The famous gruff Sparty logo will make its long-awaited appearance on football helmets this season.

But not in East Lansing.

Almost always synonymous with Michigan State, the cartoon character with a grimace and several days worth of whiskers will appear on San Jose State’s football helmets when the other Spartans take on Northern Colorado in the season opener on Aug. 29.

𝚁𝚎𝚝𝚛𝚘 𝙽𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝



𝚂𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚜 𝚟𝚜 𝙽𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚗 𝙲𝚘𝚕𝚘𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚘

𝚃𝚑𝚞𝚛𝚜𝚍𝚊𝚢, 𝙰𝚞𝚐𝚞𝚜𝚝 𝟸𝟿

𝙲𝙴𝙵𝙲𝚄 𝚂𝚝𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚞𝚖



𝙶𝚎𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚝𝚒𝚌𝚔𝚎𝚝𝚜 𝚗𝚘𝚠: https://t.co/ERiVuAYYKv pic.twitter.com/JOHOiY2dXZ — San José State Football (@SJSUSpartanFB) August 9, 2019

The themed “Retro Night” will feature an, shield your eyes Spartan fans, all blue helmet and a gold gruff Spartan logo. Retro Spartan T-shirts and fanny packs are also being given away students and fans.

Throwback pricing on select concessions and apparel will also be available, according to the school.

The gruff Sparty logo has long been a favorite among Michigan State fans, and many took to Twitter with cries of copyright infringement when the announcement was made.

But Michigan State’s list of trademarks makes no mention of the logo and according to the historical Twitter account SpartanAntiques, SJSU may have marketed a gruff Sparty in 1948, three years before before Michigan State College did in 1951.

I can verify MSC marketing Gruff Sparty in 1951. This SJSU shows Gruff Sparty at 1948. They also named their stadium Spartan Stadium before we did pic.twitter.com/4bFBNU6VJ5 — SPARTANTIQUES (@SPARTANTIQUES) August 15, 2019

The account also notes that gruff Sparty was created by California decal artist Arthur Evans and was used by USC, SJSU, MSU and anyone else they could sell it to before trademarks were enforced.

So, it all appears to be fair game, much to the chagrin of the green and white. But hey, at least Michigan State fans have these to look forward to.

Spartans reveal new alternate uniforms for 2019 👀 pic.twitter.com/qlnFWYMK7c — Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) April 13, 2019

Michigan State reveals alternate uniforms for 2019 season

Also of note: San Jose State played in its own Spartan Stadium until it was renamed Citizens Equity First Credit Union or CEFCU Stadium in 2016 thanks to an $8 million sponsorship fee.

At least Spartan fans still have that.

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