Bantams Celebrate the New “U”

USC Union Begins the Fall 2024 Semester with Exciting Developments

USC Union has a new look! On August 28, the university unveiled their new athletic logo, a fresh rendition of their mascot Blaze the Bantam created by Arrowhead Design Group in Spartanburg, replacing the image that had been in place since 2013. Blaze’s facelift was celebrated on campus with the Fuddruckers Food Truck, Front Porch Churn Ice Cream, games, music, and giveaways in Patron’s Park.

“This logo incorporates the school’s colors and updated mascot, giving it a modern yet timeless appeal. The new logo will help in creating a consistent and stronger brand image and will enhance marketability across various platforms to help in recruiting,” said Annie Smith, Director of Marketing & Development at USC Union. “My team and I worked with Arrowhead Design out of Spartanburg and applaud them for doing a dynamic job of recreating Blaze the Bantam. Working with Arrowhead was a fun collaboration, and their design perfectly aligned with our brand’s vision and values.”

“The updated logo is something that I have been waiting a long time for,” said Athletic Director Zach Simmons. “The college needs something new and fresh looking because of all the updates and new projects we have going on every year.”

“We’re thrilled to have been selected to design the new logo for the USC Union Bantams, featuring Blaze in a sleek, modern, and aggressive design,” said Lanie Carter, President of Arrowhead Design Group. “While our team stayed true to the classic color palette of the University, we brought in custom illustration and fresh fonts to give the overall look a bold, updated feel. This logo isn’t just about energizing the athletes and organization; we hope it also sparks new sponsorships and community engagement to fuel the program’s future success.”

“The new logo brings excitement to the campus and to the athletic department,” said Head Softball Coach William Royce. “Annie Smith and the design firm did a great job!  We are thrilled to be a part of the ‘New U’.”

Construction is currently underway on the new home of the Lady Bantams Softball Team. The university broke ground on The Coop in March and the field has been taking shape all summer. This field, formerly known as City Park, has a rich history in our community. It was once the site of the county fairgrounds and later served as textile league baseball field. It was also the home of the Lady Yellow Jackets softball team,and they won state championships there in 1983 and 1984 under Head Coach Lisa Ward and Assistant Coach Pat Valentine. It later became the homefield for Union County Dixie Girls Softball. Lady Bantams Softball began using the field in 2015 under then Head Coach Amanda Warley.

Recent updates to the field include new clay, sod, grass, and fencing. When completed, the field will feature new dugouts with restrooms, a canteen, a two-story press box, and a restroom building. The Revels-Stokes field will be flipped 180 degrees so that home plate will be near the old basketball courts and will also be fitted with new turf and irrigation. The field will also feature landscaping with trees and shrubbery.

“The Coop is going to look amazing when it is finished,” said Simmons. “We are all super excited about all the progress that has happened up to this point. This location will be stable for our community and college for many years to come.”

“Discussions about The Coop began five years ago when I sat down with County Supervisor, EMS Director, County Parks/Rec Director, Emergency Management Director, President of Union Medical Center, the Chief and Sheriff, Regional One Air Medical, and more officials,” said Smith. “During those five years, USC Union dumped a lot of money and resources to beautify the area and clean up the field. The first season on the field, our softball girls were finding meth needles and pipes – we knew then that this would be a lengthy process to renew the field. Fast forward several years later we are completely altering the historic field for USC Union’s present and future athletes. Not only will this be a much-needed facility for campus, but it will also give that end of Main Street a more attractive entrance when driving into town.”

“USCU continues to revitalize our downtown community. The construction of the COOP will help grow the economic interest in the area and jump start our efforts to attract more businesses to Main Street,” said City Administrator Joe Nichols. “The Mayor and City Council are very excited to partner with USCU now and in the future.”

“We are so excited to see movement on the softball complex.  It is going to be a beautiful stadium when completed,” said Royce. “It is the softball program’s mission and vision to continue the legacy of those who played before us.”

The estimated completion time for The Coop is late January 2025.