dressedcheeseside
Helluva Engineer
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I disagree, but I'm not opposed to a modern design as long as it doesn't look arena league, that just smacks of desperation and trying too hard to fit in.I think the issue with uniforms is this:
1. We don't have a unifying tradition. We have changed so much over the years that we can point to any number of styles and call it "traditional."
2. The biggestcomplainerscritics of the uniforms are all of the older guys who, as you said, are nostalgic for the uniforms they fondly remember.
3. Russell. Nothing against them, but they DON'T have the cachet that Nike, UA or Adidas do.
I think the answer, however, is to embrace the Oregon mentality. If we are an Institution that prides ourselves on being modern and cutting edge, (we aren't in the boiler training business anymore), then we should adopt that mentality across the board. Let's be cutting edge. Let's take it to the limit. The reality is that recruits like it. Ultimately, our team will be more successful if the talented recruits are happier than if we merely satisfy the alumni base. (That being said, the alumni base can't be alienated, so have 1-2 throwback uni's a year)
Since we seem to be stuck with Russell for a while, I'd pressure them to go wild with the designs. If they successfully outfit GT with sharp, modern designs, it only helps their business as well.
Even though we don't have a unifying tradition, as you say, we do have tradition in football - We have the "glory days of Dodd." Now I'm not from that era so I don't have any stock in that particular uniform. But our glory era is something we all can be proud of no matter what our actual era is.
What I'm thinking is take the Dodd uni's and give it a subtle modern refurbishing. Both ND and Alabama have done this and it looks good. I know they have uniform tradition that we lack, but we could mimick their successful blend of old and new. Here's Bama's and ND's new designs just for examples:
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