Uniform Gimmicks, Tweaks, and "Getting" It: Where UCLA Falls Short
by Bellerophon on May 16, 2011 5:01 AM PDT
in Football
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PrintWith the University of Nike Oregon Ducks pushing out new football uniform combinations and looks faster than Uncle Phil can write a check, there's been an increasing amount of chatter about the effect new, hip, flashy uniforms have on recruiting efforts, especially in today's cut-throat recruiting landscape.
Mike Bellotti, back in 2006 when he was still at the helm in Eugene, noted that the new gear was a recruiting asset. Reportedly, Oregon players had a hand in designing the 2010 uniforms and at lease one Nike executive indicated that the uniforms were actively being used as a recruiting pitch. As Michael Rosenberg at SI.com noted (emphasis added):
[M]ost of Knight's spending is about recruiting. He spends to excess in order to impress high school kids. In the mixed-up world of the NCAA, schools can spend $50 million on gold-plated mouthpiece holders, but if they give a kid $1,000 to pay his mom's mortgage, it's a violation.
Now, obviously, uniforms don't make or break recruiting, and very few recruits are basing their decision predominately on the uniform a team wears. We know this to be true because schools with very traditional uniforms, such as Alabama, LSU, Texas, etc., are still recruiting at the very top of the college world. That said, there is something to be said for infusing something new in the uniform mix. Kids like flash and when everything else is equal, the school with that extra bit is going to get the signature:
Do high school kids really choose a college because of this stuff? Hello? Have you ever met a high school kid? What 18-year-old wouldn't love having vents in his locker to dry his pads after practice? Ten years ago, Oregon noticed that kids would visit Eugene just to see the facilities, even if they weren't going to sign with the Ducks. Oregon kept spending, players kept visiting, and eventually the athletes started to come.
In fact, UCLA football's uniform woes are somewhat well-known, especially here at BN. Of course, Paul Lukas' very good UniWatch put the most recent version of UCLA's football uniforms on blast. What's particularly sad is that other media outlets, outside of BN or the uniform-centric Mr. Lukas, are well-aware of the Bruins' sometimes woeful uniform selections:
I understand that UCLA is trying to go with a more traditional look, but times are changing. Programs like Oregon are changing the game and using new uniforms as a recruiting pitch.
Time to update, UCLA.
Now that's sad when the guys at Bleacher Report, of all places, know full well that your alma mater's uniform situation flat-out sucks.
Now, I'm not calling for any crazy changes to UCLA's uniforms or to go full-blown Oregon mode, but a new wrinkle, in addition to our traditional home and away uniforms, would be a move in the right direction. For example, if you recall, UCLA rolled out Gary Beban style throwback uniforms against Washington. As Nestor put it before their debut:
It would be nothing short of awesome. Let's hope they get it done.
Naturally, people went wild for them, and UCLA was able to turn the fan enthusiasm into a merchandising opportunity, selling Gary Beban's #16 throwback at the UCLA Store. Of course, Morgan Center being Morgan Center, after the lambasting the Trogans gave the Bruins two seasons ago in them, we've yet to see the throwbacks again. What's crazy is that the Beban throwback isn't even the only possibility: the Bruins could roll out a Cade McNown era throwback (with the cursive numerals), a Troy Aikman era throwback, or if they wanted to get real creative, a Jackie Robinson era throwback.
We don't need to go Nike Pro Combat/Oregon-esque to build some excitement and hype around our uniforms. UCLA can keep it classic and utilize the throwbacks to both build excitement among the players and younger fans while simultaneously using it for obvious merchandising opportunities (who wouldn't want to buy one of those classic throwbacks?) and as a platform to educate and remind people of UCLA's football history.
However, Morgan Center (as to be expected) has sat on its hands, and unlike their counterparts at Arizona State and U$C, have failed to think outside the box in finding ways to generate some excitement around this program.
Fire away with your uniform thoughts, suggestions, and ideas.
GO BRUINS
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Throwbacks yes, blackout no.
Our uniforms have so much rich history and tradition behind them. I believe that is why the new unifoms failed so miserably by truncating the UCLA Stripe. Its like truncating Yankee pinstripes. I want our uniforms to embrace our history, I do not want to see gimmicky things like a blackout jersey. (i think it would literally make me sick). As much as I hate 3rd uniforms I will admit that I thought the Gary Beban throwbacks were beautifully done as well as ’64 basketball throwbacks. I would like to see us continue to honor past teams this way.
Agree on the rich tradition of our unis!
I personally believe our uniforms are without a doubt the best looking and i wouldn’t change a thing! Throwbacks from time to time would be fine.
