Georgia Tech Will Debut Redesigned Reck Logo Saturday

The football team will feature the new logo on their helmets during the game against Duke in Atlanta.

Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Football

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Should collegiate sports teams modernize their historical logos or maintain them exactly as they are?

Georgia Tech football players will wear a redesigned Ramblin' Reck logo on their helmets during Saturday's game against Duke at Bobby Dodd Stadium. The new design adds motion lines to the 1930 Ford Model A Sport Coupe.

Why it matters

The update modernizes an iconic university symbol to reflect a sense of forward motion. The design takes inspiration from similar athletic branding updates, specifically a mid-1990s redesign of the Purdue Boilermakers locomotive logo.

The original Ramblin' Reck is a 1930 Ford Model A Sport Coupe that has led the team onto the field since 1961. The new logo features added motion lines to depict the car in motion.

The players

Shawn Hairston

He is one of the designers who created the new logo featuring the 1930 Ford Model A Sport Coupe.

Marya Vernon Elrod

She co-created the redesigned Ramblin' Reck logo that includes new motion lines.

Georgia Tech

It is the university where the Ramblin' Reck serves as a traditional mascot for the football program.

The details

Shawn Hairston and Marya Vernon Elrod developed the new visual, aiming to refresh the image of the historic car. The aesthetic modification follows the precedent of the Purdue Boilermakers, who similarly redesigned their locomotive logo in the mid-1990s.

1961: The Ramblin' Reck began leading the team onto the field for home games.
Mid-1990s: Purdue redesigned their locomotive logo.
Saturday: The team will wear the logo on helmets against Duke.

Season Trajectory

This visual update follows a pattern set by the Purdue Boilermakers locomotive logo redesign. By incorporating modern aesthetic elements, the university aligns its branding with contemporary collegiate identity standards.

The new logo will be prominently featured on player helmets throughout the home game at Bobby Dodd Stadium. This change marks a significant update to the visual representation of the Ramblin' Reck tradition.

The takeaway

Updating historic symbols allows athletic programs to maintain tradition while appealing to modern aesthetic trends. Fans can expect to see this refreshed design integrated into the team's visual identity during Saturday's game.