Whither Blackout?: Whether the Black Jerseys Should Go the Way of the Red Britches
by T Kyle King on Jan 29, 2009 11:15 AM EST
in Football
34 comments
I hesitate even to broach the subject, but it is a topic that we in Bulldog Nation ultimately must discuss. What are we to do with the black jerseys?
We all know the course of events. The black jerseys, which previously had not been worn by a Georgia squad since the Rose Bowl at the end of the 1942 campaign, have been donned three times in the Bulldogs’ last 17 games, with results ranging from the magical to the impressive to the downright disastrous.
Clearly, we went to the well too often and what began as an inspirational change of pace became instead a gimmicky distraction that did more for the other team than for the ‘Dawgs. Should the black jerseys be retired permanently or merely shelved for the short term?
There is, of course, a useful parallel in the annals of Georgia football history. I’m sure you know what I mean:
In the 1970s, and most famously during the "Wonderdogs" season of 1978, the red britches were a staple of the Bulldog road uniform. The Classic City Canines came out attired in their red pants for the first game of the 1980 campaign, against Tennessee in Knoxville, and they looked sharp:
The following week, at the first home game against Texas A&M, the silver britches were brought back. Vince Dooley had replaced the famous silver pants with white ones in 1964 and he revived the dormant tradition just in time for Georgia’s national championship season. The silver britches have, of course, been a defining feature of the Bulldogs’ home and road uniforms ever since; offhand, I can think of only three instances since Coach Dooley’s final season on the Sanford Stadium sideline in 1988 that the ‘Dawgs deviated from this (against Wisconsin at the end of the 1997 season, Florida in 1998, and L.S.U. in 1999).
The red pants still made occasional appearances in the short run, though. At the recommendation of equipment manager Howard Beavers, the Red and Black broke out the scarlet road uniform pants for a game against Clemson at Death Valley in 1985. In a contest that saw the emergence of James Jackson at quarterback and a pair of crucial interceptions by John Little, the ‘Dawgs emerged victorious by a 20-13 margin.
Afterwards, Coach Dooley offered one of the more unfortunately phrased quotations of his entire career:
Quite frankly, I am not big on trousers or jerseys or that type of thing, but rather, I am concerned with what is inside. I think that what was inside those pants today certainly got the job done.
It sounds like that was the year Reed Rothchild and Dirk Diggler walked on at inside linebacker and strong safety, respectively.
For his part, the sainted Dan Magill wasn’t buying Coach Dooley’s line about disbelieving in the magic of the red road pants. Wrote Magill in Bull-Doggerel: "I am positive that he really thought the red britches were a vital factor." Support for the longtime Georgia sports information director’s claim could be found in the Bulldogs’ return trip to Lake Hartwell two years later.
When the Red and Black went back to Clemson for another battle royal with the Tigers in 1987, the home team had the game circled on the calendar. The Fort Hill Felines were considered a national championship contender that year, and Georgia appeared to be the only major obstacle before the South Carolina game.
Naturally, the Tigers wore their orange pants for the occasion . . . and not just any old orange pants, either. They picked out an especially snazzy pair, going with shiny orange britches with a tiger paw at the top and black and white piping down the sides. On the Friday night before the game, in order to counteract whatever Death Valley mojo the orange britches would enable Clemson to conjure, Coach Dooley sent Beavers back across the state line to Athens to retrieve the red pants for Saturday’s game.
On a nasty rainy afternoon, the ‘Dawgs held a late 20-16 lead when Jackson was tackled in the end zone for a safety to cut the Red and Black’s four-point lead in half, then the Country Gentlemen went on the final decisive march that ended in yet another last-second David Treadwell field goal to make it 21-20 for the Tigers.
If my memory is not faulty---as, admittedly, it could be, so correct me if I’m wrong---the red britches have not been seen in the 21 years since.
Should that be the fate of the black jerseys, as well? You tell me, and explain your answer in the comments below.
Go ‘Dawgs!
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My thoughts
Wearing black jerseys should be a reward for outstanding performance and leadership by the team, especially the seniors and other leaders. As I understand it, that’s how they functioned for the ’07 Auburn game: a surprise to reward the seniors. The mistake this last year, I think, was to break out the jerseys too soon: yeah, Bama was a big game, but the team had not done anything particularly special to earn the right to don the Black. I would suggest that from now on the coaches use them as a motivational tool / reward for excellence. Generally, the black jerseys would only appear in seasons in which we play in the SEC championship game and/or a BCS bowl.