I don’t particularly like the smedium look that was put in place last year.
"Success is never final, Failure is never fatal. It's Courage that counts" - John Wooden.
Agree...agree...agree!
I like the idea of throwbacks…BUT NO BLACK!!
While Oregon may have a number of uni’s to attract the kids…ultimately what is their Brand?
Asked on the street….‘Yeah Oregon, they’re the ones with all the uniforms."
That’s not a brand…that’s a strategy and tactic.
by C.T. in Boston on May 16, 2011 10:56 AM PDT up reply actions
They don't need a brand per se.
And even beyond that, who says that their brand isn’t having creative jerseys? Their brand is whatever they make it. Kids today, by and large, aren’t concerned with tradition. They want new, flashy, eye-catching, entertaining. That’s the reason twitter, facebook, youtube, etc. have succeeded. There is no longer 15 minutes of fame, more like 5 seconds. If you can’t impress in that short of a time, you’re not worth remembering.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
by OswegoBruin on May 16, 2011 11:00 AM PDT up reply actions
Oregon doesn't need a brand now, because they are winning. But the time will come...
As Gem City said below…when teams win and the world is their oyster…they will attract the athletes.
The implied attention deficit youth you refer to Oswego, doesn’t seem to be impacting the decision-making for athlete’s choosing the “boring” uniform offerings of consistent winners, whose look/brand haven’t changed much in decades:
Texas
Alabama
Ohio State
Even Penn State, which looks like it’s stuck in 1963, does well with recruiting.
Oregon is a special animal by having a Sugar Daddy in the merchandizing business…that’s certainly a leg-up for the university to be an experimental station for Adidas .
But ultimately, the facilities that UCLA can offer (upgrade) would seem to be more of a draw than any marginal differences instituted in their own uniforms.
by C.T. in Boston on May 16, 2011 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions
Their brand is Nike, plain and simple
The ever-changing uniforms serve to remind everyone of the omnipresence/financial support of the swoosh
The funny thing with throwback jerseys.
I was at school during the McNown era, and at the time I really hated the Clarendon font numerals on the jerseys. Now, when I happen to catch a game from that era as a Fox repeat, I really really miss them. In short, if Morgan Center went to a Clarendon era Throwback. I would probably pick one up.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
Alabama, Texas, LSU...
All Nike schools. I know a lot of you might disagree, but I think being with adidas hurts us in a number of ways.
by bruin805 on May 16, 2011 9:17 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
It's not simply a question of "how much is the contract worth?"
The Nike contract would make us FAR more money than Adidas would, simply because they would sell more gear. They have better marketing, better quality products, and overall better reputation than Adidas does. Heck I would even go with Under Armour. They make better football geat than Adidas does. I think what we need is a new approach. We barely sell any ucla gear, and most of what does sell is not real “UCLA” gear, but comapnies paying a licensing fee and putting the four letters on some crappy sweatshirt.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
I dunno. My best UCLA sweatshirt is an Addidas.
Extremely well made. Shoulder is cut and sewn really well It’s a few years old, though. Haven’t seen any like it at Ackerman lately.
by Seth Chandler on May 16, 2011 11:14 AM PDT up reply actions
Fair enough.
But we don’t wear sweatshirts on the football field. I’d be fine knowing that every sweatshirt i wore was crap but what our boys have on the field is top of the line.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
by OswegoBruin on May 16, 2011 12:13 PM PDT up reply actions
There's not much to disagree with actually.
Take a look to see what shoes and clothing our recruits are wearing; I guarantee you it’s not adidas. It’s a pretty big deal. When I was in school (97-01), many of my athlete friends would complain about adidas and some mentioned that it was one of the cons on their pro/cons list when deciding on a school. They may give us tons of $$$, but being sponsored by adidas takes a toll in recruiting.
formerly Westwood78
by PhoenixBruin on May 16, 2011 9:45 AM PDT up reply actions
Fun fact
Tennessee is the only adidas school to ever win a BCS national title (in the 1st season of the BCS). I believe Auburn is the only other non-Nike school to win.
by jtthirtyfour on May 16, 2011 9:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Win and the World is your oyster...
None of this would be an issue if the team was winning.
Win and you can sell people used cocktail napkins to put on their heads with the four letters scrawled on them in blue sharpie and they will buy them and love them…
When Oregon started all this uniform madness it was considered a joke…then they started to dominate on the field and it wasn’t so funny anymore…
Are our addidas uniforms good looking? No, they suck. Do recruits hate them? Probably. Did more Bowl eligible teams wear Nike this year? Yes. Is there a correlation? Absolutely…it’s called win, win, win, win, win.
