Louie the Laker

Louie the Laker
Louie
University	Grand Valley State University
Conference	GLIAC
Description	Louie the Laker
First seen	1996

Louie the Laker is the mascot of Grand Valley State University, located in Allendale, Michigan. The costume of Louie consists of a large cartoonish face with an oversized jaw, a scowl, a blue and white striped shirt, blue pants, a blue captain's hat, and large black boots. He is seen at all football games as well as randomly around campus during events. According to short videos shown at Laker football games, Louie the Laker sleeps on the 50 yard line and dreams of Laker football.

Controversies

After Grand Valley played in the 2001 NCAA Division II National Championship in football, John Butler, president of the Peoria Rivermen (an East Coast Hockey League franchise), accused Grand Valley of trademark infringement for the use of the Louie logo. Butler's four-year-old son, Jack, saw Louie during the championship game's television broadcast and brought the similarity to his father's attention. Louie closely resembled the ECHL Rivermen's own logo, a sailor dressed similarly to Louie chewing on a hockey puck. Grand Valley made some modifications to the logo which met the Rivermen's approval, bringing the matter to a mutually satisfactory ending, in order to avoid legal ramifications.

References

• "GVSU unveils new athletics logo.(Sports)." The Grand Rapids Press (Grand Rapids, MI) (July 31, 2002): E3. Grand Rapids Press. Thomson Gale. Grand Valley State University.