Uniforms

Now that we are entering the dead zone of Spartan sports activities (sorry, baseball, softball and golf fans) let's talk about something a little less controversial--team uniforms.

    

Yesterday the Lions introduced a new logo and slightly revised uniforms and it got me to thinking about the uniforms our Spartans wear, specifically in basketball and football.  A recent Sports Illustrated poll had the Spartans with the "ugliest" uniforms in college basketball.  Now, I know that green and white are not the most colorful combinations in the world, but I do feel that the uniform design is neat, clean and simple.  The Nike "State" logo has been around for nine years and still looks pretty good.  A few years back, Coach Izzo tinkered with a home, silver uniform, but that went out the window quickly after a huge loss to Duke, and was used only one other game after that before being permanently retired.  Other than some gold trim used back in the 60's, the BB uniforms have been pretty much just green and white for a long time.

As for football, we have had Coach Dantonio's uniforms for two years now.  For a number of years, the helmet and jersey colors seemed to be two different shades of green, but now they appear the same.  The helmet incorporates a single stripe from the older days with a clean Spartan design from the more current years.  The stripe-less pants are also clean and simple, although I did kind of like the green pants used for a few years.  I think a lot of people didn't like them because they equated them to the three straight losing seasons under John L. Smith.  The only thing I don't like about the jerseys is that they look like they are fitted by shrink wrapping them.  You've seen boats in storage with blue shrink wrap on them, and they look all tight and crinkly, well that's the way they look on the players, a wrinkled, not clean, look.

Anyway, what do you think?  Do we have nice looking uniforms in football and basketball or not?  If you had free artistic reign, what changes would you make?

Comments

[Rexrode (evil twin)]

talk about a down time in spartan sports...uni talk!? although i cant think of anything to dwell on either. just waiting for summer to breeze by which it always does. to give way to football season. one thing this blog did that i liked, was before the 07 season i believe, going through game by game and collecting predictions and thoughts. start in like mid june and take a game per week. really in depth analysis.

[Rexrode (evil twin)]

oh and will there be an video posted on this site of the green and white game? i have to work during it. again!

[NorthForkRancher]

Slow news day?? How about a column asking Izzo to make good on his promise to shave his head?

[theRichman]

Personally I like our away football uniforms better than the home ones because the helmet and jerseys are never the same shade of green (which looks wierd on tv). The white jerseys with the green helmets look much sharper . However the basketball uniforms should go back to a tanktop but keep the STATE logo on the front . Slow day huh? How 'bout those Wings !

[SSTT]

PICS please.

[karatechop6]

The hoops jerseys got voted the ugliest?? I know I am a bit biased, but come on! I love the design and colors. I do agree that the old "tank top" style looks a lot better. But a lot of teams have went to the tight fit jerseys. I think us and Indiana have the two best jerseys in the big ten. Remember the 2000 jerseys? Those were pretty funny. They even had one style that was green with white pin stripes. Wow!

I like the old time look of the football jerseys. Very plain and simple. Love the Spartan on the helmets too. I say we keep this style for ever. These are much better than the bright kelly green of the late 80's and early 90's. And the late 90's Reebok jerseys were awful.

[The Florida Spartan]

A little fancy trim on both to make them stand out, but most important is keep the names on the uniforms, so the fans from the far corners can identify the players easily.
State is Great!!!!

[Joel]

I hate our basketball uniforms!! They look like women's unis. I like the State text, but they are way too busy. I would like to see a simple uniform similar to Respert days (minus the high sheen). I also miss the 79 retro unis we wore in the early 2000's.

The only change I would make the football uniforms is have green trim on sleeves and neck for away, and white trim on the home unis...similar to the John L days. I would like to see the stripe on BOTH home/away pants, and have the stripe more narrow, ala Arizona State. I would also would like a gray facemask like Alabama/USC. These are the best uniforms we have had in some 30 years in football, so I am not complaining. Can we please where solid BLACK cleats for cryingo out loud!?!?

[Spartan4life]

I am not a big fan of the current basketball jerseys. They kind of have that block on top of the shoulder, it looks kind of wierd. My favorite ones were from the Hill, Torbert and Anderson days. I like the current football jerseys because they are basic. I like the spartan logo on the helmet and the all white away jerseys.

