Correction appended: 10/03/11.
I understand the whole “no name” idea and the “tradition” behind Penn State’s uniforms, but I do not understand why the jerseys don’t even say, well, the school’s name on them. They are the plainest uniforms in the entire NCAA and, frankly, I think it’s time for a change.
The school may say the jerseys are a part of the tradition, but the uniforms lack any sort of actual connection to the school.
The only place on the entire jersey that shows what school these players are playing for are the colors. Even the small “S” on the helmet isn't meant to indicate the school; it's the logo of Schutt, which makes the helmet.
And somehow, Penn State football found a way to make these jerseys even more boring by removing the bands around the arms and the neck.
We were already known for our lack of creativity and now they’re even worse. Compared to teams like Oregon, who seemingly has a new jersey for every game, or Virginia Tech, who sported a black Nike Pro-Combat jersey last season, Penn State is struggling in the uniform department.
Every week people tune in to watch teams that have new equipment.
When Maryland revealed its new uniforms at the beginning of the 2011 season, the school probably got more news coverage than ever before.
There is always a great stir around those teams because the bar is being raised. Once a team changes the jersey, more fans will go out and buy the new fresh look, especially when it’s an appealing design.
As the fan base grows, the team will want to fight harder to win and not let the fans, or themselves, down.
Having well designed uniforms gets the excitement and confidence level up.
Oregon is definitely the luckiest college football team on Earth.
With Nike headquarters stationed near campus, the team gets to try out Nike’s latest and greatest creation every Saturday.
Nike’s design team is on top of its game because every week the team is winning games in their new uniforms.
Other than the aesthetic appeal, having a new uniform reminds the players that this is a new season, or in Oregon’s case, a new game.
These teams can put the past in the past and move forward.
When a jersey is as plain and stagnant as Penn State’s, the players don’t get to feel that feeling. It’s always the same.
Coaches should be fighting to get their players new jerseys because of the fan attraction and pump-up factor it would bring.
What person wouldn’t want a really colorful, creative free gift every season?
New, eye-popping uniforms would boost morale, bring in the fans and make money for the team and school. As the times and teams change, so should the uniforms.
Correction: A column, “Jerseys need more pizzazz,” on page 12 of the Monday, Oct. 3, 2011 issue of The Daily Collegian incorrectly stated information about the Penn State football uniform. The “S” on the helmet is Schutt’s logo, the company that makes the helmets. The column above reflects the correct information.
The Daily Collegian apologizes for this error.
