Road Uniforms Will Have 1974 Flavor
Rivals had posted some shots of what purported to be Michigan's road uniforms this season. They controversially(!) featured white pants, and they are a real thing:
Straight Facts! pic.twitter.com/bcms6icJVU
— Chris Partridge (@CoachCPartridge) August 16, 2015
Michigan had a brief period in the mid-70s in which they wore uniforms very similar to those. You can see what they looked like (and get your RDA recommended dosage of Keith Jackson) in the introductions to the 1974 OSU game. A wider shot of the pants comes at 1:15:
A better look at the uniforms is available to people willing to watch the infamous Mike Lantry "miss" in 1974:
These are legit throwbacks, so they've got that going for them. I'm not sure how I feel about them yet; it'll be hard to tell until I see the modernized version actually on a person. I think I'll like the jerseys but wish we were going with maize pants.
It is interesting that the instant Harbaugh comes in Michigan wears a clean, actual throwback. One of the many revelations in Endzone—sorry, BRANDON'S LASTING LESSONS—is that a large number of the uniformz folly can be traced directly to the AD, down to the goofy numbers against South Carolina.
Adidas remains responsible for delivering jerseys that tore as soon as the opponents looked at 'em, though.
August 15th, 2015 at 10:19 PM ^
Is Dave Brandon running mgoblog? Why such a late post?
/ dodges Brian's punches
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 16th, 2015 at 1:57 PM ^
That's a stabby face.
August 16th, 2015 at 3:27 PM ^
He had the Horseshoe shaved in to his head.
August 16th, 2015 at 4:43 PM ^
Bad Ass Billy Gunn Style.
August 17th, 2015 at 12:42 AM ^
I can't believe those are college kids. Half were bald. Wtf? They look like they are in their 40s
August 16th, 2015 at 12:29 PM ^
It's a weekend post... it must be the ON-SEASON!
August 16th, 2015 at 12:42 PM ^
I like this.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 15th, 2015 at 10:23 PM ^
Ha! They jacked up the player intro and completely skipped Archie griffin.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 16th, 2015 at 10:27 AM ^
I noticed that too. They can't even get their own players right!
August 16th, 2015 at 3:19 PM ^
Bring back the in person play intro...I say!
August 17th, 2015 at 9:07 AM ^
That's clearly the best avatar I've ever seen.
August 15th, 2015 at 10:23 PM ^
Two front page posts on a Saturday. That's a rare occurrence. Take the rest of the weekend off, Brian!
August 15th, 2015 at 10:24 PM ^
Brian
Quit drinking and go to bed
August 15th, 2015 at 10:27 PM ^
I like it. When there were rumors they were going to do it during RRs era I was hoping they'd do it.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 16th, 2015 at 11:09 AM ^
There was already a considerable amount of angst over the yellow "piping" on the unis while RR was here, and If he had gone to the white pants, MGoBlog would have melted down in an epic pant-crapping, "RR doesn't respect Michigan traditions" ragefest.
I don't hate them, but I strongly prefer the maize pants. My main issue with them is that 1974 was a horrifically disappointing season at the end, and the white pants have always been tied in my mind to seeing Lantry's successful field goal being waved off by those criminally incompetent and gutless refs down in Columbus. Third season in a row with 10 wins and no bowl game.
August 16th, 2015 at 12:25 PM ^
I don't think "disappointing" does the '74 team justice. It was great team that should have finished the regular season 11-0 if not for the officials blowing the Lantry FG call. And then it was screwed by the idiotic B1G rule that only one team could go to a bowl. None of this was the team's fault. I'm happy to give that team its due.
August 15th, 2015 at 10:28 PM ^
I agree, I wish they were going with maize pants.
But if we're winning, I don't care.
August 15th, 2015 at 10:30 PM ^
I prefer maize, but whatever man. I'll just keep abiding and see how it works out.
August 16th, 2015 at 8:02 AM ^
I like the Maize pants but I don't necessarily hate the white pants. Though, I will say, this is probably my favorite away jersey that we've ever had. The simple white with the fantastic stripes on the arm -- just great. While it looks OK in all white, I think that jersey would pop with the standard yellow pants. But, as you said, whatever -- just win.
August 15th, 2015 at 10:28 PM ^
have to say I like them
August 15th, 2015 at 10:28 PM ^
Seems to be a throwback to the years Harbaugh was a ballboy.
August 15th, 2015 at 10:42 PM ^
Hackett wore these uniforms.
He played Varsity here from 1974-1976.
August 15th, 2015 at 11:23 PM ^
I would be surprised if Hackett made any travel roster for Michigan. He probably only wore home uniforms.
Hackett did not play at all in 1974 and 1975, and played 5 games in 1976 as the third string center, all 5 of those games at Michigan Stadium (Stanford, Navy, Wake Forest, Michigan State and Illinois).