I think Kyle may have suggested this at one point and I picked it up from him, but I also think black jerseys should be restricted to regular season games. Bowl games are played on a national stage and so the team should be representing not just their performance that season, but all of Georgia football past, present and future. Since our primary color has been/is/will always be red, we should wear red in bowl games.
by wwcmrd? on Jan 29, 2009 11:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
ill ask it again...
Why do anything? Just pick two color schemes (away and home) and stick to it. Kyle you even used the work gimmick to reference it and thats what it seems like. Wearing a different color jersey shouldn’t be a motivational tool. Reward maybe. Your motivation should come from your hatred for the other team or drive to win.
Maybe i think this way b/c bama doesn’t do it but to me it seems silly to put so much into what color jersey you wear…
When you are an Alabama fan you are expected to hate Auburn, I hate Tennessee because I want to.
by bammer on Jan 29, 2009 12:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, that's exactly why you think this way, bammer
I’m not maligning your tradition, but, frankly, this is something that fans of Alabama, Nebraska, and Penn State simply aren’t capable of understanding. You’re all smart enough, but you have no frame of reference. It’s like debating the difference between blue jeans and khakis with someone from a civilization that doesn’t wear pants.
There’s nothing wrong with the way y’all do it, but that isn’t the way many schools do it. Few teams take it to the extreme Oregon does, but special game attire is commonplace: green jerseys at Notre Dame, orange pants at Clemson, blue pants at Florida, etc.
The 1978 Wonderdogs popularized the red road pants, which were around, on and off, for the next decade. The silver britches made a comeback in 1980 after a 16-year absence. The seniors wanted to wear black pants for the bowl game against Wisconsin at the end of the 1997 season. The white pants against L.S.U. in 1999 were a tribute to a recently deceased assistant coach. The black jerseys against Auburn in 2007 produced the most magical atmosphere I have ever seen in Sanford Stadium.
Obviously, such things can become (and did become) gimmicky, but that doesn’t answer the whole question. Of course special jerseys are no substitute for blocking, tackling, game planning, or having healthy experienced players on both sides of the line. Such things can, however, serve as motivation, both for the team and for the fans.
If one is going to be simplistic about it, one may as well ask why we have scoreboard montages, run-throughs, smoke machines, marching bands, and cheerleaders . . . or, for that matter, cheering. Football is a game of emotion. Harnessing that emotion is part of coaching. This may be a way of doing that, which alone makes it worthy of discussion.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Jan 29, 2009 8:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
well
Can’t say we never changed things around…
Sometimes the classics are just the way to go..
When you are an Alabama fan you are expected to hate Auburn, I hate Tennessee because I want to.
by bammer on Jan 30, 2009 11:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
No argument there, mi amigo
In this department, different schools can chart different courses, and most programs are best served by staying that course in order to be true to their school.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Jan 30, 2009 12:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It should just be something special
Every once in a while, in big games and/or against our biggest rivals. It’ll be really hard to recreate the magic of that first Blackout in ’07, though. That was incredible.
by The ArchDawg on Jan 29, 2009 12:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Auburn at home
I hate Auburn. Beating them 3 years in a row hasn’t changed that fact. Instead of being a gimmick, I think the Dawgs should wear black every two years b/t the hedges against the War Tigers.
Also, we should bring back the red pants on the road.
by mdhenshaw on Jan 29, 2009 1:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Totally right there with you, mdhenshaw
Red pants on the road.
Blackout against the Plainsmen.
I hate Auburn.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Jan 29, 2009 9:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
How about
Red pants and black jerseys against Auburn? it’s the same uniform I wear for almost every UGA game and I must admit, I look good doing it.
by knowshon loves legos on Jan 30, 2009 10:34 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think the two together would be a bit much
It would be like the reverse version of the uniforms from the 1998 Cocktail Party, in which we looked like Texas Tech or a high school team, and which turned out badly, besides.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Jan 30, 2009 12:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Let the Seniors decide
I think it should be left up to the seniors, sort of a new tradition. Give the Seniors the option of wearing the black jerseys once a season, but they have to vote on it. Make sure they understand that it is an honor that must be earned. This way, it puts the onus back on the team and kind of puts the seniors in a forced leadership role.
