i find this extremely interesting
Obligatory Uniformz Post
Filed under:
Hey. Life rolls on. Thank you to those who have expressed condolences.
One of the running jokes on the podcast this year has been theorizing that the athletic department has someone specifically dedicated to trolling me. Evidence: "In The Big House" did not return until after the nonconference season had convinced me it was gone, and Michigan waited until the last possible moment to change Jordan Kovacs away from #32. Taken with the deployment of Denard and Devin against Ohio State, this is strong evidence indeed.
If they are deep enough inside that they knew what I was writing up this morning and chose that hour to release the latest in the ever-growing line of uniformz, I am terrified because the sleeper agent is probably me.
Anyway. We knew this was coming because Michigan's promise after they announced the Alabama uniformz was that they would not screw with the jerseys during the regular season. They are here. If you have not been on the internet, here they are:
![A-aWn2tCIAA2Ewh[1]](http://mgoblog.com/sites/mgoblog.com/files/images/UV_D4D2/A-aWn2tCIAA2Ewh1.png "A-aWn2tCIAA2Ewh[1]")
![A-aWxF5CcAEipEQ[1]](http://mgoblog.com/sites/mgoblog.com/files/images/UV_D4D2/A-aWxF5CcAEipEQ1.png "A-aWxF5CcAEipEQ[1]")
They finally screwed with the helmet. Also Ramzy pointed out that there seem to be four different shades of yellow on this thing.
Yes, yes, the kids love it, which is why Alabama and USC are struggling to recruit these days. It is possible the kids are not quite so stupid as that meme thinks they are and make decisions based on things other than wearing goofy alternates a couple of times a year. Your assertion as to what the kids love does not seem to have much bearing on where they go to school. Alabama did not need fancy duds to annihilate Michigan earlier this year.
What gets me is that many iconic uniforms are not being futzed with, including the aforementioned teams plus Texas, Florida State, Penn State, and Oklahoma*, but the people running those athletic departments must be wrong and the man who brought us pasta inside a bread bowl must be right. I do not agree that this is necessarily the case, Kids Love It Arguer Guy.
I mean, the brand-manic NFL has strict restrictions on third jerseys, with many of the teams deploying them once or twice… ever. NFL teams are prohibited from wearing alternates in the Super Bowl, and only the Chargers have ever deployed them in a playoff game, probably because the Chargers' alternates are themselves a great tradition revived from the 1960s.
It's no real loss if Michigan looks dumb playing in Tampa, but I'll be sad if Michigan plays a Rose Bowl in anything other than classic Schembechler blue. And if you wouldn't want to wear it at the Rose Bowl, why would you want to wear it anywhere?
I promise to write another version of this post in August when alternate uniforms for the ND game are announced, because it is tradition, and tradition is important. #thisguygetsit
*[All of those teams have largely if not entirely opted out. Oklahoma wore some all-whites that were roundly panned in 2009 and scrapped the concept, and Texas altered their helmets to honor Darrel K Royal this year but that's a whole different thing everyone should be okay with. IIRC Alabama did have some sort of subtle houndstooth thing in one game. In each case any uniform alterations were one-offs or close to it, not Michigan's parade.]
December 18th, 2012 at 5:13 PM | 
I kind of like the helmets.
I kind of like the helmets.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:14 PM |
Fire David Brandon?
Fire David Brandon?
These Outback Bowl uniforms are a travesty. And so have been all of the alternate uniforms with the possible exception of the Under the Lights game ones.
If we're going to go with an alternate uniform, why can't we do these? Michigan's brand used to be that we'd always had the same uniform. And Brandon has completely destroyed that.
Check out that stylish and distinctive "4" on Bob Chappuis' jersey. And no logos!
"I call that Communist football. I'm so tired of it. Good, red-blooded Americans snap the ball, hand it to the guy and have a normal run game or pass game."
—Steve Szabo, Michigan linebackers coach, November 2007
December 18th, 2012 at 5:24 PM |
Communist football!
Communist football!
Where'd you go, man? Glad you're back.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:35 PM |
Thanks Comrade. I'm still in
Thanks Comrade. I'm still in
Thanks Comrade. I'm still in post-RR mourning mode. But ugly uniforms are enough to get my blood pressure up.
And I did buy front-row seats to see Denard's last game in Tampa, even if his talent has been utterly wasted by Borges and Hoke. And now I have to spend three hours with these horrendous uniforms, up close and personal. B`lyad!
"I call that Communist football. I'm so tired of it. Good, red-blooded Americans snap the ball, hand it to the guy and have a normal run game or pass game."
