Lone Star Conference Logos
The Eastern New Mexico University Greyhounds are the athletic teams representing Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, New Mexico, competing at the NCAA Division II level in the Lone Star Conference across 12 varsity sports.
Meaning and Symbolism
- The forest green (#166936) represents the athletic vitality, growth, and competitive spirit of the Greyhounds program
- The deep maroon (#200000) adds intensity, tradition, and the fierce determination of greyhound racing heritage
- The gray accent (#a7a9ac) provides sophistication and balance within the color system
- The greyhound mascot embodies speed, agility, sleek efficiency, and competitive excellence
- The white (#ffffff) creates clean contrast essential for uniforms and marketing applications
History and Evolution
Eastern New Mexico University, founded in 1934 in Portales, developed its athletic program to serve students in the remote eastern plains of New Mexico. The Greyhounds nickname connects to the region’s ranching and agricultural heritage while symbolizing the speed and grace valued in competitive athletics. The program has competed at various levels, building regional recognition throughout the Southwest.
The Greyhounds compete as members of the Lone Star Conference, a geographically expansive Division II conference spanning Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Eastern New Mexico fields 12 varsity sports with both men’s and women’s programs. Until 2015, the university used “Zias” as the nickname for female athletic teams, referencing the ancient Zia sun symbol significant to New Mexico. However, in 2015, the institution announced it would unify all teams under the Greyhounds name, creating consistent branding across men’s and women’s athletics. This decision reflected broader trends toward unified mascot identities in collegiate athletics. The teams compete in sports including basketball, football, cross country, and track and field, representing ENMU across the region.
Typography and Design
The Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds logo features a stylized greyhound symbol, typically showing the sleek, aerodynamic profile that makes these dogs synonymous with speed and athletic excellence. The design emphasizes the lean, powerful physique and forward momentum of the greyhound breed. The green (#166936) and maroon (#200000) color palette creates distinctive regional identity while standing out in the Lone Star Conference. Gray (#a7a9ac) and white (#ffffff) provide versatility and contrast. Typography in athletic wordmarks employs strong, contemporary letterforms appropriate for Division II competition. The overall identity system balances the speed and grace suggested by the greyhound mascot with the toughness required for competitive collegiate athletics.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who designed the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds logo? The Eastern New Mexico athletic identity has been developed through collaboration between university athletic department staff and design professionals, with specific designer credits not publicly documented for the current brand iteration.
When was the Eastern New Mexico Greyhounds logo last updated? Significant updates occurred around 2015 when the university unified all athletic teams under the Greyhounds name, discontinuing the “Zias” nickname for women’s teams and creating consistent branding across the program.
Why did Eastern New Mexico discontinue the “Zias” nickname? In 2015, Eastern New Mexico decided to unify all athletic teams under the Greyhounds name for both male and female sports, creating consistent branding and identity across the entire athletic program rather than maintaining separate mascots.
