The Oregon-ization of football continues

I don’t think this will ever change. We are in this alter-universe for good I’m afraid. Every bit of this can be attributed to Nike. Plain and simple. It began with the Denver Broncos’ new threads back in 1997, and from that point on things have gotten out of hand. I recall several years ago when VPI brought out uniforms that actually had stripes going around the BACK of the knees. Boosters were outraged and publicly addressed the uniform issues of their school. It was said to have been a yearly embarrassment they had to suffer, never knowing what was still yet to come. In response, Frank Beamer stated that the players liked them, and that was what the recruits were attracted to, so, the uniform designs were going to continue the way they were…and have been for them.
So, the recruits like them, huh? You’re basing your look solely on the preference of kids who can’t get their pants above their cracks, look like total slobs, and probably won’t be in the program more than 3 years anyway??? Good one.
The same problem happened up at Clemson in 2005. Terry Don Phillips, their AD, announced new uniform changes for that season. You wouldn’t believe the outcry from their faithful basically begging the program to NOT change the design that had been in place for 25 years. TDP scoffed at it, actually wrote a very spiteful and hateful letter to IPTAY members that Nike was in charge of the outfitting of the program, and that it was “time” to go in a different direction. Hell, I even wrote him a personal note asking him not to go the way of the Oregons, Miamis, and VPIs. I got a very short and snotty response further letting me know that things will change.
Thankfully, the vast majority of uniforms this year in college football have a traditional look to them. Unfortunately, for the ones that have this urban assault look, they’re so horrible-looking, they heavily outweigh the appeal of tradition.
I’m very thankful that our program has not allowed Nike to ruin our look. I cringe with fear over what sample boards our Nike reps have probably shown CMR and staff. I can only imagine the swooshing, swirling, chopped-off looking designs they’ve made with our colors. More than likely stripes on the shoulders, down the BACK and FRONT of the pants, with “DAWGS” printed across the butt in 12 inch letters. I cannot begin to tell you how thankful I am that we haven’t stooped to that level……….it’s coming though. You watch!
It doesn’t matter though. Even when Nike suggests a bit of throwback to an earlier design, they still can’t seem to go all the way with it. Hence Kentucky’s uniforms we will see Saturday. All-blue at home, all-white on the road. That’s fine, but Nike just couldn’t bring themselves to let the traditional-looking stripes to go from the waist to the knee. They had to stop short in order to run a streak across the back off the butt. Oh, just look how many awesome recruits those have brought to UK’s program!!!
I say give applause to Stanford, Washington, Clemson, and Pitt for bucking Nike’s trends and returning to traditional designs. And, many rotten tomatos tossed at Oregon, Miami, VPI, and Baylor-likes who have ruined their looks with threads off the racks of some hip-hop store in the mall.
God help us for what the egg-heads-who-never-played are coming up with at Nike’s development studios. Maybe some hemp-laced pants that supposedly heighten performance. Riiiight.