Michigan Throwback Jersey for ND game
One of the writers for the freep posted this on twitter...adidas provided this sample to the freep.
"Last week, athletic director Dave Brandon told a meeting of the state's sports editors that U-M intended to hold a nighttime unveiling of the jersey this summer and that U-M hoped fans would purchase a lot of jerseys, as they did for the Big Chill last winter."
here is the link to the freep site (OMG yes its the freep)
I don't really like the Big Chill jerseys, and don't like these either, but the idea might be to have a ton of maize that really pops under in the lights (and in HD).
Not liking it. I might have been fine with the arm stripes and the M on the front but not sure whats with the antiquing on the front and back.
for some reason, but whatever. I have seen worse, and it will be interesting to see something other than the regular home jerseys on them.
Not really sure how I feel about the jersey yet... it will probably grow on me
I don't really like these at all. However, I'm not the target market. What does the younger set think?
Like the Big Chill jerseys, I think these look horrible, and I'm a senior at U-M. I know it's a one-time deal, but they look horrible.
tOSU throwback jerseys. I can live with these for a game. But I don't understand why we have to change the jerseys just for a night game. Maybe ND will wear green jerseys... that's always good for opposing teams.
Aren't they required to wear white as the visiting team?
that for special games, both teams can wear home jerseys.
In hockey (no idea about football but the rule is logical) both teams can wear any colors, with the home team getting first pick and the away team is required to wear a different color than the home team. By that logic ND could wear green.
This is the same in Football now. As long as the colors are contrasting either team can wear whatever they want. Home team gets first pick, and I believe the visiting team needs their permission to wear something that's maybe not quite as contrasting as white.
the rule changed a few years ago. Originally the road team was required to wear white for black-and-white TVs, only way to tell the teams apart. USC and UCLA wanted to go back to their Red-on-Blue games and so a few years ago (2008?) the road team (UCLA?) wore blue, was docked 1 first half time out at the start of the game, and the home team (USC?) took a time out at the start of the game to make it even. The next offseason the NCAA said that the road team has to wear white, unless both parties agree to wearing colors, has to be approved by someone (NCAA or Conference) and a couple other stipulations.
I've always thought Blue vs. Red would be cool with OSU, I don't know if our normal home Blues and ND's Greens would be too close to go color-on-color
EDIT: Found Uniwatch's column about the USC/UCLA game from 2008:
http://www.uniwatchblog.com/2008/12/06/for-whom-the-bell-tolls/
ARTICLE 3. a. of the NCAA football rules states, “Players of opposing teams shall wear jerseys of contrasting colors, and the visiting team shall wear white jerseys.” However, Carroll indicated he would be willing to lose two timeouts during the game (one per half) so that the USC team could wear their dark jerseys for today’s game. But through the grace of God some common sense by the NCAA Rules Committee, andthe cooperation of new UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel, the Trojans will only lose one timeout, and the color vs. color of yesteryear is renewed.
"But I don't understand why we have to change the jerseys just for a night game."
Simple: $$$. A lot of people will buy these jerseys despite how ugly they look. It's an opportunity for money.
for opposing teams. It's the fact that they get to play Notre Dame that leads to the win.
I am going to be a senior at Slippery Rock, and I must say, I like these. Im not in love with these jerseys, but given the whole scenario with it being the first night game against ND,and everything else going on that night, I think it is appropriate to rock some kind of throwbacks. It definitely is something different, but I think it is a good idea. I am in the pro all-whites, all-blue, all-maize camp, so naturally I am in favor of these jerseys. With all that being said, I would not be upset if they dont end up wearing these, just as long as they wear some type of throwback, or all maize! I kid I kid. The Mgoblog world is not ready for all maize. lol
I need the burn it with fire gif now!
Please God let this be a joke.
This is a Horrible, Horrible idea.
David Brandon I beg you not to let these "things" see the field.
This is MICHIGAN damn it! We make fun of schools that do this kinda shit. Just because it looks like it has a chance of actually happening doesn't mean we should accept it. It looks like a roller-derby / Arena league football jersey. Hell, who am I kidding, Arena League jerseys look better.
It will be a travesty if the first night game in Michigan history is scarred by these jerseys.
Didn't Brandon wear 85? If so, that would be very telling.
Can they also play with leather helmets and a roundish football?
First impression was wtf is up with those sleeves? I do think it is cool to see them wearing something different for the game. Cant wait for that night game!
Did we ever even wear jerseys like these? I can't find any pictures...
That was my first thought. Did UM ever wear anything like that? And, will the Block M be in lieu of numbers on the front? I find that hard to believe.
The Freep article says that a small jersey number will be added on the front, above the Block M and opposite the Adidas logo.