—Steve Szabo, Michigan linebackers coach, November 2007
December 18th, 2012 at 5:16 PM |
Eh, I liked the Cowboy Classic ones
Eh, I liked the Cowboy Classic ones
Eh, I liked the Cowboy Classic ones. They were shiny and new-fangled while still being Michigan. Haven't liked any of the others. "Parade" is a good word to use. This is Michigan fergodsakes.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:25 PM |
Fucking awful. Nothing like
Fucking awful. Nothing like
Fucking awful. Nothing like changing things a few times a year to build a brand.
The Team, The Team, The Team.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:27 PM |
Why change the best uniform in cfb
Why change the best uniform in cfb
so we can look like actual wal-mart wolverines?
(I know the answer, it's because new $100 jerseys for u 2 buy, that's why)
Rudy watches inspirational movies about Shawn Hunwick
December 19th, 2012 at 2:18 AM |
The road uniform is not...
The road uniform is not...
...nor has it ever been the best uniform in CFB.
"[T]here were a lot of people predicting glorious heights for Rich; mostly the same people who are predicting doom and gloom [for Hoke]. Excuse me if I doubt their prognostication skills." -- M-Wolverine
December 18th, 2012 at 5:29 PM |
Imagine the last time you saw
Imagine the last time you saw
Imagine the last time you saw a michigan football game was Lloyd's last game in 2007, and you came back today and saw that jersey. First, you'd be confused, and then you'd start to find things like "B1G" on the jersey too... you'd wonder, what the fuck happened while you were gone.
Touchdown Michigan!
December 18th, 2012 at 5:30 PM |
The jerseys just look like a
The jerseys just look like a
The jerseys just look like a cheap offbrand I'd buy at Meijer or Walmart. I don't understand how they could design those and approve them thinking they looked good.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:31 PM |
I hate alternate uniforms.
I hate alternate uniforms.
I hate alternate uniforms. Let the clowns play with their makeup.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:32 PM |
Don't hate the uniform, love
Don't hate the uniform, love
Don't hate the uniform, love the helmet. Matte finish looks intense, hopefully we play that way. The rest is a large "meh". We retain our identity for most games, that should satisfy all the GET OFF MY LAWN traditionalists while still appealing to the young and less diehard fans. I think Brandon has balanced that quite nicely, actually.
HAIL.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:49 PM |
Sorry but....
Sorry but....
I couldn't possible disagree with you more. Except I did agree that if you like the new looks you're a "less diehard fan". Why does
December 18th, 2012 at 6:20 PM |
You must be a teenager.
You must be a teenager.
You must be a teenager.
If I tell you it's Easter, you better start looking for eggs.
Some folks call it a sling blade, I call it a kaiser blade.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:32 PM |
Other exciting ideaz!
Other exciting ideaz!
Why stop with the uniforms? How about some other brand enhancing ideaz!
- Maybe we could get the Black Eyed Peas to write a new fight song! Recruits would love it and we could probably make extra cash on iTunes for new ATHLETIC FACILITEEZ!
- Instead of touching a banner, get CNN to create a hologram banner that the players virtually touch on the way in.
- Replace Carl Grapentine with that Daquon guy!
- Replace Frank Beckmann and Jim Brandstatter with the Olsen twins.
- Who needs a marching band? Just pipe in music! (wait, what?)
Other ideaz welcome...
December 18th, 2012 at 5:54 PM |
.
.
The Team, The Team, The Team
December 18th, 2012 at 6:34 PM |
Those are great. I'll see
Those are great. I'll see
Those are great. I'll see that and raise you 10,000
Let's put a Twitter hashtag on the banner.
Insted of "Go Blue" let's make it #GoBlue
Hire me, Dave Brandon!
CJK5H
December 18th, 2012 at 7:24 PM |
I absolutely 100% agree
I absolutely 100% agree
With your third point on Grapentine, the rest I fear is an attempt at humor through sarcasm.
December 19th, 2012 at 10:31 AM |
Hmmm...
Hmmm...
Humor through sarcasm...
"Hi, I'm MGoBlog...have we met?"
The Team, The Team, The Team
December 18th, 2012 at 5:32 PM |
Jersey Rank:
UTL
Sugar
Jersey Rank:
UTL
Sugar
Jersey Rank:
UTL
Sugar Bowl
Alabama
This crap
Bumblebees.
I don't mind if they want to consider one-off uniforms for bowl games, but seriously, when they are this garbage, why not just scrap the idea?
December 18th, 2012 at 5:33 PM |
Did I miss something?
Did I miss something?
Did Dave Brandon and Mary Sue Coleman decide that Michigan is leaving the Big Ten and joining the Big East? I just puked a little in my mouth as I typed that...
