For those not in the know, I'm over in Europe for the next couple months, and as such, the 'Great Recoloration' is on hold until I can find some solid time to work on it. Sorry!
I will try to keep this blog updated as well as I can, but with spotty internet, and the time-difference, I'm not sure how in-depth I'll be able to go with some of these posts; I'll play it by ear.
Today we'll take a look at Georgia's Nike Pro Combat uniforms, which were unveiled recently, and boy, are they poop-in-your-pants crazy. Nikeblog.com has a nice rundown (with photos) of the uniforms, but I think the real test will be seeing them on the field.
Other than the colored facemask, which we'll get to in a bit, there isn't a whole lot we haven't seen before from the Pro Combat series. UGA's uniforms come with all the standard accouterment: the gloves, the base layer, and I'm sure we'll see some custom-colored cleats as well. While this iteration of the Pro Combat series doesn't offer a whole lot, it does the job without superfluous striping, panels, or piping that plague so many of today's so-called 'modern' uniforms. It is a bit of a shame though that Georgia's pants stripe didn't make it onto the uniforms, as it is one of the more unique uniform elements in college football.
The most distinct part of this uniform is undoubtedly the helmet. UGA is trading in their traditional helmets for a more-or-less inverted design favoring silver/gray (as was also the case in the early 1960s) over the usual red. The black nose and rear helmet bumpers are a nice touch, but the big details are the ultra-wide stripe that runs down the middle, and of course, the facemask. As for the stripe, the first thing I thought of after seeing it was the helmets used by Ohio State from 1960-1965, which featured a super thick middle stripe, although (as you can see for yourself over at the Helmet Project) this was more than just cosmetic.
Ah yes, we've reached the facemask. Wow, is that unusual. I certainly can't say I hate the look, but I don't think it's a look that would work for everyone. While I've seen several players, most notably the late Sean Taylor alter their facemasks in various ways, this is the first time I've seen one that features more than one color. I wonder how distinct the look will really be when worn by kickers or QBs, players with traditionally lighter facemasks. The last little thing I've been pondering while looking over these new uniforms is the fact that Georgia uses pride stickers in the form of dog bones on their helmets, which are normally white and black. I'm anxious to see if they alter this color scheme for the new helmets, or forgo the stickers altogether.
Overall, the look is a less than spectacular. While the uniforms, as unusual as they are, certainly aren't horrendous, they don't really amaze us with anything new besides the helmet. For what it's worth, it may be exactly what Nike wants.
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