I think you are 'spot on'. I have been one of the biggest critics of the 'Russell contract era' unis and the reason is because of the Russell design, which has been just silly. Whoever designed them (I think it was a woman) made them look effeminate, quirky, the colors clashed and they just did not look like a football uniform. In their (Russell and the GTAA brain trust at the time 'DRad') rush to be trendy they broke every traditional link (with exception of the helmet GT). For DRad, he was putting 'his 'brand' on Georgia Tech that would contribute to his upwardly mobile career path. For Russell it provided them with a design testing dream and a marketing breakthrough. I think the GTAA at the time knew there would be heavy push back, but thought in time it would calm down and finally fans would accept the 'whatever' attitude that so many young people have today due to their lack of awareness of history and its importance.
The GTAA has refused to say who is responsible for picking the uniform designs or the design requirements contained in the Russell contract. If you ask, as I have, they hem-haw and change the subject. Being a fan of a college football team requires being an Alumni or that team to 'capture your imagination'. Georgia Tech captured mine on September 30, 1961 as a 10 year old sidewalk fan and a big part of that is because they were a legendary football team. They wore White and Gold (Glorious Colors!), they looked like Football Players in their Football Uniforms, not clown suits.