December 18th, 2012 at 5:35 PM |
I posted this in the other thread
I posted this in the other thread
But this is the 8th jersey for the last 25 games, or an average of a new look every 3 games.
Considering how BRAND centric DB is, with all Block-Ms everywhere, uniformity across everything, it's mind-boggling that he's allowing our football brand to be diluted with all these silly looks. I get that they can sell more jerseys this way, but I mean, I for one would never buy one of these one-offs. Even the ones I talked myself into (UTL) look terrible (they looked good on the players though). This is 110% about the money and getting publicity.
If I'm buying another M Jersey, it'll be a home blue, or one of these:
http://www.mden.com/shopping/product.cgi?TI1202+1014
"Over? Did you say, over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!"
December 18th, 2012 at 8:52 PM |
That costs more than a modern jersey
That costs more than a modern jersey
Buildningzzz
I have a Fandom Endurance III merit badge
December 18th, 2012 at 5:35 PM |
What Branding?
What Branding?
When Brandon took over didn't he make it a point to eliminate other Michigan Block M logos? Namely the Block M with Michigan written accross it. This seemed to be a consolidation of the Michigan brand identity. I was ok with that but how does introducing Uniformz each year add to that consolidated brand. I am becoming more and more annoyed with Brandon day by day.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:53 PM |
Brandon had nothing to do
Brandon had nothing to do
Brandon had nothing to do with the elimination of the split-M (logo w/ "Michigan" written across). That was a university wide move.
CoE Class of 2007
December 18th, 2012 at 8:13 PM |
What Branding?
What Branding?
DAVE Branding.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:37 PM |
mgoblog is the closest thing
mgoblog is the closest thing
mgoblog is the closest thing I've ever seen to fans of a team/sport "organizing" together. They make these jerseys because people buy them. (I admit, the UTL jerseys were very well done and looked fantastic) Change the damn banner of this website to say DON'T BUY THESE ALTERNATE UNIFORMS. Are we undermining our own athletic department? In a way, but they make enough money without selling these jerseys. The worst thing is the Kovacs video on mgoblue.com, its basically him modeling and talking about (aka selling) the jersey. Really David? Now the players have to move merchandise for you too? I never thought I'd say this, but damn I long for the days of Bill Martin. Yeah, he might have been on a sailboat or playing squash, but at least he wasn't thinking of ways to destroy traditions and take advantage of loyal fans and his own student athletes. That video really disgusted me, sorry.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:39 PM |
uniforms
uniforms
I mentioned this before but our normal kick ass home uniforms look pretty sweet under a night sky.
And there was a time where the only thing added to the uniforms for a bowl game was the name of the bowl.
We don't need an alternate uniform or theme for night games, bowl games, the MSU game, or a neutral game. I guess I'm still living in the state of denial where if I complain enough, this trend of ugly ass uniforms will stop. But there's always money to be made and people buy them for some reason.
I remember how pissed off everyone was when Tom Goss put that halo around the big house in 1998. I wish people would get as angry about the uniform changes. But I'm thinking it's 50/50 among the fans.
Go Blue! Always!
December 18th, 2012 at 5:58 PM |
jersey gift
jersey gift
i'm guessing all of us ticket holders will get a gift of one of these jerseys this fall as a thank you for paying the increased "donation"...because those crappy things will not sell this holiday.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:58 PM |
It's a little late to get
It's a little late to get
It's a little late to get these jerseys tucked under the tree, no?
December 18th, 2012 at 6:09 PM |
well
well
i was actually referring to new year's day; the day of the game. but my point stands. this crap won't sell.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:49 PM |
Helmets...
Helmets...
The helmets look sweet! Been wanting to see this for a while. It will give a more clean look to the helmet, and the gloss wings will pop. The jersey: eah.... Would be better with blue numbers oulinded in maize, I think.
Edit: why do I even bother?
December 18th, 2012 at 5:38 PM |
Agree
Agree
with the hate uniformz takes, but the part that hasn't been mentioned is the fact that we've broken out an alternate uniform for the friggin Outback Bowl. The Outback Bowl! As if that deserves anything out of the norm, assuming of course you want anything out of the norm, which we really don't. Something is very wrong with this whole picture.
"Better to have died as a small boy than to fumble this football" -- John Heisman
December 18th, 2012 at 7:46 PM |
Wow
Wow
You've touched on my 3rd leg of hate about all of this.
1. Aesthetically they are poorly designed and unappealing (to my eyes at least). We seem to be moving towards the enevitable black-replaces-blue-because-its so-cool color scheme.Matte AND gloss on one helmet (to add contrast!) for our alien visitors whoose eyes cant distinguish color OR shape!
