

The mural is outstanding. And the effort to "brand" DU is long overdue. I'll just avoid the smartmouth about "you know who" and the silly distinction between "official" and "unofficial."