Anyone else losing love for the alt uni craze?

Submitted by MonkeyMan on

I think I have had it with alternate uniforms. This wasn't always the case- when they first started coming out I was very excited and found it a good change of pace. But now I wish the whole thing would stop. Here's why:

1. Most alt uniforms suck- plain and simple. They are either too hideous (ex: Northwestern's bloody vet uniforms) or so boring its like "why bother?" (Oklahoma's white "I'm just the same as Nebraska" helmets.) The reality is that making a good uniform that is interesting is not that easy.

And lets face it- uniforms from yesteryear for the most part need to stay in yesteryear (see any of Ohio State's nighmares from the past). Putting an old color scheme on new pads and helmets that did not exist years ago usually just looks wrong-  and bad.

2. Alt uniforms often make players look like clowns in some kind of Escapades on Ice show- (see Indiana's Pepperment Patty uni's). Its tough to be aggressive with sparkle all over you. Just doesn't feel like football. Helmets often don't match the jersey's - UGH - ugly clowns

3. Alt uniforms are so common now that they don't feel special anymore and just seem annoying more often than not. Its like a gag prop that gets stale from overuse. 

4. Alt uniforms trash tradition- many uniforms don't even have the teams colors or emblems anymore. Tradition is one of the great unique features of CFB- it allows us to go back and watch old games and not to have to guess who is playing. Hate to say it- but the NFL seems like it has more tradition than CFB these days.

I am not entirely against alt uni's- but they seem to be bad more than they are good. Maryland's Migraine Masterpiece may visit this weekend- they are just plain hard to look at. Which kind of takes away the whole point of "watching" football. Its like staring at a disco ball for three hours- who wants to do that? (maybe the idea is to give the opposing team a headache)

To me the fun of watching CFB- is the actual play- the football. If I want a fashion show or lots of flash I'll go to a Hanna Montana concert. I just want easy to watch uniforms that are easy on the eyes- and good football. 

Maybe there can be a limit on how often the uniform is used. 

In reply to by Wolverine Devotee

UMxWolverines

November 10th, 2014 at 3:54 AM ^

Sorry WD, but you are part of the problem. 

It just baffles me that people shell out the money they do on every alternate jersey. 

There's nothing creative about putting stripes on the shoulders and numbers and calling it an alternate. 

coldnjl

November 9th, 2014 at 9:44 PM ^

I am sick of it. Sometimes I turn a game on and have no idea who is playing just by looking at their uniforms. I can always recongize the classics on TV: USC, UT, UM, OSU, Neb, UCLA, FSU, etc. 

robpollard

November 9th, 2014 at 11:47 PM ^

You couldn't read the numbers and, unlike our Outback Bowl nonsense, that couldn't be blamed on the sun. Additionally, why would UCLA take their traditional unis -- which are classic and signify So Cal with their sky blue and gold colors -- and make them washed out gray? It's the supposed to make them look tough?



As a bonus, the name of the color schem, "L.A. Steel" sounds like it's out of Zoolander.

snowcrash

November 10th, 2014 at 3:06 AM ^

Those things are hideous and unreadable. They look like asphalt. Arizona State looked just as bad yesterday, with the same stupid dark gray instead of their usual sharp-looking maroon and gold.

I don't mind alternative uniforms as long as teams stick to their own colors. The new dark gray trend is even worse than the black trend. Dark gray looks terrible when paired with every other color except maybe white.

MaizeAndBlueWahoo

November 10th, 2014 at 9:51 AM ^

I am sick of it. Sometimes I turn a game on and have no idea who is playing just by looking at their uniforms.

I am so glad I'm not the only one who thinks that you ought to be able to know who's playing without being told, because that's pretty much the point of uniforms.  Well, I never was the only one - the NFL gets it.  But still.

titanfan11

November 9th, 2014 at 9:44 PM ^

but it does give players and fans a chance to connect to history or to bring out different looks.  I am all for tradition, but it lets the players have some fun, especially if they are involved.  I like Oklahoma's white helmets, becasue I am a fan of almost all white helmets in general.  I also like the unis (not sure if real or not) that appear to an alternate for Mississippi State on the ESPN.com page right now.  

Gerald R. Ford

November 9th, 2014 at 9:45 PM ^

Great post. Well stated and not too much "get off my lawn". I agree - once everyone is doing it, it won't be all that cool anymore. Then retro will be cool again. Same cycle in other aspects of life.



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Waves

November 9th, 2014 at 9:54 PM ^

A little changeup once in a while is okay, but good grief, sometimes you can't even tell the teams on the field. Like IU's red and chrome tiger stripe helmets or whatever that was yesterday. There shouldn't be so much deviation from (sorry to use the word) "brand" of a team that they lose their identity.

TheSacko221

November 9th, 2014 at 10:05 PM ^

Way I see it if you are worried about what they are wearing your team must stink. That or you're just a dick bag who thinks he is better then other fans because he is a "traditionalist". Either way you're a dick bag



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