Michigan might wear Maize socks for the first time ever

Submitted by Wolverine Devotee on

From @UMichFootball

Maize socks have never been worn, home or away. 

This would be the first time the team wears them. It's been white on the road the entire Harbaugh era.

The photo is from Aaron Bills at Schembechler Hall. The last time a uniform change (white pants in 2015) happened, there was no formal announcement. Just a graphic tweet like this one below.

 

stephenrjking

August 2nd, 2017 at 1:09 PM ^

1. We're not West Virginia in every other sport. Sure, there are maize uniforms, but that color makes sense in those sports and the uniforms are clean and sharp. Not gimmicky.

2. The football team is different and its uniforms are different. There's just no getting around it. The winged helmets are a "recent" innovation relative to our history that the team has worn for 79 years. Since then, same helmets, same colors, same uniforms, same fight song, same stadium. The look defines autumn and the university and the sport for many of us. 

So, yes, it would be a big deal. 

Blue_42

August 2nd, 2017 at 3:44 PM ^

I'm sorry. I had no idea that Nike/Jordan was not capable of making a football jersey that is clean and sharp while not also being gimmicky. Never realized there was a creative barrier between designing for football and other sports.

ScruffyTheJanitor

August 2nd, 2017 at 12:59 PM ^

but I just can't. They are a perfect addition, and they work well with the white pants with yellow trim. I give it an 8/10 easily, and wouldn't be surprised if they were even better on the field.

Tuebor

August 2nd, 2017 at 1:01 PM ^

I like it.  Adds a touch of maize to the away jerseys that has been missing since we went to white pants.  Love the white pants too.

Bb011

August 2nd, 2017 at 1:03 PM ^

I typically am not someone to like a lot of changes to our uniform, but this is a pretty subtle change that actually looks really good. 

JWG Wolverine

August 2nd, 2017 at 1:04 PM ^

I was also prepared to hate it but I like how it balances out the color with the road jerseys. I would love to see the maize pants come back eventually (although I am not dying to get rid of the white ones). Not with these socks though.

markp

August 2nd, 2017 at 1:13 PM ^

Age 0-5
Blue and yellow and white is the good guys.

6-11
These socks are cooler than the plain white ones.

12-25
Str8 [fire emoji][fire emoji][fire emoji][M/chart emoji] #baller

26-39
These maize socks add a nice pop of color to the otherwise simple away uniforms.

40-59 (and WD)
I know part of you is dying inside, but I think Harbaugh is making a few small changes to drive excitement with young recruits and players.  Hey, I've been meaning to ask you... What are your top 3 favorite touchdowns from last year's Rutgers game and why?

60+
No, I think there's something wrong with your computer/TV. They're probably still white.

LSAClassOf2000

August 2nd, 2017 at 1:33 PM ^

I imagine the student athletes will lik them, although I will say for myself that sadly many years of work and other things have made me horribly uncreative and dull in the sock department, so you'll never see me in them. That being said, if I could ever get creative in this department...who knows, eh? 

markusr2007

August 2nd, 2017 at 1:36 PM ^

Are we now Maryland?

These football fashionistas won't be happy until Michigan commits fashion suicide over and over again.

White socks? OK

Blue socks? OK

Yellow?  I'm mad as hell and....

TheBorg

August 2nd, 2017 at 2:40 PM ^

It's about time to don maize socks!  They really rock when matched up with the Air Jodan shoes.  Very impressive,

Ghost of Fritz…

August 2nd, 2017 at 2:52 PM ^

...the less sense it makes.

It is not that there is anything inherently wrong with maize socks.  But the maize socks are totally inconguent with the entire concept of the particular white road uniform M has chosen. 

Maize socks could work with certain uniform designs, and even with certain mostly white uniform designs.  But they do not work with the white uniform design M is now using. 

The whole point of the white road uniform is to NOT have a lot of color against the white.  Just some classy maize and blue shoulder and pant stripes.  Understated.  Classic.  Timeless.  Even the numbers are understated (w/out any maize bordering and a classic font).  The understated nature of the whites really makes the helmet design the center of attention. 

Adding a big splash of maize with the socks is just not really conguent with the whole concept.  It clashes.  It is not classic at all.  It draws away the eyes and attention, when the understated whites are supposed to make the helmet design the center of attention.  

To those who say 'well at least it adds some color' you are missing the whole point of the road whites.  They are understated and classic on purpose.  Tht is exactly why they have minimalist color accents.  The maize socks really destroys the whole concept. 

TL:DR--people should reject the maize socks on M road whites for the exact same reason everybody rejected the 'halo' installed around Michigan Stadium in the late 1990s.  Just clashes with the entire classic design concept. 

grumbler

August 2nd, 2017 at 3:32 PM ^

Respectfully disagree.  The piping rather disproves the idea that the uniform is minimalist.  OTOH, the maize socks make the shoes stand out, and so it is the helmet and shoes that draw the attention - and those are some sweet shoes.

I'd agree with you if the white unis has just solid stripes and numbers, no piping (I think the mix of piping and non-piping is hideous, myself), but it isn't, and so I think you are incorrect as to the intent of the design.

Ghost of Fritz…

August 2nd, 2017 at 3:50 PM ^

on M's 2016/17 road uniform. 

The piping was the RR/Hoke/Brandon era. 

They are an understated and minimalist design with only matching narrow maize and blue stripes in the pants and sleeves.

No piping.  On purpose. 

ST3

August 2nd, 2017 at 6:58 PM ^

Why no "swoosh" or Jump Man logo on the socks? Seems like a missed opportunity, unless these are the ultra-thick socks from another vendor I vaguely remember reading about a few years ago.

Lil boy blue

August 3rd, 2017 at 1:15 AM ^

Great ? and if you zoom in on the image it looks like they are on backwards - likely intentionally. Looks like the top back has an enscription and Jumpman logo is right above the ankle. The all whites are retro and great and all but they need some flare. Socks are a great way to accessorize and compliment the uniform without compromising the integrity. Blue pants with the white jersey and maize socks would be dope