Media Wednesday - It's Politically Correct To Hate on Oregon's Uniforms...I Like Them!
by dvieira on Jun 24, 2009 11:00 AM PDT
in Oregon Ducks Football
37 comments
We began our yearly makeover yesterday with the announcement of a new set of uniforms for the 2009 season. I'm probably in the minority of Duck fans who just likes all Oregon fashions. I don't care if it has wings, diamond plating, flames, monster trucks, transformers symbols, references to the movie Scarface, I want it all if it has something to do with Oregon. Even though most in the media, and even my fellow members of Duck Nation, are quick to pass negative judgement on these new uniforms, there is one man at ESPN that refuses to give in to this temptation. I give you a clip from November 2008, the week of the Arizona game. A black helmet was sent to the ESPN studios, proving to be an indicator of things to come.
"Who else's uniforms do people talk about these days?"
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LOVE the Ducks, hate the unis
It doesn’t matter if it’s politically correct or incorrect to like or dislike the Ducks uniforms. I absolutely detest them, but I don’t think that makes me less of an Oregon fan.
I’m not saying the Ducks have to be as plain-Jane traditional as Penn State or Alabama. But the fake/faux imagery like gladiatorial wings and diamond plating is absolutely ridiculous. Football players don’t need fakery.
My other big beef besides the faux imagery is the addition of first black and now silver to the green/yellow color scheme. What are we, the Oakland Raiders?
Nike has done some really great stuff over the years for Oregon’s uniforms. The “O” logo is masterful, and so are the green helmets overall. The ability to interchange different pants/jerseys is also terrific. But Nike too often — every three years to be exact — seems to want to tinker merely for the sake of tinkering. They did a great job with the original 1999 redesign that was worn during the Joey Harrington era. Maybe the green shading was a tad too dark, but the simple stripe on the sides of the pants and jerseys was elegant and classic.
Oregon’s brand identity, or whatever you want to call it, is based on the notion of change and innovation. That’ s fine as a strategy in and of itself. But why fix something that isn’t broken? The green and yellow color scheme didn’t need two more hues to be added. And the two most recent uniform sets (the new ones and the ones worn the last 3 years) don’t need to rely on faux diamond plating or feathers/gladiator wings.
Nobody likes the Portland building in downtown Portland because it’s a silly caricature with fake ribbons on the side of the structure. The Oregon uniforms are the Portland Building of college uniforms: a disingenuous embarrassment.
And I say that being a life-long, ceaselessly loyal Ducks fanatic. Go Ducks! I just wish we looked more like the Harrington or Musgrave teams.
And to think..
It’s Tinker tinkering for the sake of tinkering. My head just exploded.
Quit Complaining
Look, I am so sick of this crap from Duck fans about how we need to go back to the old way or we need to quit trying to fix something that isn’t broke. Ask Apple why they keep implementing new features into their iPods and iPhones. Ask Sony why they need three different types of playstations. Ask ESPN why they’ve added to their family of stations (ESPN 2, ESPN Classic, ESPNews, ESPNU, ESPN on ABC, ESPN Radio, etc.). In order to be the best, you have to be a step ahead of the game. Look, if Nike just kept on making waffle-soled shoes and never stayed a step ahead of the competition, they wouldn’t be where they are right now (and they wouldn’t be creating top of the line, cutting-edge uniforms for Oregon).
Look, as long as Oregon doesn’t incorporate orange or purple into their color schemes, then I am fine with what they do (also no pink because pink is for girls). As long as they continue to play well on the field, then what do I care what they’re wearing?
We are known for our jerseys and jersey changes. If that’s what we’re known for, then shouldn’t we keep doing it? What if you called up Papa John’s because you really wanted a pizza and they answer the phone “Papa John’s Hamburgers,” what would you do? Papa John’s is known for pizza, so they keep making pizza. If it appeals to recruits, then we should be doing it. I know there will be the nay-sayers out there, “well, I’d rather be known for winning than jerseys!” Well, to you stuck up people I say this, in order to be the best, you have to get the best players. In order to get the best players, you have to market yourself to them. And, some of these kids fall in love with Oregon because of the marketing. Whether it’s new jerseys, press releases, billboards in New York or Los Angeles, or changing an Oregon landmark, or anything else Oregon does for publicity, as long as it works, who cares?