2. They are messing with well established/loved tradition that in no way needs fixing. Tradition isn't just repetition, it's the context of that repetition including chilhood memories and feeling game atmosperes.
3. This is a tactic that should be reserved for "lesser programs" it's the AD's version of a classles endzone dance.
Love & Hate are horns on the same goat.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:39 PM |
I think the "kids love it"
I think the "kids love it"
I think the "kids love it" meme is correct, but only applies to schools that don't have the tradition we have (a la Oregon). Michigan doesn't need to improve its image because it's Michigan(ferfuckssake).
Not that I loved Rich Rod less, but that I loved Michigan more.
December 18th, 2012 at 7:29 PM |
The kids love it meme is such an obvious pretext
The kids love it meme is such an obvious pretext
It is ridiculous. This has always been all about the Benjamin's.
December 18th, 2012 at 8:07 PM |
"The Kids Love It" is so
"The Kids Love It" is so
"The Kids Love It" is so dumb. People aren't committing to Oregon because they have fancy uniforms, kids commit there because they have like 8 losses in 5 years
If you're doing nothing, how do you know when you're finished?
December 18th, 2012 at 5:40 PM |
#NoMoreUniformz
#NoMoreUniformz
I don't post often, but when I do (insert most interesting man in the world joke here).
Ok, seriousely this needs to stop. Let your voice be heard. Tweet, text, email or call the atheletic department and let your opinion be heard. NO MORE MESSING WITH THE UNIS!
#NoMoreUniformz
December 18th, 2012 at 5:53 PM |
I've been trying to get
I've been trying to get
I've been trying to get people to take action for weeks, even months, and no one has taken notice. What have I been telling all of you for weeks? This will not stop. Except everyone is too busy piddling away on their I-Pads, deaf to the world around them. We need to actually do something.
Quick, someone tell the hippies that these jerseys are being made by cute little kids in some third world coutry, those liberals really know how to raise a stink pretty quickly. Maybe those Occupiers can finally be put to good use.
~Herm
Stop the uniform changes! Contact Dave Brandon 734-764-9416.
December 18th, 2012 at 7:28 PM |
I knew Herm would roll over
I knew Herm would roll over
In his grave, grab a keyboard, and sound off in this post. Back in the box now!
December 18th, 2012 at 5:53 PM |
I've been trying to get
I've been trying to get
I've been trying to get people to take action for weeks, even months, and no one has taken notice. What have I been telling all of you for weeks? This will not stop. Except everyone is too busy piddling away on their I-Pads, deaf to the world around them. We need to actually do something.
Quick, someone tell the hippies that these jerseys are being made by cute little kids in some third world coutry; those liberals really know how to raise a stink pretty quickly. Maybe those Occupiers can finally be put to good use.
~Herm
Stop the uniform changes! Contact Dave Brandon 734-764-9416.
December 19th, 2012 at 12:47 PM |
I love you Herm.
I love you Herm.
I love you Herm.
Disgruntled former moderator. I got a lot of problems with you people!
December 18th, 2012 at 5:41 PM |
Those uniforms...
Those uniforms...
...look like shit.
And fuck what the kids want. You go to Michigan to become a cranky old man someday.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:46 PM |
A rich, successful, happy
A rich, successful, happy
A rich, successful, happy cranky old man, to be specific.
"The straightest line from A to B is straight: From A to B"
"When you have Denard Robinson, you can have everything"
~George Walden
December 18th, 2012 at 5:43 PM |
looks like Dave Brandon just
looks like Dave Brandon just
looks like Dave Brandon just figured out that Authentic Replica Helmets sell for like three times as much as Authentic Replica Jerseys.
Also: That is a big belt.
December 18th, 2012 at 5:44 PM |
I like the helmet. The wings
I like the helmet. The wings
I like the helmet. The wings seem to pop out more. It's all about the wings, right?
Do you bleed blue?
December 18th, 2012 at 5:45 PM |
(no subject)
(no subject)
December 18th, 2012 at 6:02 PM |
hmmm
hmmm
2nd from the left looks like a throwback ca. 1880.
December 18th, 2012 at 6:09 PM |
Dave Brandon's only thoughts
Dave Brandon's only thoughts
Dave Brandon's only thoughts "How do I get a jersey on the wife? Pink! That's it! We'll "support" Breast Cancer by donating 1% of profits off the jersey to an organization and say we're raising awareness."
~Herm
Stop the uniform changes! Contact Dave Brandon 734-764-9416.
December 18th, 2012 at 6:36 PM |
i guess have been away from michigan long enough
i guess have been away from michigan long enough
that i never considered that a person with that haircut was the mother.
/michiganmomhaircuts4eva!
Everything else is garbage.
Go Blue!