The point that's being made is
do you think the uniforms have anything to do with their winning? Correlation is not causation, but their uniforms certainly have not hurt their efforts. Something to consider.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
by OswegoBruin on May 16, 2011 11:01 AM PDT up reply actions
I think we got what we deserved...
…my bet would be that Nike considers us second tier and during the equipment negotiations last year they did not give us their “best deal”…
Whereas Addidas, trying not to loose every last customer to Nike or UA…gave us a deal we thought was pretty damn good.
Nike had no interest in beating it because of their evaluation of us. IMO.
Nike has gone after the best programs and done anything necessary to get them to sign. Nike quoting our uniform contract was like an afterthought for them…if we were winning, maybe we’re now wearing some totally cool Nike Pro Combat adaptation of the classic shoulder stripes and blue jerseys.
by GemCityBruin on May 16, 2011 11:13 AM PDT up reply actions
Regardless of whether or not the deal was more lucrative
The end result would have been more lucrative for our university. Nike is better marketed and better made than almost anything that Adidas produces. I struggle to see how we did not think it through to the end game.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
by OswegoBruin on May 16, 2011 12:15 PM PDT up reply actions
Disagree the lucrative part of the deal is key...It is about the money
Ucla has an amazing deal with adidas and is extremely lucarative based on the new deal and it rivals that of Michigan. There is a positive in my opinion of being solo and not part of the rest of the pac.
If we are winning everyone will be sporting the 3 stripes proudly.
http://blog.oregonlive.com/pac10/2010/06/lucrative_deals_with_nike_adid.html
Not saying the deal isn't lucrative.
It is one of a kind, at least in our conference. My point is, it would be more lucrative in terms of overall apparel sales if we were with a company that markets itself as Nike does. Our products would be more desirable, and thus generate revenue in excess of the deal currently signed with Adidas.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
I think it's not too far a reach to say...
…that Nike has targeted the most marketable programs in the country to wear their gear.
The fact we wear Addidas says as much about the state of our program as it does about how Nike does business. And at some point they determined that the cost/benefit didn’t make sense.
I will say this about Addidas…atleast the baseball uniforms look great. And my son thinks Addidas’ baseball shoes are better than the Nike shoes…but try buying that replica baseball jersey somewhere….not good.
by GemCityBruin on May 16, 2011 1:41 PM PDT up reply actions
You're son is definitely in the minority.
I’m a teacher, and aside from vans & converse, its only nikes that I see. I can’t remember the last time I saw a teen in adidas. Really.
formerly Westwood78
by PhoenixBruin on May 16, 2011 2:30 PM PDT up reply actions
That's because
Nike sees itself as a fashion company a lot more than adidas does, and markets itself more successfully that way. I wouldn’t wear Nike running shoes to run, but they look good with jeans…
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Of course, but that's not what we are talking about, right?
18 year olds arent looking for arch support, they’re looking for fashion. We are all thinking like 30-somethings & 40-somethings, and not teenagers (which is the most important as far as recruiting and selling merchandise goes).
formerly Westwood78
by PhoenixBruin on May 16, 2011 2:40 PM PDT up reply actions
Actually he
wears DC’s to school…
And for baseball he wears either Addidas or Reebok (a division of Addidas)
by GemCityBruin on May 16, 2011 2:42 PM PDT up reply actions
marketable
I agree with you, but if we are winning then Adidas commercials etc are coming. Just like in the NBA the Memphis Grizzlies were not on national tv in the regular season, but based on their success and playoff run they will be next year. Winning is everything.
Our products are desirebale for the real fans and the masses follow if we are winning.
Here are the best spots to find UCLA Adidas Gear:
uclastore.com
football fanatics.com (Type UCLA Adidas in the search)
the new gear comes out in July
And last year I found the baseball jersey at
collegebaseballshop.com
by GemCityBruin on May 16, 2011 2:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Gary Beban Throwback Jerseys Are Great
But I’d like the current helmets with them; like we wore against ’SC in the ’09 game.
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on May 16, 2011 10:46 AM PDT reply actions
The best is a combo...
…of the late 60s Script (Clarendon) and the traditional coming in the 70s, 80s, and early 90s, as used in mid to late 90s with Gold/Yellow (not white numerals)
by C.T. in Boston on May 16, 2011 11:03 AM PDT up reply actions
I like the UCLA basketball uni's.
Always have. But powder blue and gold doesn’t quite translate to football uniforms the same way. Don’t know why, but there you go. I guess they come off a bit…twee.
Fuck you, Juju. We'll do it ourselves.
by BigGreenWreckingMachine on May 16, 2011 10:47 AM PDT reply actions
Twee? No.