Robbie G. "The Beavers Suck"
by RobbieG on Jun 24, 2009 1:29 PM PDT reply actions 5 recs
Notice how you never hear anyone saying that we should go back to a more traditional offense because the spread option is just to flashy and doesn’t represent our history as a football program?
Why is it different for the uniforms?
Maybe because one is a an offensive system and the other is clothes.
by grimc on Jun 24, 2009 1:57 PM PDT up reply actions 2 recs
and?
They are both examples of the football program being innovative, unique, cutting edge, etc. This is our tradition now, and I will gladly accept it instead of the tradition of mediocrity and losing seasons.
here here. Rec for you
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
First, hard-good manufacturers develop “next models” as a simple scheme for generating brand loyalty and resulting, repeating revenue streams. The examples you provide are indeed products that are ahead of their competition, but there are many, many others utilizing the same strategy to great effect who are not necessarily market share leaders.
iPods – like all Apple products – are almost universally appealing in aesthetic design. Sony Playstations have traditionally offered better features than their competition. ESPN holds an enormous market share lead in their industry and uses it’s ever-expanding network to maintain and even grow that. One or two players, that I’m aware of, have said “I liked the Oregon uniforms”, which does not exactly constitute earth-shattering effectiveness in brand awareness or brand impact on the relative level of iPods, Playstations or the ESPN network.
Does anyone really believe Walter Thurmond is going to stand in front of the press, turn to Ed Dickson and say, “Dude, you look really gay in that bumble bee costume.”
I believe you and I are hearing the same “crap”, but evidently are hearing the message differently. What I hear people asking what I personally feel is a legit question : Unique, innovative, technologically advanced, helping maintain a strong relationship with Nike – it’s all good. Why do those have to continually equate to diamond-plate, wings, players names that don’t contrast with a jersey and are thus unreadable and an increasing use of colors that aren’t really part of Oregon’s brand marks?
I don’t want old jerseys. I want Oregon to push the envelope. I want them to out-market their competition. I wish someone with a sense of effective design had the balls to tell the designers at Nike, “Sorry guys and gals, these look really lame.”
You say that as long as the teams wins, what they wear is inconsequential. But then you say “We are known for our jerseys and jersey changes.” If I’m the CEO and my football marketing director comes to me and suggests that our team should first and foremost be known for it’s nearly infinite jersey combos…well, Houston, we have a problem.
I don’t want the old. I want the new to look sharp. Good strippers look best without frills. Leave the tassels and glitter for the fugly ones.
I'm really tired of it not being football season.
by JConant on Jun 24, 2009 11:01 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Why do those have to continually equate to diamond-plate, wings, players names that don’t contrast with a jersey and are thus unreadable and an increasing use of colors that aren’t really part of Oregon’s brand marks?
This is simply your personal opinion. You want innovation? Well, then you’re going to see uniforms that delve into new areas, like, neutral colors. Very few things that push the envelope are going to be widely accepted, especially an an area as saturated as football uniforms.
When you’re doing something different there are gonna be some aspects that you’ll like, and some aspects you won’t, and that’ll be different for a lot of people.
As far as Oregon’s jersey’s being infamous, why is this a problem? It’s a freaking football uniform. In what way does it actually matter?
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Of course it’s my personal opinion. When did I say otherwise? Nor did I say Oregon’s jerseys being infamous was a problem. The only thing I said was a problem is the suggestion that Oregon football’s primary brand value has become the new tradition of morphing uniforms.
My old eyes can’t read the players names from 20 rows up when they’re black-on-black or chrome-on-white or green-on-green. And for whatever reason – maybe because I’d like to know who made the last tackle without having to wait for Don E to announce it – that pisses me off. You may be tired of the topic, but it matters to me.
I'm really tired of it not being football season.
But the only legitimate complaint (As in, complaining about something aside from the aesthetics) yet has been about the lack of contrast between names and the jersey colors. Which I would retort, with – you can still tell by the numbers. Several schools don’t have names on the jersey, and I generally find it easier to tell who is who by the numbers anyway.
