Comments on: It’s official: Nike screwing with LSU uniforms

By: MIKE

MIKE — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 06:37:27 +0000

No one is selling anyone out. Gimme a break and get off your high-horse. I honestly thought they looked great! I’m an avid LSU fan going back to when I was a little kid (over 20 years ago). First of all..LSU has steadily changed their uniforms bit by bit over the years and LSU has even brought out the white helmets, gold jerseys, etc…It’s LSU’s colors so what’s the big deal? I have min-helmets of the white ones, 2003 champs, and if they’re available I’ll buy a mini for these. So what if Nike developed them? Their jerseys are made by Nike anyway! Look at those atrocities that Oregon wears! They didn’t put the Nike logo on the helmet or anything. why is it everytime a team changes their uniforms some “hardcore traditionalist” blows their stack. It’s 2009 anyway..even if they were permanent, you root for the team..NOT the uniform!

By: Jim Hobson

Jim Hobson — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 02:25:45 +0000

It’s marketing pukes meddling with “image and branding” which means new items to sell. They’ve already made pro football uniforms look goofy. The only team that is safe is Penn State because the only they have made to their uniform was when they quit wearing leather helmets, lol.

If schools want a better image they need players that don’t get arrested, not new uniforms! Leave the uniforms alone.

By: soonerinlOUisiana

soonerinlOUisiana — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:41:11 +0000

In a book I have about OU’s first 100 years of football, there is an old B&W photo from an OU-LSU matchup (1950 Sugar Bowl?) where the LSU helmet appears to be the “metallic” gold, so I’m guessing these are throwbacks. Nike used a throwback look for OU at Texas Tech, which was essentially a red version of Penn State. FWIW, Pro-combat didn’t seem to produce any advantage there, and UT struggled at A&M wearing those unis as well. If they were going to screw with the LSU uniform for one game, they should have used the white helmet and pants with gold jerseys that LSU has worn on occasion. Those look pretty sharp.

By: Drew

Drew — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:46:40 +0000

They aren’t the best thing in the world, but if we can attain more money for a school that is taking some budget cuts then we have to jump at the chance. The money made in this deal might be paying for renovations toward the student union or helping build the new Business College Complex.

We might not approve of the jerseys, but think of what that money is doing for the school.

By: dallas razorback

dallas razorback — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:25:44 +0000

Cap’n Ken, as a fan of a team who used to have a clean, crisp, traditional look, I greatly appreciate your stance against the Pro Combat uniforms.
Since Petrino has come to town, the Hogs have gone from looking like a properly outfitted SEC team, to looking like they should be playing Carencro in the state quarterfinals.
Even if it’s only for one game, it’s a sign that athletic departments are becoming lackey’s for the Nike’s and Adidas’s of the world.
When I saw Arkansas debut their new outfits at media day before last season, I cringed at their ridiculous appearance. All I could think was
that we now look like a crappy high school team and how much it cheappened the appearance of the program.
I would hate to see the Tigers get away from their current uniforms. They always look great and you never have to ask the question of who’s on tv.
I hope there’s a lot of fan backlash against the uni’s they wear next Saturday. It would be great to see.

By: CG

CG — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:27:51 +0000

Those are absolutely horrid. The VATech and Miami versions are possibly the ugliest uniforms in the history of sport. I don’t mind so much swapping up a color scheme for 1 game – but to wear a Buck Rogers outfit is embarrassing.

By: Wild Bill LSU Class of 1980

Wild Bill LSU Class of 1980 — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:16:36 +0000

I concur completely with Cap’n Ken that my “Dear Ol’ LSU” has sold out to NIKE. If you want actual throwback uniforms, then have gold pants with black shoes. Also, the helmets should have the old Ridell suspension instead of modern air-filled foam cushions. Of course, the old stripe pattern, which resembles NY Giants Away jersey, in purple for LSU white would be acceptable. Otherwise, it just is not the Tigers without yellow (gold) helmets, white jersey with shoulder loop stripes, and yellow (gold) pants. “Duke Boy” Joe Aleva should have told Nike to “stuff it!!!”

By: Cap'n Ken

Cap'n Ken — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:32:30 +0000

@Al – Ah, yes, criticism = “crying”. You detail your intelligence with that comment.

Perhaps I’m in the minority, but that makes no difference to me. I don’t believe players, coaches, short-term revenue or anything is more important than the program itself. And the program includes the identity, which LSU thankfully exists in the group of schools that values its traditional identity.

I’ll give you a point on the “elite” thing as a compliment, though TCU and Missouri aren’t exactly in that company.

It’s one game, but that’s one game too many for me. Nobody else has to share my view, but this Nike infomercial is not something I’ll pay to see.

By: Al

Al — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 02:58:05 +0000

Stop crying, its one game that will help your program tremendously, first the players are going to be very excited with the new uniforms
second it will generate additional revenue for your programs
Third it will help with recruiting, the kids do care about this stuff
fourth it shows them that the school is a elite programs, not all nike schools are being able to do this, if you look, are any of these schools not of some short of winning presitge.
It is only going to be one game so give everyone a break!
It could also may not be up to the athletic dept., your head coach has the overall say so in this

By: Cap'n Ken

Cap'n Ken — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:09:13 +0000

@rantanamo – If these are “throwbacks”, they would be a real stretch to reflect the ’40s uniform:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2497/4094696534_22426539f2_o.jpg

And throwback to the ’40s? Not exactly a stellar decade for the program. If they were doing throwbacks, the late ’50s would seem logical, but all you have to do for that is put numbers on the helmets instead of the LSU logo.

But as you said, this is a “showcase for Nike …”. Why do I want my program to be a showcase for Nike? I want my program to be a showcase for LSU.

By: rantanamo

rantanamo — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:52:32 +0000

You know, these may be throwbacks for your school. The helmet definitely looks like an LSU throwback from the 40s. Not to mention OU, Texas and Ohio St’s “futuristic” Nike Pro Combat unis are actually throwbacks. Each uni is simply a showcase for Nike to show what can be done with their new uniform tech. As you can see with VT, Miami and TCU, radical prints can be done. As you see with Texas and OU’s, plain jane throwbacks or traditional uniform looks can be done with the new technology integrated as well.

By: Cap'n Ken

Cap'n Ken — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:06:26 +0000

Tickets are still available for Arkansas.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 03:03:46 +0000

So your saying I can have your tickets? Mario will be in town and this is really his only chance to catch a game, so I expect we will be out there.