Also, since the topic of uniforms has come up, what do we need to do to get Nike to make our silver britches silver again. They are now kind of a washed out gray and it doesn’t look nearly as good. The color silver that we had during the Goff years is the way to go. Also, I’d like to see the red pants again too. Maybe the seniors could vote on wearing either the black tops or red pants once a year if they feel like the team has earned. Not together though.
by UgaMatt on Jan 29, 2009 1:53 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
That's a good point, UgaMatt
Putting the decision, and the leadership responsibility, on the seniors is a fine idea.
I’m sorry I didn’t think to include that among the choices. That’s darn good thinking.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Jan 29, 2009 9:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Never Again Please!!!!!!!!!!
Never again after the way the fans supported the team and the way we got destroyed by Alabama.
Never Again, God NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It made UGA looked stupid. Here’s a thought for a reward fo the Seniors…………How about a National Championship ring?! Here’s another thought Charlie, how about we try to knock they other teams duff in the dirt and leave the fashion to Vogue. I want some hungry, mean, punch you in the face players from the Dooley days. I want hungry young men that reach beyond what is possible. I want them to line up and destory Florida, GT, Tennessee and Auburn. I want more SEC Championships.
I don’t give a rip what we wear. Just play with all your heart and GATA. This team has earned the right to get their butt in shape and knock heads. They don’t deserve a F.O. from the Varsity.
No more dancing, no more classless celebration, just play the damn game please.
by JEFFCODAWG on Jan 29, 2009 2:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
My thoughts.
I thought the black jerseys looked damn impressive in their 07 debut, but we all know that it was a Georgia team that beat the Tigers that day. I don’t even remember them from the Sugar Bowl to be honest. Finally, we all know what happened against Bama. The Bama announcer even said, “I wonder if they’ll come back out in red!” (I know b/c I had the extreme misfortune of watching this game with a houseful of Bama fans.)
Every time I see pics from any of the three games I think about how ridiculous they look. Maybe it’s b/c of the sour taste from the Bama game; I don’t know. Nonetheless, I could go a long time not seeing the black jerseys, and I would be very happy.
by Father Dawg on Jan 29, 2009 3:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Can never top '07
I voted for “I’d like to see a blackout occasionally, but not necessarily annually” and I do think it’s a fun change of pace every once in awhile. I agree that it should be more of a reward thing, though — maybe only for SEC title games, or in the Tech game if we’ve already won the East by then or something along those lines. I firmly believe that the Auburn 2007 game was a once-ever kind of explosion that can’t ever be topped or matched, and that trying will just lead to disappointment. But I do think we should bust them out every once in awhile… I think they look kind of cool, myself.
by NMdawg on Jan 29, 2009 4:05 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Hm.
I wouldn’t mind seeing the black jerseys occasionally, but not necessarily every year. And it should be late in the season after the team has established itself as worthy of a deviation (if future players would even want to do it).
More significant to me than the color jerseys was what it did to the crowd for that Auburn ‘07 game. Magical, indeed. I don’t care what anyone says: the stadium looked awesome that night, and I’m not sure I’ve ever had a better time in Sanford (and I’ve been going to games for ’bout 40 years).
by NCT on Jan 29, 2009 4:10 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I think its more for the fans
Just seeing 90+ thousand fans decked out in black instead of red looks so cool. I think that we should continue the blackout, but certainly not anually, certainly not against any but our most hated rivals in a game with national implications, and certainly not until the team has proven that they can deliver.
by dawgdayafternoon on Jan 29, 2009 7:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I voted none of the above
but only because the first option was a little bit off. Not only should they be burned, but the ashes should be disposed of as disgracefully as possible. Burying behind BM is more than they deserve. I just feel like the lackluster effort against Bama, with every possible reason to have incredible energy, has lost the privilege. It isn’t because we lost, it’s because we quit. It was an embarrassment, and the farther away those black jerseys get, the better.
by Bodey on Jan 29, 2009 7:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Just to clarify . . .
. . . only the burning would be behind Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall; the burial would take place somewhere else.
I don’t know if that changes your answer, but I wanted to make sure I was precise.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Jan 29, 2009 9:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I can't believe that I am saying this....
but I think they should be like the Notre Dame green jerseys. Very rare and for very important games.
FWIW my blackout Tshirt that I bought at the Bama game is now used to wash the car and clean up cat barf.
by RocketDawg on Jan 29, 2009 7:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Cat barf?!?!