"It’s spelled S-H-U-F-E-L-T-M-E-U-P"
Well, first I don’t think that anyone says that the primary brand of Oregon football is the uniforms. The uniforms are part of what Oregon does, sure, but it’s one part of the bigger picture. It’s one of the many things we are known for.
As far as the name goes, I agree with Shufelt, numbers are far superior and have been for a long time. I’ve never relied on names on the jersey’s so that doesn’t bother me one iota.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Still means Wazzu, and still looks stupid.
“Pushing the envelope” doesn’t inoculate designers and clients from making stupid decisions. If anything, it increases the possibility.
"Pushing the envelope" doesn’t inoculate designers and clients from making stupid decisions. If anything, it increases the possibility.
No crap.
But also, why does it matter if we use a neutral color that WSU uses…even our gray and white uniforms look NOTHING like WSU.
--AddictedToQuack, SBNation's Oregon Ducks blog
Black, white, and gray/silver are all neutral colors.
I don’t see peoples’ problems with these. The gray can look dumb all it wants, it’s still not pulling from WSU or Alabama or whatever.
Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Dear Joevan, Develop motor skills. Love, ATQ.
by qrsouther on Jun 25, 2009 11:11 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
I think you would feel differently if, for instance, a major component of your school colors was “adopted” by another school (especially your rival) specifically to make a marketing splash. We can sit here and pretend that black and gray are ok to use because they are somehow classified differently in the color spectrum but that doesn’t stop the Oregon States, the Washington States and the Ohio States of the world from voicing an objection to having their colors “adopted” as one of our primary colors.
Look, they are just uniforms and I love them but there is something to be said for Oregon’s colors being Green and Yellow. Even in our black uniforms, we had at least one of those two colors in them. They Gray Uniforms have no green and no yellow, not even in trim. It sure does look cool but when you get to the point of not even having your school colors in your own jersey, you start to lose me a little bit.
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
Who gave Shufelt a dictionary?
I warned you guys it would be nothing but trouble.
Next he’ll be three letters deep in an encyclopedia. God help us all.
I'm really tired of it not being football season.
Exactly! I like the Apple reference too
"Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." – Steve Jobs
Damn the Blazers. Damn them to hell. - 'The Sports Guy' Bill Simmons
by doublezeroduck on Jun 28, 2009 1:39 AM PDT up reply actions
I would draw the line at changing landmarks though
Damn the Blazers. Damn them to hell. - 'The Sports Guy' Bill Simmons
by doublezeroduck on Jun 28, 2009 1:41 AM PDT up reply actions
They can laugh all they want
After they see a lot of the back of those helmets come fall…
Proud member of Duck nation!
we should put little tail lights on the back of our helmets. for that very situation.
Sleeping under an avalanche with Cartman, wake me Sept 3.
by trumpetduck on Jun 24, 2009 2:12 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
And, Didja see the guys wearing the uniquiforms?
Yesterday was Day One of Strength and Conditioning Workouts for these model athletes, right?
See any players that looked like they ‘needed’ strength and conditioning?
I don’t think soooo!
Didja see ANY ‘wimpiness’ (that’s a new word I just made up) on Mike or Chip?
Boise State, you let some players go early. Better make sure they’ve got a way to come back.
I hope the Ducks wear the DARK SIDE black outfits the evening of the first game, leaving the bronkies black and blue.
Its almost time to RockandRolla. Take No Prisoners!
Wimpiness is a word.
It’s just what the ladies call Shufelt after a date.
Addicted To Quack [dot] com; Dear Joevan, Develop motor skills. Love, ATQ.
Ducks receive commit from Scott Steiner upon release of silver helmet.
“I dig the chainmail.”
For the record, I think these are way better than your last ones. Their simple with an Oregon touch that only Oregon could have.
by AnotherBeaverFirstDown on Jun 24, 2009 8:04 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
rec’d for the Big Poppa Pump reference
--Dominic, Addicted to Quack
Autzen Stadium is where great teams go to die." - J. Brady McCullough, The Michigan Daily.
EVERYBODY, ITS OK
Our unis suck too. Screw the gray/neutral colors, I want the school colors. I know how some of you feel. As long as they win though right…
On that note, our opener against each other should not only play out interesting, but look interesting too. Especially on our field. Whole lotta colors out thar.
- Go Broncos.
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