UniformZ coming to an end for Michigan
Well, Dave Brandon might not want to admit a mistake, but Brady Hoke will:
http://www.freep.com/article/20130812/SPORTS06/308120084
He even says that they wore one uniform that they'll never wear again. Was that the Victors/Valiant Bumblebee? The USFL edition for the Alabama game? We may never know, but Hoke says he leans more toward Penn State's uniforms. Restoring Michigan football and uniforms. Hard not to love the guy.
August 12th, 2013 at 4:59 PM ^
Of the bad alts (non-UTL), there's....
- 2011 reverse-UTL whites against MSU
- 2012 Sugar Bowl very plain whites
- 2012 yellow-shouldered Alabama whites
- 2013 bowl game bright yellow-whites.
Someone mentioned that Hoke was talking about the reverse-UTL whites when he mentioned a jersey that will never be worn again.
August 12th, 2013 at 6:50 PM ^
I'll have to disagree with one ... i actually liked the Sugar bowl jersey.
August 12th, 2013 at 7:30 PM ^
August 13th, 2013 at 3:47 PM ^
I was a huge fan of the Sugar Bowl alternates because they were so plain. I wish those were our regular away jerseys, instead of having the brutal piping on the side.
August 12th, 2013 at 5:07 PM ^
During the Alabama game, my face looked exactly like a slightly skinnier version of the exact face Hoke is making in that picture. I assume some had the "Dileo sad" face as well.
Never the less, glad to hear that about uniforms.
For the record, I'm guessing he's talking about the UTL uniforms, because they were so different, or the MSU ones, because those were just awful, or both because they were variations of one another. I wouldn't be surprised if they wore slight variations like the ones against Bama or in the bowl games again, though.
August 12th, 2013 at 6:19 PM ^
This needs to be a thing
August 12th, 2013 at 7:17 PM ^
Saved and ready in case of catastrophe!
August 12th, 2013 at 5:03 PM ^
August 12th, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^
Well, there's also this:
Athletic director Dave Brandon said in May that the only time U-M might change this year would be for the bowl game, if the players want it.
So that's an almost full reprieve for one season at least.
I must say I'm enjoying my sparkling and untrampled lawn.
August 12th, 2013 at 8:38 PM ^
I think you're engaging in some creative reading.
"this thing is bigger than it should be... But we’re traditional, and we have such a great tradition and legacies, we’re going to be staying pretty much standard.”
"Asked today which other uniforms he likes, Hoke pointed to Penn State’s conservative look."
Sure, anything is possible, but it doesn't sound like Hoke is enthusiastic at all about the alternates. If he did like the alternates, he wouldn't say that he likes Penn State's unis.
And Hoke continues to impress me by never stooping to take the bait on bashing other programs needlessly. He's relentlessly classy.
August 12th, 2013 at 5:04 PM ^
The alternate uniforms made a lot of people very angry and have been widely regarded as a bad move.
August 13th, 2013 at 12:39 AM ^
August 12th, 2013 at 5:09 PM ^
have a radio show?
and unfortunately, brady does not have the final say on this, unless he does a certain something and is awarded with a crystal something
/notjinxing
August 12th, 2013 at 5:09 PM ^
Only a minor celebration here. The stupidest, ugliest uniforms the team ever wore for the MSU game (which were so bad, they were kept a secret from the public until the day of the game) are never going to be worn again. This doesn't account for the other slightly less ugly but still ugly uniforms that could make a return.
August 12th, 2013 at 5:11 PM ^
August 12th, 2013 at 5:24 PM ^
But someone said that we may get that "graphite" looking style helmet that Texas A&M (also Adidas) has. I actually like the texture, just hate doing anything to ANY of the Michigan uniform.
August 12th, 2013 at 5:13 PM ^
I'm guessing the MSU 2011 uniforms are the most likely to get the ax, with a close second to the Outback Bowl uniforms (maize-only numbers on a white background?!),
August 12th, 2013 at 5:20 PM ^
One more reason to love Brady Hoke. It's gotta be the 2011 MSU Clowniformz - that was an embarassment... but they all suck. Brandon likes brands... and we have a great one already... it ain't broke so...
August 12th, 2013 at 5:24 PM ^
August 12th, 2013 at 6:11 PM ^
The company doesn't matter. All of them have produced garbage of late. Nike (see OSU, MSU, Oregon, etc.), Under Armor (Maryland), Adidas (bumblebees). It's up to the school to say "no" and it seems we're finally doing so.
August 12th, 2013 at 6:51 PM ^
+1.
This deserves a posbang.
August 12th, 2013 at 7:13 PM ^
August 12th, 2013 at 7:47 PM ^
August 13th, 2013 at 8:33 AM ^
My Adidas stuff is holding up just fine. And it's not because of lack of wear. My Nike stuff has mostly fallen apart, but that's due to ten plus years of washing machines. I actually like my Adidas shorts better than the Nike ones. I don't really have an opinion on which company we should use, but I don't think Adidas is inferior. Then again, I've always been a soccer player so maybe I'm biased.