They look very southern Californian and make me think of the beach.
by Seth Chandler on May 16, 2011 11:16 AM PDT up reply actions
I was just gonna ask
the same question, but I am afraid I will be exposed and a geezer. LOL!
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
TWEE:
July 26, 2007 Urban Word of the Day
Something that is sweet, almost to the point of being sickeningly so. As a derogatory descriptive, it means something that is affectedly dainty or quaint, or is way too sentimental.
In American English it often refers to a type of simple sweet pop music, but in British English it is used much more widely for things that are nauseatingly cute or precious. It comes from the way the word sweet sounds when said in baby talk.
Belle and Sebastian are the Beatles of twee.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
Ah got it!
Thanks! :)
"The entire world that bleeds blue and gold ... they have been dying for this." - Coach Rick Neuheisel
I had to look it up on Urban Dictionary myself.
I don’t know anyone that actually uses the word.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
I'm not actually sure what the Urban Dictionary is
I sure couldn’t find it in a regular dictionary. It appears to me to be a book in which you can find words which aren’t actually “words.” For those of you who have them available, how many pages are devoted to the word “like?” Also, see if “to go” is a synonym for “to say” and let me know.
I guess I’m just too twea. (That spelling is acceptable according to the sub-urban, semi-rural dictionary.)
I'm not sure how much toe dipping you can do here.
The sentiment is pretty clear here that nobody really wants the classic look messed with. I really like our uni’s, as most of us do, and I don’t see a need for much alteration.
Personally, I don’t buy the argument that uniforms would help our recruiting. Winning would. Better facilities would. An exciting style of play would. I think some kids might be turned off by ugly uniforms, and maybe certain kids do like Oregon’s flashy designs, but, just like many here, there are plenty of kids who like the traditional looks.
If you are looking to switch things up, I think you have to make a splash. I don’t really understand the “let’s freshen up our uni’s by using our old ones” idea. Yeah, it’s kind of retro cool for a bit, but I don’t think it accomplishes what the ultimate goal really is. I think a better option would be to let Adidas rework the uni’s for a game, then go back to normal. It can be done in a way that keeps the look of the regular uni’s a la Texas’, Bama’s, and Florida’s changeups, it can use retro flair a la Ohio St.‘s and Oregon St.’s, or it can be wild like VT’s or Boise’s. But, if you are going to change the uniform up for recruiting purposes, at least do it, make some noise, and move on. Recycling retro uniforms is for us old guys, not for the recruits.
by AllHailMightyBruins on May 16, 2011 11:37 AM PDT reply actions
i actually like our "current" uniforms...
…way more than the throwbacks / beban / mcnown era jerseys. Granted, I’m referring to the jerseys we wore prior to the switch to the Adidas techfit outfits (the shoulder stripe doesn’t come down all the way anymore, and the true blue color isn’t as vibrant).
I feel like Nike emphasizes a lot of flashiness in their design, where Adidas has a “less is more mentality” to their uniforms. i think this is shown in how UCLA, Notre Dame, Michigan, etc. all have simple, straightforward designs, no blackout uniforms, gaudy receiver gloves, or anything else that would stray away from the established traditions of their program. Maybe it’s not Adidas, and just the schools they sponsor, but it’s always been something that I thought was really cool.
I don’t at all think that uniforms is a deterrent to recruiting, but regardless of whether it is or isn’t, I’d be pretty bummed to see UCLA make any type of shift of having multiple uniforms per season. If we keep adding new uniforms, or constantly keep switching to throwbacks, it takes away from establishing the standard uniform for that era, which, in my opinion, could get a little annoying.
by all hail westwood on May 16, 2011 1:42 PM PDT reply actions
I know the players wanted to have a blackout game this season but the coaches said no as that was too far to the left. They are trying to do a special uniform for a game and I am not sure if they will get what they want. Supposedly we are going to have better gear this year per Adidas.
There is truth to the what’s hip,quick in this 5 seconds of fame era. I have heard from recruits in terms of what is cool with UCLA football are the player intros at the Rosebowl and the music they come out to. Other than that we are boring and when the RB is half full and the game is dull we do not compare to other schools. (They do not get atmosphere, beauty of the RB etc.) I think UCLA tried to improve that this year somewhat with playing music at timeouts like most other schools do. We need something to make us a little “cooler” with recruits and if this means stepping up our unis for a big game or tv game I am all for it. Of course winning would help tremendously……..
UCLA should take a tip from the OKC Thunder and do a blue out and PROVIDE the T-shirts in the right color Bruin Blue for the hometown fans. That would be nice.
Nothing cooler than winning.
and Winning would help fill the RB. Both of which would impress recruits.
