Lee Witbeck, Sports Columnist
We, as sports fans, are at a crossroads. Two paths separated by 90 degrees—one continuing down the direction that has been tread for decades, through generations, coaches, organizations and fans, the other headed towards innovation, creativity, change, the discarding of tradition, and lots of black.
Yes, I’m talking about uniforms.
We’re at a point in the sports world where the currency of cool matters, particularly with recruits, and to a lesser degree, fans (jersey sales). Not everyone is getting in on the jersey innovation front, though. Basketball has tried it’s hand at uniform innovation, but mostly that hasn’t worked out (see here and here). Baseball, both professionally and collegiately, has been content to side with traditional looks (for the most part), and there is nothing wrong with that—baseball is a sport that LOVES it’s tradition. (Quick note, before we move on: the true breeding ground of uniform insanity is minor league hockey. Check out the Las Vegas Wranglers uniforms from Rod Blagojevich Prison Uniform Night.)
The real experimental laboratory for this stuff is college football. With the influx of money in recent years, as well as the rapid expansion of television coverage, there now exists both the means and the reason to start getting fashionable. The Oregon Ducks are the poster child for uniform innovation—here’s an article from a several years ago which states that they had, at that time, 384 possible uniform combinations. Since then, they’ve continued to innovate, and, in my opinion, improve college football fashion.
And there’s the dividing line—one side stands staunchly against flashy colors, chrome and carbon fiber helmets, all black unis (increasingly common, even for schools without black as a primary color); the other side craves more and more craziness. Pink helmets. Helmets on fire. Cool gloves emblazoned with logos. What side do I stand on?
Neither. I stand in the middle. I love Oregon’s endless wardrobe changes, and I love Alabama’s classic, simple uniforms. I don’t think everyone needs the Nike makeover. Schools with tradition and good uniforms have no reason to change—as much as recruits clamor for cool new looks, whatever uniform is winning is still the best look. Should LSU or Ohio State sign up for a whole new set of Nike duds? No. What about UCLA? Yes. Emphatically. (Am I just bitter that Adidas is incapable of putting out even a respectable football jersey for my Bruins? Yes. Emphatically.) And lest you think it’s okay for traditional powers to experiment with classic looks, take note of the dumpster fire Notre Dame made out of their uniforms for one game last year.
First of all, let’s remember that there are more than one hundred FBS schools, and plenty more FCS schools. There is plenty of room for both. I also think the variety is good for college football—so often, college football games are battles of new school and old school: no-huddle vs. smashmouth, crushing defense vs. wide-open offense, spread vs. pro, speed vs. size… Why can’t the uniforms be a highlight to the inherent dichotomies of college football? Also, Baylor’s chrome helmets are cool.
I’ll Be Watching: The UCLA Bruins!
Fair enough, I watch the Bruins every time they play. But. But! This time the Bruins are nationally relevant! No. 9 in the country, according to the AP Top 25 college football rankings. And they are playing Stanford, No. 13 in the country!
Look, it’s been pretty rare for UCLA to be near the top of the charts, and not only that, but to have looked good getting there. Forgive me if I’m excited. Here is why you should watch this 12:30 PM PST game: this could have national title game implications; it will almost certainly have Pac-12 title implications; it will be a good game between two teams that battled for the Pac-12 title last year. The Bruins have revenge on the mind, and the Cardinals have their own redemption to seek—they lost last weekend in Utah. And if you’re an NFL fan, you can get a look at a couple of probably first round picks in the next NFL draft—UCLA’s quarterback, Brett Hundley, and UCLA’s star pass rusher, Anthony Barr.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the weekend’s other highlight matchups: No. 22 Florida and No. 14 Missouri, for those of you who simply can’t get enough of SEC football, and No. 3 Clemson and No. 5 Florida State, for those of you who like exciting football. There’s also some playoff baseball; in fact, LA’s Clayton Kershaw is on the bump tonight. That is certainly worth watching.
Sports Links
2014 Winter Olympics – Sochi 2014
ATP Tennis
IndyCar
LPGA
MLB
NASCAR
NBA
NCAA Men’s Basketball
NCAA W0men’s Basketball
NFL
NHL
PGA
USTA
World Soccer