August 13th, 2013 at 10:31 AM ^
The quality of the garments is a separate argument, but maybe a bit parallel. Some pieces will be well made; others won't. Just as the design can be "good" or "bad" for either apparel manufacturer, the quality can vary as well. The bottom line is basic - both companies make bad products (whether in design or quality) from time to time. It's up to the schools to stand up for what they want (and don't want).
August 12th, 2013 at 8:41 PM ^
Finally some common fucking sense. Nobody is putting a gun to the heads of these nitwit ADs who approve this crap across the country—they're doing it willingly for the dough. That's the only reason.
August 13th, 2013 at 10:35 AM ^
Preach!
Although, for many schools, it isn't just about the money. It's about the exposure if you're a small program (Maryland) or tradition-less program (Oregon). Those schools need a way to grab some attention and they choose to do it with wacky uniforms. In our case, it's really the pathetic money grab as we don't need attention for our uniforms; we're Michigan. Everyone knows our uniform. Everyone knows our stadium. Everyone knows our history. Despite Brandon's "make money" mentality, I'm really surprised he jumped so deep into this shit. He knew well enough to simplify the Block M across campus, why didn't he see that same logic for our uniforms?
August 12th, 2013 at 5:29 PM ^
Mission accomplished, angry get-off-my-lawn fans and alumni.
Like it or hate it, those alternates create buzz and interest.
Long live the UTL uniforms.
August 12th, 2013 at 5:39 PM ^
August 12th, 2013 at 5:59 PM ^
Exactly, pretty sure the amazing game on at primetime had something to do with the extra attention. Michigan didn't get to be what it is today by selling shitty products and "creating buzz".
August 13th, 2013 at 7:22 AM ^
August 13th, 2013 at 12:38 AM ^
If we had lost that game, there would be much less sentimental attachment to those uniforms. I personally hate the things, and whenever I see photos or video from UTL I find myself wishing that I were looking at a Michigan home uniform.
On the other hand, as long as they don't touch the helmet, I don't care what we do on the road. We could literally wear bumblebee costumes on the road - stingers, antennae, all that stupid bee shit - and I'd be fine as long as we're wearing our traditional helmets.
August 13th, 2013 at 8:18 AM ^
Bumblebee uniforms are pretty much guaranteed to create buzz. You might be on to something here.
August 13th, 2013 at 7:50 AM ^
Buzz and interest please. Michigan creates more buzz and interest with any one single win, even over Eastern, than with uniformz. Do you remember the "Game is OVA!" interview? Did they ask about the uniformz or the game?
August 12th, 2013 at 5:32 PM ^
August 12th, 2013 at 6:02 PM ^
me too and I like the outback bowl jerseys.
August 12th, 2013 at 7:14 PM ^
Were you actually at the bowl game? Those Uniforms sucked so bad, I was 30 yards away from the Clowney hit on Smith and thought it was Denard until i got a text telling me it was Smith. The only way you could tell if Denard had the ball was to look for his dread locks.
August 12th, 2013 at 8:49 PM ^
Yes, I was at the Outback Bowl. I sat right at the intersection of the Michigan/Carolina sections. Right around the corner from the giant pirate ship.
August 12th, 2013 at 5:35 PM ^
August 12th, 2013 at 5:37 PM ^
August 12th, 2013 at 5:56 PM ^
August 12th, 2013 at 6:06 PM ^
August 12th, 2013 at 6:21 PM ^
I'm glad we won, and those uniforms are still terrible.
August 12th, 2013 at 6:26 PM ^
August 12th, 2013 at 5:46 PM ^
August 12th, 2013 at 5:54 PM ^
Like, what? Maize pants, blue jerseys, maize numbers, blue helmets with maize wings? The home uniforms have been pretty much exactly like that since, what, 1938? Aside from two seasons with white pants in the 1970s, the away uniforms have been maize pants, white jersey, blue numerals, blue helmet with maize wings. Subtle sleeve stripes, maybe a block M, maybe a goofy piping on the torso in recent years.
In the modern era, no bumble-bee stripes, no maize numerals that are impossible to read, no gimmicky helmet variations. That's consistency within a certain conservative style. Until we decided to buy into Adidas' marketing strategy and this stupid college football uniforms arms-race that always gets justified by "the recruits love it."
Hoke is saying it's time we get back to being Michigan. If you can't recruit a kid without bumblebee stripes and a flashy uniform unveiling video, you're doing it wrong. We have a school worth selling and a tradition that needs no marketing gimmick. That's the product Hoke is giving these kids. So get the kids who are looking for the whole package, not a chrome helmet in their locker twice a year.
August 12th, 2013 at 6:25 PM ^
August 12th, 2013 at 5:47 PM ^
Brady Hoke: He doesn't follow the trends.