The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother. John Wooden
You're right, but it would help to take immediate action
that could help improve the experience.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
by OswegoBruin on May 16, 2011 10:06 PM PDT up reply actions
The issue I have is...
why are we getting “better” stuff from Adidas? If we’re their “flagship” program, we should already be getting the best.
"Every day was a good day at UCLA." -Coach John Wooden
by OswegoBruin on May 16, 2011 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions
The baseball team has better jerseys this year
and four of them this year as opposed to the three they’ve had for years. Hopefully we see that carry over to football and basketball too. Maybe it was a part of the new contract with adidas?
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on May 16, 2011 6:29 PM PDT reply actions
Uniform Dilemna
The NCAA really needs to regulate this uniform situation before it becomes uncontrollable. Oregon is getting out of hand and basically rubbing everyone’s noses in it at this point. I mean, a different uniform for EVERY game and 100 different combinations? How is it that the NFL can tackle this issue and keep everyone on a level playing field, yet college football continues to remain Beyond Thunderdome? Huge advantage here being able to leverage their ‘special’ relationshp with Nike on national TV and undoubtedly affect the landscape of college recruiting via their garish, english-wedding-hat inspired football uni’s and basketball courts.
Oregon uni's...
were dog ugly, that’s why they had to change them, look at their color scheme, gross. And can you blame suc for trying to get away from ketchup and mustard? I would want a black uni too if I was a toejam player. Our uniforms are one of the must classic and badass uniforms in the country and everybody knows it. Our unis are like ND or Michigan, or Fl St. They are aleady badass. Who has better a better color scheme then us in the pac. Yellow and green, for reals, no wonder they went to black uniforms with a touch of green, or all white.
I do think Nike would help us out though because they are on the cutting edge if fashion, but I think our program overall has a lot bigger things to worry about then our uniforms.
(imo, if we did have a “black out” style uniform, I think that an all dark blue jersey and pants, with our gold helmet would look SICK! dreaming only)
by Bruin_jim on May 16, 2011 9:41 PM PDT via mobile reply actions
Competitive Advantage...
…should be the issue. Like powder keg blue improved viewing the game film. We need the best equipment to improve performance and reduce injuries. Or change up uniform styles to confuse/ distract opponents (Oregon stuff, ND green). Or pay tribute to school heritage.
Do we want players who pick schools by uniform style rather than who is on the coaching staff? Legendary uniforms were worn by legendary teams… like Coach’s teams were. Not the other way around.
Colors
I just wish we could have 1 blue and 1 gold color for ALL of our teams. There is Texas Orange and there could be UCLA Blue…we (Morgan Center) just don’t have the balls to commit to it. I refuse to wear navy or royal blue UCLA anything…gross. Come on UCLA make everything available in UCLA BLUE! adidas makes some nice stuff guys. Sure I wish we would have gone with Under Armour…USA-based company, big into football, getting bigger at basket (and huge in lacrosse), but that is past.
Go Bruins!
No surprise
Alabama, Texas, and North Carolina have distinctive colors that they use for all of their programs, which I think really helps build the brand. The fact that Morgan Center can’t make up its damn mind when it comes to a shade of blue is just another example of an uninspired fail on their part.
Bruin "FANS" need to wear the right "uniforms"!!!
Soooo true how Bruin “colors” are totally out of sync at the Rose Bowl. I’ve traveled all over this country and seen how a lot of other schools do college football, and there’s nothing like seeing an entire stadium wearing the SAME burnt orange, blue, red, green, whatever. Bruin Fans… STOP WEARING GREY, BLACK, or NAVY BLUE UCLA GEAR!!! WE shouldn’t be able to look across the stadium and easily pick out where the student section is because they’re the ONLY ONES wearing the the RIGHT UCLA blue in unison… dare I say even ACROSS TOWN they understand this.
Morgan Center
Even though i love this website ( im not criticizing BN) you shouldnt post your complaints or comments about passing shirts out for “blue outs” or sticking to one color etc. You should write it on the Morgan Center’s fb
UNIFORM "TWEAKS"...
1st of all get rid of the “smedium” jerseys with the shortened “admiral” shoulder stripes.
2nd – Black shoes ALWAYS look better
3rd – if you HAVE to tweak our classic uni’s, I like the BLUE OUT idea with our classic home jersey but with matching UCLA BLUE pants.
4th – to tweak the away uni’s… maybe some white pants to match our classic white jersey.
Again, not a huge fan of overhauling anything… but blue pants at home on a RARE occasion if UCLA could actually be involved in a RELEVANT, HUGE home game would probably be kinda cool.
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