A press box view of N.C. State's midfield logo from The Gaston Gazette. (USATSI)
A press box view of N.C. State's midfield logo from The Gaston Gazette. (Richard Walker/Twitter.com)

Rumors swirled and photos leaked through the week, but on Saturday North Carolina State 's new midfield logo made its debut.

By putting the wolf in the state of North Carolina, the school is building on their "This Is Our State" campaign with the rival Tar Heels in town. But the logo has resulted in visceral reactions from East Carolina fans, not North Carolina fans.

Take a look at East Carolina's special midfield logo, debuted in Dowdy-Ficken Stadium in 2009.

ECU's midfield logo at Dowdy-Ficken Stadium. (USATSI)
ECU's midfield logo at Dowdy-Ficken Stadium. (USATSI)

"The people making the decision have seen East Carolina's, yes," N.C. State athletic department spokewoman Annabelle Myers told the News and Observer. "That concept was not new to N.C. State. It's just not been done in the middle of the field."

The good news for the Pirates is that they have a date in Carter-Finley Stadium later this year. With the North Carolina, East Carolina, and Duke left on the schedule, N.C. State will have the opportunity to back up their claims of state dominance -- or at least overcome the loss to Wake Forest in early October.