The NCAA specifies numbers on both the front and the back, of a definite (large) size. I posted the citation previously; I can't recall the rule number right now. I think we'd need a waiver. And, if you're getting a waiver, why put little-bitty numbers on?
Edit. - Woooooops. Somebody already posted the correct Rule, just below...
They're not terrible but how are the pants going to look? It's hard to guage on this picture. At least we don't have players modeling them like Sparty.
White pants.
So, is this a really bad and late April fools day joke?
with the full throwback helmet and pants... but I've always been into the retro stuff, and quite frankly, I'd give this a B+. As far as throwback apparel.
Any other school would probably be thrilled with that grade, but this is Michigan. The home jersey is a timeless A, so this is still a step down.
But I think it could've been much worse...
EDIT:
After staring for a few more minutes, I will say this-- I'd love to see the rest of the numeric set. Chain stitching or not, I think the numbers look great, actually.
As far as the front, we've all been used to looking at football jerseys the same way for decades now. Numbers in front, numbers in back. Any time you depart from that template, it's just gonna look weird. I think it'll be really strange on TV to see the entire OL lining up with a block M on their chests.
EDIT EDIT:
My curiosity got the better of me, so I sold my soul and clicked through to the story. One interesting nugget is that someone claimed there would also be small numbers on the LC opposite the adidas logo. Think the Lightning or the new Sabres sweaters. So at least the numbers will be on there, but actually that'll make it look even less like a football sweater, and more like a soccer kit or something.
It'll definitely be different, but it does marry new technology with historical aesthetics. Whether or not the fan base will accept that is another story, of course.
As an ice hockey official, my curiousity was piqued by not having any numbers on the front because there are specific guidelines for what you can and cannot do with respect to name and numbers on a jersey.
So I went to the NCAA rulebook and found Rule 1-4-4-f on page FR-33. It states:
"Clearly visible, permanent Arabic numerals on one jersey at least 8 and 10 inches in height front and back, respectively, of a color(s) in distinct contrast with the jersey."
Based on this, the numbers on the front need to be at least eight inches in height, and therefore we can (hopefully!) assume those will not be the jerseys we wear.
Aside from the rules, those are the most God-awful jerseys I've seen, maybe ever. I'd rather use highlighter yellow socks before wearing those. Hopefully those jerseys are just the result of some idiot Freep staffer's 10-second search on google.
I'd like to believe that Adidas just provided that to the freep to screw with them and will be revealing the REAL design at another time. Or, this is going to be a replica-only design for consumer consumption.
I'm a fan of throwbacks, but I'd like them to actually throwback to something. Olde Tymey-inspired crap doesn't cut it for me. Its like buying a faux vintage thrift store t-shirt new at Old Navy or something.
judgement on these jerseys. I want to see what the full kit looks like. What are the pants, socks, shoes gonna look like. I'm willing to bet that the socks will be striped to match the jerseys with the pants being a solid color.
will already really tie strongly into the helmet, especially from the back. I think if they had striped socks it'll be waaaaaaay too much.
Excuse me while I clean my coffee off my keyboard. Have you seen Nike's attempts at "throwback" jerseys?
Look no further than 2010
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritagesportsart/5635991002/
As much as I dislike it, that actually was a throwback.
What I don't understand, however, is the backlash at Adidas. Our "throwback" jersey, without a doubt, was not solely designed by Adidas. The athletic department was most certainly involved.
We haven't seen these uniforms until we see them with Dreads, y'all.
... legofy the jersey onto Lego Martevious? Please?
It's because we've gone from Maize and Blue to Highlighter Yellow and Blue. Adidas has produced just some awful gear for U of M.
to suggest that "adidas" has driven the move to "highlighter" Maize.
We've been going in the direction, gradually, of brighter and brighter Maize for 30 years or more, most particularly before and during the Nike contract.
50's "Maize":
60's "Maize":
70's "Maize":
80's "Maize":
90's "Maize"- Nike:
00's - More Nike "Maize":
10's - adidas "Maize":
Nike maize looks pretty bright to me.
I can personally vouch that we were highlighter maize in 1982, and I'm sure it wasn't new then.
I want to take this time to say that, when you aren't going on about anti-RR conspiracies, you are a really interesting poster.
Hey...that game will never have happened as of a few months from now
Yes, because all those throw back Nike jerseys are so awesome. Like them or hate them it has little to do with adidas. They copied an old Uni, the one that UM picked out.
Edit: thanks for the visual rbgoblue.
I can live with the block M and the number but the stripes have to go!
Good god, man. What in the hell is that?
The Big Chill jerseys they sold were terrible quality and had the stupid Arby's logo on it.
This is the ugliest damn thing ever. Shit, the Nike Pro Combat abominations might be better looking than this.
JUST USE THE REGULAR JERSEYSSSS