Full Uniformz For Penn State Released
At 8:15 on a Friday, so unless they're trying to bury their publicity stunt—not likely—they were blindsided by the catalogs for like the third straight time and released them early because the cat was already out of the bag. It's 2014, guys: the internet is fast.
The cat:
Goofy numbers were already known, and then the monochrome blue. They're running out of options before they start tossing around all yellow, aren't they?
Honestly, as long as they don't mess around with the helmets I'm okay with whatever. I mean, it's a one-game uniform that I'm sure the players don't mind wearing. Me being an old fuddy-duddy and complaining about it from the comfort of my couch really shouldn't register with anyone of importance.
I don't actually think the striped numbers are necessarily that bad, though check with me again after the game. But why bother at all? Oh, right--to sell jerseys. I think it would look great with just our regular home jerseys and blue pants.
Of course now that I mention this we'll probably see that. If we wear blue pants for more than one home game, I think I'll go bananas.
I hate the jerseys. The numbers remind me of shutter shades from the 1980's
http://www.westcoaststylez.com/yellow-shuttershades-p-470.html
What's wrong with the traditional uniform? Nothing. It's literally the best uniform in all of sports. ALL of sports, no exceptions. Why change something that works?
Less marketing, more blocking and tackling.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!
Recruits don't care about jerseys! Look at the PSU or Alabama recruiting classes.
These look they they should actually be sold at Wal-Mart.
They not only look garish, but they screaaaaaaaaam cheap trash.
At least the black stripes don't show up... good news?
August 8th, 2014 at 10:11 PM ^
It is realy frustrating hearing people on this blog continually rip a lot of the moves David Brandon makes when many of them are aimed at making us more competitive. Pumping in music to elevate the crowd noise (making the Big House a more intimidating atmosphere), scheduling marquee games like the Bama and Florida games in Arlington to start the year, and alternate jereys are all things decisions that kids my age and younger really think are cool.
Recruits obviously love all these moves as well. Just look at the high number of visitors and commits we get at the UTL games, or check the reaction to these events and announcements on social media. The players love it, the recruits love it, and we as fans should embrace it too.
Listen, I I've been watching Michigan my entire life, and I love the tradition (my old man tells me all about old time greats from when he lived in Ann Arbor) but damnit, as much as being top-15 every year was awesome, it really sucked at the end of the Lloyd era to feel like we supported a prehistoric program. I'm sure many of the same people on this board who complain about Brandon's modernizing updates to the program are the same ones who bitched and moaned about Lloyd's prehistoric playcalling on offense (waggle every third play), or soft prevent defense, our quite ass stadium (the Big House was NOT very loud until the renovations and piped in music) and our overall decline in recruiting (LLoyd was pulling in classes ranked in the teens in his last five years or so).
With stadium renovations, scoreboards and music, primetime national television showdowns, alternate jerseys, and a new coach, Brandon has addressed many of these issue. As a guy who is locked in to being a lifelong Michigan fan, I appreciate these efforts, and I think the majority of young diehard fans do too.
Just as importantly, the recuits who will eventually lead these teams to the successes and Big Ten Titles that we all long for, eat this shit up. And for that, I thank Dave Brandon.
***Before posters give me grief for posting at 10 on a Friday, I'm in watching my buddy's first preseason NFL game with the Bucs online***
August 8th, 2014 at 10:13 PM ^
Also, Denard with the 23 yard td run around the edge. Memories...
August 9th, 2014 at 12:20 PM ^
Name one recruit that came to Michigan or is considering us because of the alt unis.
August 8th, 2014 at 10:16 PM ^
August 8th, 2014 at 10:23 PM ^
I'd be fine with them if they didn't have the striped numbers. Also, I really hope they won't be wearing those yellow cleats with these...
August 8th, 2014 at 10:21 PM ^
I just want the old nike "maize" back.
August 8th, 2014 at 10:21 PM ^
August 8th, 2014 at 10:27 PM ^
Now that I see the whole outfit with the blue pants, I like 'em! I don't like the striped numbers on the jersey, but overall, not bad. As an older guy, I don't mind change at all, it just has to be good change.
August 8th, 2014 at 11:02 PM ^
August 8th, 2014 at 11:27 PM ^
Hop on! If these had solid maize numbers, I'd argue this is one of the best alternate kits (okay, okay, unis) out there. And once I see these unis on TV during the actual game, I'm willing to be persuaded again.
August 8th, 2014 at 10:29 PM ^
August 8th, 2014 at 10:33 PM ^
"The recruits like them."
The fact that Alabama, Texas, Penn State, and USC don't do special uniforms doesn't seem to impact their recruiting. And honestly, do we want players to come here b/c it's a good fit for the program or do we want to have to entice players with funky, fancy uniforms?
Keep on saying, "kids love what Oregon does," but they've won only one Rose Bowl and zero national titles during the Nike uniformz era. I'm not saying uniformz prevents winning championships, but it certainly doesn't improve the ability to do so.
August 8th, 2014 at 10:48 PM ^
I'm really, REALLY hoping the recruit angle is just a myth when it comes to alternate jerseys. It has to be. Sure, the young ones may like this kind of stuff but I can't believe in my heart that a recruit would turn down Michigan solely on the lack of an alternate jersey once (or in the case of 2011, 3 times a year).
It's just....stupid.
An education at one of the best schools in America? Meh.
Playing in the holy cathedral of college football in front of 110,000 fans? Meh.
The fight song, the history, the tradition? Meh. Meh. Meh.
Alternate jerseys? I'M SO THERE!!!
Screw that.
