I think it's a cleaner look.

I thought we already knew DB has said the split M is done and everything going forward is to Block M only, with the current renovations of all the sports complexes it fits that they would replace all of the old logo's with the new improved version. 

...observation. If you want to learn more about how the University of Michigan manages its identity (its name and images), see this collection of pages.

PROTECTING OUR NAME AND IMAGES

People identify the promise of the University of Michigan and the quality it represents through our name and graphic identity. Our distinctive name and highly recognized symbols have come to represent generations of achievement by faculty, students, athletes, staff, and alumni, and the promise of excellence today. This distinction has created value in our name and brings respect, trust, confidence, and economic rewards that benefit the University community.

The "Block M" logo is one of the most recognizable university symbols in the nation. Long associated with Michigan athletics, the Block M has come to connote the excellence in all fields of endeavor that the University stands for. Using the Block M or other recognized marks add value to all those affiliated with it. And consistent use of recognizable logos and wordmarks reinforces the overall positive identity of the University.

The University of Michigan name and images are essential tools to break through the clutter of today's media-saturated American culture. There are more than 3,600 two- and four-year colleges in the United States. Students may be recruited by hundreds of them. The average American family is contacted more than 300 times a year to donate money to organizations or events. The promise of excellence attached to the University's name and graphic identity cuts through this overload and helps us reach people more effectively. Careful and consistent use of the name and images helps preserve their continued effectiveness.

So you see, this is about much more than simply the Athletic Department, jerseys and scoreboards. Which is precisely to JB's point.

Amen

are visible from low-earth orbit.

Space, bitches.

That observant MGoUser was me, for the record.  It was in the comments section of Brian's post about the Sugar Bowl jerseys, as I recall.

It reminds me a bit of those hanging signs they used to have in medieval cities. One example would be a pair of scissors for a barber. Since people couldn't read, pictures were used to convey the meaning of the service that was offered. Nowadays it sounds like corporations are realizing that in an age where everyone's logo can dance or burst into flames a simpler message might help sell more product.

Bigger is better and I love the new scoreboards as much as anybody. Still, I will miss those old Split M logos, since they were there all 4 years I was at Michigan. I like how the very last thing they used the non-HD scoreboards for was the Big Chill.

I'm old school and hated the "Split M" so much that I refused to purchase anything with that logo.  Happy Holidays everyone. . . .GO BLUE!

I love it. It's clean, classy, memorable and powerful. The split M was kind of confused looking.

I still prefer boobs over simplicity, starbucks.

Wisconsin's "doble ve" corporate branding ended in 1991 with the fruition of WordArt.

1975-1977                    1978-1987             1991-present

love it. glad they went this way. i think it's simple, bold and imposing.

The University of Missouri has a Block M.  And it's "yellow," no less.  (I don't think they call it yellow.  Gold and Black, I believe.)  My first fall after moving to Kansas City (in '04), I briefly thought there was a healthy contingent of Michigan supporters here.  Wrong.

I've been trying to find this out ever since:

Which school promulgated the Block M first: Michigan or Missouri?

I was never a fan of the split M and I am glad the plain block M is here to stay.

Now if they can get all the apparel to finally go to the block M. I absolutely hated the split M. Go Blue!

It's about time for the football jerseys.  When a kid walks around the mall in his Michigan jersey, he wants everyone to know what team it is.  

You did not know the old jerseys were Michigan unless you were freaks like all of us on this site and could tell it was Michigan by the tint of the yellow.  The rest of the world did not know if it was Michigan or the local high school.  The block M finally clears that up. 

It's funny how that one little character, that yellow M, somehow causes the clothing it adorns to float to the top of my dresser.  Must have some kind of anti-gravity properties. 

If you ever get a chance to go to Ralph Engelstad Arena where the North Dakota Fighting Sioux plays hockey you'll see over 2500 indian head logos.   Including a huge marble one once you come through the front door.

This is actually one of the biggest reason they fought so hard not to have to change their nickname.  If they were force to remove all those logos that would probably cost more then trying to build a new arena.

There are 3 just on the envelope of my admissions letter

i never liked the split M, its very 80's. We've been moving towards the block M for 15 years, and I much prefer it.