[jeffrey]

basketball uniforms are great, i expecially like the green this year, they look great both in person and tv, as far as the "ugliest" vote, those voters must have been choosing between us and us cause there is no way we are the ugliest, i personally would say they are closer to the best. green and white is great, always stands out too, nobody else who is relevant has our colors, so you know when you see them in the building they are SPARTANS!!! Go Green Go White!!!

[Agesilaus]

I concur on the green pants--white on white is just too much white. Our boys aren't a house painting crew... We mustn't make decisions about uniforms based on the performance of past teams. John L. Smith meant well, and I'm glad he has departed, but that's no reason to hold against green pants. Drew Stanton's effort wasn't diminished by green pants, and if white pants are such a talisman, why have we had so many mediocre teams wearing white pants only? Mr. Hollis, bring back the green pants, sir...! Agesilaus has spoken.

[Tanfan]

Jersey plus pant baby !!!

[psyc]

Any guy reading and commenting on this subject should have their man card revoked!!!!!

OOOOH, wait a second I ment.......

[DSB]

Football unis should bring in Black as a 3rd color, like Georgia, & our Gorgeous dance team.

[spartandawgs]

I think the solid color football uniforms are the best I love to see the tam in all white from shoes, socks, pants and jerseys, and I think all green as far as pants and jerseys would be great to if it's the same shade of green. Can't wait for fall.

[The Coach]

These tight tops with baggy pants for the men's hoops team blow.

I also hate the fact the football team can't get everything to be ONE GREEN color. These different shades of green are ridiculous.....especially now that everyone sees them in HD.

[SteveL]

For Basketball I really don't like the "STATE" only look. It is too generic. There are other States out there, we are Michigan State and would like the uniforms to say such.

[Mannnn]

Agree...State is not appropriate to represent MSU. Tons of State universities..
Also symbol Block S same..We should use only one Spartan logo.
It is very confusing that we use to logoes S and Spartan.
S is not fency at all.
I hope Athletic depart take this serously, and fix it asap

[Jim]

I didn't like the basketball jersey's at the start of the season but I think they grew on me. No complaints here, but I wouldn't mind if they kept the same design but went to something a little less form fitting.

As for football, I'm not a big fan of the all one color shirt and pants look (I'm a big Buffalo Bills fan and their relatively new jerseys are horrible). They can keep the green pants retired. I'd like to see some minor green stripe on the pants. Otherwise, I'd like to see the helmet color match the rest of the jersey.

[mkirk]

Maybe I'm wrong, and someone can correct me if I am, but didn't MSU trademark the "State" many years ago? Meaning that they are the only ones that can use simply "State." So while others may also be a State college or university, they can't use that as a logo. Again, maybe I'm wrong. Perhaps someone can research that.

[Spartan2000]

I'm a fan of "State" being on the front of both football and basketball mainly because I feel like it creates consistency in our branding as THE state university in America. No other team wears "State" across their chest (see earlier post stating that no other relevant team wears our colors either). I don't see it happening b/c Coach D. loves referencing tradition... Most of all I just want wins no matter what they wear - I think everyone would echo that sentiment

[JJ Davis]

FYI - for a few years Washington State did wear "STATE" on the front of their uniforms, and Mississippi had a similar logo as the 2000 team. I believe that they were all NIKE schools... MSU has come to be one of the top teams in the country on a year to year basis, and that position needs to be recognized with a uniform that doesnt look like another nike cookie-cutter design.

[Darrell Hensley]

guys more qualified than myself to comment on teh uniforms but I like the idea of branding something as State and staying with a brand . Good time to do it now that both teams are winning and will be for a while :) Go State

[Light in the Loafers]

Oh i luv Chris Allen in those shorty shorts. He is "tho" cute !!!!!!!!

Yummy.....

[Alpesh Shah]

I think green and white are one of the best color comb. you don't want something loud and bright all the time.

1. Football Uniforms : We need to get away from the Michigan State words on the Jersey and keep the spartan symbol on the helmet. It looks nice and clean; the only problem we have is too many shades of green in the stands at football games sometimes it looks off.

2. Basketball uni : I hate the fact that ours just says state on it. It looks cheesy; we need to have the spartan head on the front and that's it ; If you can't tell i love the spartan head . I feel it's underutilized in our uni's and clothing. We need to carry that around instead of the block S (which syracuse uses and stetson) or the words Michigan State; since everyone has seen 300 they immediately look at the symbol of the spartan head and think toughness ; relentless ; battleproof.