September 6, 2004

Flag on the Play - Uniform Czar

The very first installment of my very own editorial column. Yahootie! I thought I'd take this chance to look at what all the kids are wearing this year because -- let's face it -- some of it's down right awful. Time to call in the Uniform Czar.

First up: Utah
Can Utah not call Nike or somebody to make sure that their uniforms match their helmets? The tv coverage of their game against A&M made it pretty clear that the helmets are crimson and the jerseys aren't. Rule #1 of being a super sexy, top 20 team is that your curtains have to match your rug, OK? And Utah sports info guys, if you're going to put a photo on the website, let's make sure it's not one where your guys is committing a penalty. OK?

Next up: Everybody with white cleats.
Just stop it already. There's just no way that a team that wears white shoes is ever going to look as good as a team that wears black shoes. It doesn't matter what color your uniforms are - you're never going to look like you could kick the snot out of a rabid mule wearing white shoes. See? If you're a fan/booster at your college, get those letters in to the athletic department right away.

Next up: The University of Northern Colorado
If you're not keeping up with the DI-AA happenings at Fanblogs, you need to be. You also need to giving some love to the Northern Colorado Bears. Not only did they win their inaguaral conference game in the Great West Football Conference, but they did it in style. The football team held fundraisers to buy their new uniforms. I don't care if you like the uniforms or not, I'm instantly a fan of teams that go out & take the initiative just to make their school look good. Go Bears!

Next up: Throwback uniforms
If the Uniform Czar had his way, every team would wear throwback uniforms for homecoming. It looked great when Oklahoma wore throwbacks last year, Tennessee made a great showing last week and Kentucky looks like their throwbacks are going to be winners, too. Every team should be required to go with throwbacks occassionally. And I think it'll happen at more and more schools, too. Not because I say it should, mind you, but because it's just one more way to make a dollar.

Finally: Was I wrong?
I spent the majority of last season saying that Oregon's Lightning uniforms were the absolute worst thing ever conceived by man. Turns out that somebody at North Dakota State has gone out of his/her way to make a liar out of me. Listen, I know it's hard to look cool when your colors are green and yellow, but you're the Bisons...so quit looking like the Ducks!

Posted by Kevin Donahue