August 8th, 2014 at 10:52 PM ^
August 8th, 2014 at 11:14 PM ^
I miss the old days where recruits were satisfied just playing at a major school and fashion changes weren't even part of the equation.
August 9th, 2014 at 12:02 PM ^
uniforms does matter to recruiting. Recruits love uniforms and it is a big factor into their decision making.
It is stupid as in uniform matters in recruiting but it's the reality of recruiting.
Uniforms and Facilities plus chances of going to NFL matters more to recruits than anything.
August 9th, 2014 at 12:25 PM ^
"Uniforms and Facilities plus chances of going to NFL matters more to recruits than anything."
Throwing in "uniforms" to that list is BS. Anyone could add any random third thing to the other two things: beer, popcorn, short walk to class, wifi in the stadium, and still have it be accurate in terms of what matters most to recruits.
August 9th, 2014 at 12:37 PM ^
Trust me, I know a few recruits committed for the uniforms.
It is not BS because it is a huge factor into recruiting whether you want to admit it or not.
I was there when football coaches told one recruit that they're in the process of getting a new uniform and their interest was piqued. They were very curious and wanted to see. They kept telling him that they won't show it until before season starts on August practice. That recruit committed a week later. Not joking.
of the veracity of your story. My sell by date was almost 40 years ago but I seem to recall that as a teenager all things bright, shiny, and new were the best things in life.
August 10th, 2014 at 8:22 PM ^
"Uniforms and Facilities plus chances of going to NFL matters more to recruits than anything."
Name me one recruit who went to Alabama for the uniforms, because they have never done uniformz. They've put together the best string of recruiting classes in history (and this would be true even w/o oversigning) And if they did, it's because they like traditional, classic uniforms. And that's exactly what we should be doing.
If uniformz was important to recruiting, Alabama wouldn't be having near the success they are.
Rank the Tide among those three factors you stated as the most important.
- Uniforms? Only top 10 if you believe classic uniforms are the coolest. And the way you frame the argument, they wouldn't be in the top 50 b/c they don't get new uniforms. Ever.
- Facilities? I'm sure they're great, but they're just as good all over their own conference, not to mention other big time programs across the country.
- Chances of going to NFL? That has so little to do with where you go to school. The NFL plucks players from DII. And if you need to play in the SEC to improve NFL chances, there are 13 other schools besides 'Bama.
Before 'Bama, USC and Texas were cleaning up in recruiting. Neither of them ever had new uniforms, and never did uniformz. And they didn't have any competitive advantage among the factors you listed.
Players want to go where they have a chance to win national titles, or they go where they're going to get paid the most. Period.
August 8th, 2014 at 10:57 PM ^
August 8th, 2014 at 11:02 PM ^
Yesterday I would have agreed with you, but having read this post, I'm sure that after this game we will win every recruiting battle with them from now on - win or lose!!
August 8th, 2014 at 11:05 PM ^
August 8th, 2014 at 11:09 PM ^
August 8th, 2014 at 11:14 PM ^
August 8th, 2014 at 11:15 PM ^
August 8th, 2014 at 11:28 PM ^
August 8th, 2014 at 11:32 PM ^
I actually think they look pretty damn cool. And contrasted against the PSU all white road uni's they should look good on TV too.
Now...if we can have all blue home uni's can we PLEASE break out the all white road uni's for a game? They actually would be actual throwbacks to the 73-74 seasons.
And we went 20-1-1 those two years so there's that going for it.
August 9th, 2014 at 12:48 AM ^
We're in the minority here but I would enjoy seeing that for a game. Like, a real white pants uniform with the regular shirt, not the garbage they brought to State three years ago.
August 10th, 2014 at 1:56 AM ^
I'm cool with simple variations like all-whites for the occasional big away game. If Bo dressed his team like that, then what's the issue? I would love to hear Bo's opinion on all of these uniformz if he were around today. I think he'd have a little mentoring moment with DB behind the woodshed, and we wouldn't have to endure this BS.
The away jerseys should be the same style as the home. Solid white (including the collar), and lose the maize trim around the numbers/lettering. Keep it simple and clean. It's sharp and classic - striking. I'd be very happy with a return to this (below), but I'd even lose the sleeve stripes. Also, visible Under Armor type sleeves should be solid white (or blue for home). The sleaves with logos/stripes/whatever just look inconsistent, busy, and sloppy. Keep it all clean and let the helmet stand out.
Back to reality, and these all-blue uniformz... I'm in the home-unis-off-limits camp, but these are at least not embarrassing, EXCEPT for the WTF cheesy number striping that looks 100% the differentiating-alteration-for-jersey-sales sellout that it is.
August 8th, 2014 at 11:42 PM ^
I think there is nothing that looks better than our traditional home uniforms, especially at night. Having said that, I think the pants actually look really good. Would have preferred that the jersey numbers stay the same as normal, but overall this is not a bad look at all (even if it isn't the gold standard of our normal home unis).
Now what we wore against Alabama, South Carolina, and MSU in the last few years, ... those were an abomination and disgrace to Michigan tradition.
August 8th, 2014 at 11:46 PM ^
Dave,
Please stop painting flames on a Porsche. This is fine for a Civic, but not for us.
August 8th, 2014 at 11:52 PM ^
August 9th, 2014 at 12:09 AM ^
Sorry. Call me stupid, but these will look badass under the lights. I love the all-Blues. Would I have chosen to stripe the numbers? Probably not. But who cares. Beat Penn State.
August 9th, 2014 at 12:16 AM ^
Dave Brandon is a massive, throbbing, suppurative ball bag.
August 9th, 2014 at 12:25 AM ^
August 9th, 2014 at 12:44 AM ^
Do we not count the matte helmets from the Outback Bowl?
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