College Football Uniforms

[DJensen]

When will the insanity stop with college football teams wearing a new design each Saturday? This weekend it was Michigan State (gold helmets) and Michigan (stripes on the shoulders). I know it seems like the Oregon Ducks started this - with Nike in their backyard! Even if they say that they have the contracts for the new uniforms - someone is really paying for them = Joe and Joan Consumer.
Please lets go back to tradition and have a home and away uniform for the entire season!!

 

[Pens_Fan]

The only person that is paying for them is the person that wants to go out and wear the new replica jersey to the game or around town.

It's the same reason that pro teams change their uniforms every few years or add an alternate jersey.

Some of them are damn goofy, but if you don't like them, don't buy them.

 

[chalee94]

nike provides the uniforms to the schools. nike makes more money if superfans buy multiple versions of their jerseys, etc. so nike encourages the teams to use different variations of their uniforms.

and from what i understand, the kids playing football love the new looks even if the fogeys watching on tv don't like the changes. so it's also something of a recruiting tool to play in different "pro combat" uniforms each year.

which is a long way of saying, don't expect it to stop.

 

[Abomb36]

If you look at where the Ducks are right now with recruiting as opposed to past recruiting classes you wills see that those flashy uniforms are paying dividends. Big Time! Currently, even the most traditional teams are leaning toward this trend (LSU/Mich. State). I'd have to say that nobody does it better than the Ducks though.

Im a UO alumn and reside in Portland but with all bias aside, its a smart move for any program. You cant fall behind these days. The young bucks love flashy.

 

[DJensen]

More than just those that purchase jersey

I would tend to beleive that some of the cost of even a Nike running shoe is built into the overall overhead which is part of new jersey styles. Colleges seem to have run crazy with new uniforms EVERY week. Pros do seem to have some decency of having a throwback occassionally (name your sport).

 

[Weimaraner]

Nike picked 9 teams for their Pro Combat designs and one was the Michigan State team for the UM game. It got a lot of pre-game attention and created weeks of discussion about the look and added to the excitement to the BIG game. This is a game that generates a LOT of interest for anyone from Michigan. From what I understand the MSU players had a lot of input into the design. I, for one, enjoyed the look, particularly the gloves with the Spartan design. UM surprised everyone, including the team members, by pulling out their legacy uniforms just before the game which I heard on UM sports radio fired up the players (who were probably sick of hearing of the Nike Pro Combat gear).

The teams selected for the Pro Combat gear are:
Oregon (vs LSU, Cowboys Stadium 9/3)
Georgia & Boise State (vs each other, Georgia Dome 9/3)
Michigan State (vs Michigan 10/15)
LSU (vs Auburn, 10/22)
Ohio State (vs Wisconsin 10/29)
Stanford (vs Notre Dame 11/26)
Army & Navy (vs each other 12/10)



Not related to the Pro Combat - I also went to the Michigan-Notre Dame night game which was the first in UM history so they brought out "new" retro looks, for everyone on the field including the cheerleaders with knee length skirts.

The uniforms are just for special occasions and I don't think there is anything wrong with it since it just adds excitement for the players, fans and alumni. I agree we don't want to overdo it but at least for MSU and UM it made sense.