Please, RocketDawg, treat it with more respect than that. There are proper ceremonial ways of disposing of game day attire cursed with bad mojo, as there are of disposing of soiled flags.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Jan 29, 2009 9:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Cat barf....
is symbolic of our defensive play the second half of the season! :)
by RocketDawg on Jan 29, 2009 10:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, I can't argue with that
Fire your cat!
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Jan 29, 2009 10:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Apparently I was at a different game...
than everyone else was when we played Alabama. Did we quit? I’d say we most emphatically didn’t . For about 20 minutes in the first half, Alabama played the absolute best football they could play, and we played poorly plus we couldn’t catch a break. The difference at the line of scrimmage really showed up for the first time in that game. But the behavior of the fans at halftime and the effort in the second half made me very proud to be a Dawg. Compare the atmosphere and behavior of the fans in that game as compared to the 99 Auburn game and you could see how far we came as a program.
by UgaMatt on Jan 29, 2009 9:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
You weren't alone, UgaMatt
The ’Dawgs were manhandled and whipped soundly in the Alabama game, but they did not quit. They quit in the second half against Florida, but not against the Crimson Tide. ’Bama won handily, but the Red and Black did not roll over for the Red Elephants.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Jan 29, 2009 9:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The backout was awesome twice, and didn’t turn out well the 3rd. Did people think the shirts would make us invincible? We were bound to lose eventually using the black shirts.
But the whole thing is a lot of fun if done sparingly.
Every now and then, not necessarily annually, would be huge fun.
As for pants: fix the sucky looking washed out grey crap we wear now. Calling them silver is a joke.
-Michael
Muckbeast – Game Design and Online Worlds
http://www.muckbeast.com
by Muckbeast on Jan 29, 2009 11:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
I choose "Every time Georgia plays South Carolina"
by cocknfire on Jan 30, 2009 1:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, we really don't quote scores at y'all
We may hear a “16-12” every five or six years, but, whenever a team gets to 45 wins against its rival before its rival gets to 15 wins against it, tossing out individual scores seems at once superfluous and wholly inadequate.
Funny story, though: 2004. Georgia at South Carolina. The Gamecocks dress all in black and (if memory serves) Lou Holtz asks the fans to show up clad in black, as well.
We’re at my in-laws’. (For reasons I have explained before, I will never go to a game in Columbia again.) My son and my nephew both have on black Georgia jerseys, which they made for kids even before the team began wearing them again. I tried subtly to suggest to my wife that this was a bad call by saying, “Huh. Putting the boy in a black jersey when we’re playing a team that will come out wearing black. Interesting choice.” The implication escapes her.
When we go down 16-0, the time for subtle suggestions has passed. I said to my wife: “Get my son out of that jersey.” Apparently, I said it forcefully enough that, not only did my wife change my son’s jersey, but my sister-in-law changed my nephew’s jersey, too.
Georgia won, 20-16. I claim full responsibility.
Go 'Dawgs!
by T Kyle King on Jan 30, 2009 7:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
2004 UGA/SCU
I wonder if Pinken’s CT Scan came out OK after Thomas Davis spent the entire 4th quarter rearranging his gray matter.
by UgaMatt on Jan 30, 2009 7:30 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Georgia’s first half play against Bama was due to a number of reasons, but the jersey color wasn’t one of them. The Dawgs look great with the black jerseys, and we should still break them out occasionally for a big game (as long as they don’t come up with that ubiquitous monochromatic jersey/pants scheme that so many teams seem to like these days.) The idea that they should be retired because of one game seems like a bit of an overreaction.
by Irishdawg on Jan 30, 2009 9:57 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Once every 5 or 6 years
And only against our most hated of rivals. Not in bowl games or National Championship games.
by knowshon loves legos on Jan 30, 2009 10:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Every 3 to 4 years
So every player gets to wear the black jerseys at least once. Except next time lets not get into a pillow fight through the media with the opposing teams coaches. Try to keep it quite until a day or so before the game so the hype doesn’t build up and boil over like it did for the Alabama game. I wouldn’t mind seeing the red pants on occasion also.
Sorry Kyle I’m taking credit for the ’04 USC (can I say that?) game. After the Pick 6 I made my wife switch seats with me. Admittedly it was to keep from punching an obnoxious Carolina fan in the face but it worked nonetheless. Proximity has to give me the edge right.?
by deanpat92 on Jan 30, 2009 1:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, the huge media pow-wow during the Alabama week as ridiculous. We don’t need to announce it early like that.
by The ArchDawg on Jan 30, 2009 6:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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