Ah, for the days when the third string center would see the field 5 times in a season.
August 15th, 2015 at 11:40 PM ^
Fine, his teams wore these. So I'm sure he remembers them fondly. I'm sure he had his own road uniform like this. Plus, he probably made the bowl trip in 1975.
August 16th, 2015 at 5:19 PM ^
A very young Jim Harbaugh was hanging out with the team on a regular basis during the white pants era. Thus, he may have some favorable memories. I didn't like them, but since TV coverage was sparse back then I didn't encounter them often. I was happy when they went back to maize. However, I'll live with them if it make JH a happy camper.
August 15th, 2015 at 10:30 PM ^
I love them. I typically don't give a flip about uniforms, but these happen to look close to exactly like my high school's set while I was in school.
August 15th, 2015 at 10:30 PM ^
I am with Señor Cook. The jersey is cool, but I love the maize pants and prefer them. But as always, please just win more.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 15th, 2015 at 10:32 PM ^
There is going to be some messy Full Kit Wankers this season
August 15th, 2015 at 10:33 PM ^
In order to increase swag factor, perhaps glow-in-the-dark and bedazzled long sleeve undershirts? "WE WORK" on one sleeve and "WE ON" on the other?
August 15th, 2015 at 10:38 PM ^
People probably should be more open to looking inward at their own program when they have jerseys they don't like. It's not like the manufacturers are forcing them to wear things they didn't approve.
August 15th, 2015 at 10:40 PM ^
So, they could have vetoed all of that stuff from 2011-2014 but DB allowed it anyways.....
August 15th, 2015 at 10:50 PM ^
Not simply could have vetoed but did not.
Led the charge for.
August 15th, 2015 at 10:56 PM ^
I'll always love the UTL1 jerseys. The rest...
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 16th, 2015 at 12:45 PM ^
That was a cool jersey for a special night. Wow, uhh...remember!
Every other one was putrid somewhat for style but mostly for disrespect to the tradition Brandon was so fond of selling away.
Good riddance toy boy.
August 15th, 2015 at 10:44 PM ^
Awesome. We were pretty good in '74 too. I'd take a one-loss season this year. We outscored our opponents that year 324-75.
August 15th, 2015 at 10:50 PM ^
Those are nooooyce, mate. I love the maize pants, but it's nice to mix it up. Every road game?
August 15th, 2015 at 10:50 PM ^
The 1974 OSU football team a.k.a. the Goon Squad. What a bunch of characters.
August 15th, 2015 at 11:00 PM ^
For those who don't care to watch the clip of the officials gift wrapping that 74 win to OSU, you can see the all whites (off and on ) here from 1:36 to 4:05
August 16th, 2015 at 2:41 AM ^
The year the uniforms were all maize? I don't mind the throw back '74 all white uniforms. I was in my 3rd season of following Michigan football at age 11. I do remember the tough loses against OSU and OU with the all white uniforms. It would look kind of neat to have maize shirts and blue pants as road jerseys.
August 15th, 2015 at 10:59 PM ^
The M is gone on the helmet bumper, too.
We're going back to being Michigan again, instead of "The Brand" (that also happens to be Michigan). And I love it.
August 15th, 2015 at 11:06 PM ^
It is interesting that the instant Harbaugh comes in Michigan wears a clean, actual throwback. One of the many revelations in Endzone—sorry, BRANDON'S LASTING LESSONS—is that a large number of the uniformz folly can be traced directly to the AD, down to the goofy numbers against South Carolina.
This wasn't a given? Adidas had been around for several years with no non-tearing problems outside of possibly shifting the shade of yellow. It wasn't until Brandon got involved that we got uniformz. In the mean time, other schools with competent ADs never had this issue.
August 15th, 2015 at 11:14 PM ^
These uniforms will look much better when we're curb-stomping Utah.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 15th, 2015 at 11:38 PM ^
Maize pants look fantastic with the blue jerseys, but to me the read unis always looked kind of washed out. I'm all for embracing it and going white on white. It think it makes the helmet pop more too.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 16th, 2015 at 6:47 AM ^
Maize pants with white jerseys is washed out, there is not enough contrast. The road white jerseys should be paired with white or blue pants. I absolutely love the white on white.
August 16th, 2015 at 12:34 PM ^
How is your complaint "not enough contrast" between maize and white, but somehow there is more contrast between white and white?
Maize pants are a true Michigan tradition, not white ones.
August 16th, 2015 at 9:09 PM ^
I'd love to see blue pants paired with white or maize jersey some day
August 15th, 2015 at 11:49 PM ^
Michigan players back in 74 were a band of badass outlaws based on that cool introduction.
August 16th, 2015 at 12:34 AM ^
were evidently in their early to late 40s judging by how many had already succumbed to male pattern baldness.
Comments