Correction appended
When members of the Blue Band previously donned their uniforms and stepped onto Beaver Stadium's field it was like "wearing a wool suit and wearing a plastic bag over it," Blue Band Director Richard Bundy said.
But after more than 30 years of wearing the "wool suits," the band will debut newly-designed uniforms this Saturday against Coastal Carolina. The uniforms will eliminate the "plastic bag" portion because they lack the vinyl overlay that went over the uniform's coat, Bundy said.
"We're really excited, these new uniforms are really modern and they were a long time coming," drumline member Philip Morrash said. "They're not old and decrepit and gross."
The university spent about $132,000 to purchase the 350 new uniforms and a few extra hats, Bundy said.
While the band periodically replaces fraying and damaged uniforms, this is the first design change in 36 years, Blue Band President Steve Garguilo said.
One of the drawbacks of the new uniforms will be keeping them clean, Garguilo (senior-information systems and technology) said.
One way to keep the uniforms sparkling and intact is the treatment they received to repel liquids that come in contact with the material, Garguilo said.
"We're interested in finding out how the white portion of the jackets hold up when things inevitably get spilled on them," Garguilo said.
The new uniforms are sharper and more streamlined, Band Treasurer Abby Brunner said.
"The director has been in the works of getting them for quite some time," Brunner (junior-finance) said. "It took so long because they wanted to make sure things like button placement and zipper placement worked with each instrument."
The former uniforms had "met their life expectancy," Bundy said.
"The industry standard is that they will last for 12 to 15 years if you're lucky, and we were going into the 14th season," Bundy said.
One of the other features is built-in suspenders, which will make life easier, drumline member Joshua DeFrank (senior-supply chain and info systems) said.
"You don't have to hold the pants up with suspenders or a belt like you used to because they're built in," he said. "The new uniform gets rid of the suspenders and the belt."
Most band members are excited about the new uniforms, Garguilo said.
"[Feedback] has all been very positive," Garguilo said. "The students really seem to like them and they like the change in style, so all in all I think it's very positive."
Still, there's one drawback, DeFrank said.
"The shoes are still a little dorky," he said. "We wear these all black Nike shoes and a white piece of plastic you wear over the shoe."
This article incorrectly attributes information. Blue Band Director Richard Bundy said new Blue Band uniforms received a treatment to repel liquids that come in contact with the material.
