I really don't like it when schools blatantly rip off obvious college or professional logos. Not only are the ethics questionable, it just looks lazy.

The article that reminded me of it was an Orem photo. They've "borrowed" the now-iconic Oregon 'O' and put it in their yellow and blue school colors. I remember American Fork straight up using the Arizona block 'A' a while back, not sure if they still do.

It's not uncommon and I understand perfectly why it happens. You have schools on tight budgets that get one of the coaches, who may or may not be teaching a "graphic arts" class since they know how to use Adobe Photoshop, who do a few Google image searches, tweak some colors, and hand files off to a struggling local print shop or a mom and pop sportswear company that can't turn down the volume of an order from a high school team. And the kids like feeling like they are playing college or pro sports when they wear the gear. I get it. I see why it happens.

But I wish high schools would put forth a little more effort to create more ownable -- and legal -- designs. They could reach out to their alumni and/or local designers to come up with something a little more original. Or get the kids in the high school's art and design classes involved to come up with concepts. Or work with a nearby university's design and/or advertising students. Or simply see if a decent design studio will take on a pro bono project. Or get some well-to-do families and/or alumni to help foot the bill for some real branding work.

Sure, any combination of the above approaches might end up borrowing from or being inspired by existing logos and uniforms -- that's not unexpected. But at least the result would be something different enough that it's not just a lazy ripoff.

Worst-case scenario? Use tried and tested block letter. Orem's helmets would look better, more iconic, and less plagiarised with a simple block 'O' on the side than trying to draft behind Oregon and their brand.

Yeah, I'm weird and it's a very insignificant thing to get bothered by. But as a sports fan that also makes a living creating and maintaining brands and designs, I get interested when the two come together for whatever reason. I enjoy most instances, this is just one of the unfortunate side effects.

Rant over