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I got a quote on printing a 3'x5' of this and it's pretty tempting to hang in out in lieu of my "real" Montana flag for a while. $110 for a one-off isn't too bad.

The bison skull was used on the Montana quarter design, and is fairly common in Montana. The quarter didn't cause much controversy, so I don't think this would either. The reason it's not a symbol of death is that a bison brought so many things - food, fur, hide, and so forth. The skull therefore became a symbol of prosperity.

This is my Montana flag concept. The bison skull has been used as a symbol of the state of Montana for many years. In Native American cultures, it symbolizes prosperity and gratitude. I used "big sky blue" and yellow trim similar to what is used on some current Montana flags. I added a star to the bison skull to represent Montana's statehood. Previously, I've used a simplified bison skull where the left side imitates the outline of the state. But this stripped down but still more realistic skull fits better, I think.

He was a legislator for quite a while. Became quite disillusioned after the lack of party support for a statewide race, so he got out of politics. Yes, there is no specified color of blue, you see it royal, you see it navy, but the MONTANA text has to be Helvetica Bold. Quirky thing. I've done a few different state flag redesigns for Montana, but given up hope we'll ever change. Timing has to be just right when there's only a legislative session every two years. And frankly, most people just don't care that the flag sucks.

This all makes me so sad about how bad both my city and state flags are terrible. (Billings, Montana.) Interesting thing - there is no official color of blue for Montana's seal on a bed sheet flag. Yet the word MONTANA is specified to be in Helvetica Bold by law. My dad didn't understand my distaste for the MT flag. I drove him down the street in Red Lodge (they display flags from all over up and down their main drag) and asked him to tell me which was the Montana flag. It was then he realized there are at least four or five others that are identical unless the flag is totally unfurled. Then he mentioned he was in the Legislature when they made the flag stand out more by requiring MONTANA be on it in all-caps Helvetica Bold in gold (yellow.) I asked him what ANATNOM was. He understood what I meant when he saw the flag from the back.

What's with the odd gaps in the "O" and the inability to properly operate a bezier curve?

Check back on page 61(ish) - I did this one. I was a big fan of them back in the day... watched a young Andy Moog play.

I don't quite have Ren's skills, and this is less a modernization, more a vectorization, although I took a few liberties. The font used was some sort of bastardized and slightly skewed Garamond Extra Narrow Extra Bold with the "g" and "s" replaced by something else, not sure what. Working from either the small gif from what I think was an embroidered logo or a screen printed jersey with the registration slightly off made it difficult. For instance, the red in the nostrils is probably meant to fill the whole space, but it was off so I went with it.

Anybody else think they look like they are tightrope walking?

Wow, this thread is amazing. I just went through all 59 pages loving every bit of it. Ren, you are awesome! I'd love to see a modern take on the old Billings Bighorns of the WHL. Grew up loving going to those games. There's a larger version (too big to post) here: http://www.dropthepucks.com/Fredericktown/images/WHL/Billings/81-82%20Billings%20rd%20logo.JPG

And this space reserved for Jarome Arthur-Leigh Adekunle Tig Junior Elvis Iginla in anything but a Flames uni.

Where by "stadium" you mean "overgrown quonset hut." Seriously, though, I would welcome the Vandals back to the Big Sky. They were a tough team back then, and they could be very competitive at the FCS level. The problem as I see it with Idaho where they are is not only is Moscow small, but it's right next door to a PAC-12 school in Washington State so local interest isn't massive. Add that to the recruiting issues it likely presents to share the state with Boise State (who have risen to national prominence) and be a stone's throw from Washington State, it's tough to be the Vandals right now.

Actual size of PSU notwithstanding, their football program can't handle a move up. They are just now starting to gain in the Big Sky and have become a second-tier program along the lines of Weber State - strong competitor year in and year out, but nothing to show for it yet in league championships or playoff appearances. As a big supporter of Montana State, I don't want them to move. The Big Sky is just getting better - and next year we're gaining some quality programs. (Now, if we could find someone to take Northern Colorado off our hands...)

Both Montana and Montana State have said repeatedly that they are happy playing in the Big Sky. As I said... The point was they are the two top teams in the Big Sky - biggest draws, best facilities, etc. They aren't moving up. It'd be a joke to move up someone like Sac State or PSU. They'd be Idaho, but worse. Might even kill their programs entirely.

I can see Louisiana Tech returning to the Sun Belt myself. On the FCS level though, I can see Portland State, Sacramento State, and Montana wanting to jump to FBS, but there's no way Idaho can support 3 FBS teams. That said though, you do make a fair point with Montana State. TS-San Marcos and UT-San Antonio do make a lot of sense though. Didn't know about Texas State's intentions to move up though. You guys are joking, right? Portland State averages less than 6,000 in attendance per football game (80th in FCS). That means they fill 31% of their seats. And when Montana State visited this year (and Montana last year), the crowd could have been mistaken as being for the visiting team. Sacramento State averages a little over 8,700 (47th in FCS) and 41% of their seats. Meanwhile, Montana State averages 17,577 per game with the Brawl of the Wild this next weekend sure to top 20,000 despite temps in the teens and snow. Nearly 100% capacity every game (with the first weekend of hunting being the lowest attendance.) The Bobcats travel well, making up nearly half of the crowd at Northern Colorado, Weber State and Portland State this season. Montana averages 25,662 in Washington-Grizzly stadium. That's over 100% capacity. And they travel very well. Not to mention, the Griz (#7) and Bobcats (#1) are the two most successful Big Sky teams of the last decade, with only Eastern Washington coming close. Last year ended the Griz run of 18 straight playoff appearances and 12 straight shares or outright league titles. The Bobcats have had a share of the Big Sky in four of the last ten seasons. (Eastern Washington has three and were National Champions last season.) The Idaho State football program is a joke and the chances that Mike Kramer (former EWU and MSU coach) will turn it around quickly are slim. He's good at rebuilding programs, but they are at least two or three seasons from being much more than a decent NAIA squad, much less FCS or FBS. The only two programs that would have a chance in FBS from the Big Sky are Montana and Montana State. The facilities are first class and the programs are doing very well. However, I don't believe either program has an interest in moving up to FBS. Montana all but had an invite and decided they'd be better off as a big fish in the FCS pond.