Jersey / Uniform Discussion (OSU)

[MililaniBuckeye]

They could bring out a brown poop emoji uniform and the kids will act like middle aged women on Oprah looking under their chairs.

Which pretty much proves my point. If kids will go nuts for any uniform, then why even bother changing?

Secondly, I can't believe people use Oregon as an example where this doesn't help recruiting. What was Oregon before Nike? What were they after?

My post shows where they were "after Nike", if "after Nike" means when they started with the radical design changes. Not sure where their recruiting was from about 2000 and prior...put the blame on Rivals and Scout for that.

 

[mendensa]

for better or for worse, it gets your University noticed. We are having a conversation about it now, right? If you aren't getting talked about, you aren't relevant. Along with their play on the field, it's just another selling point for the staff to keep up with other relevant programs.

 

[RugbyBuck]

Hate to admit it, but I kinda like them with the scarlet leaves and boots.

 

[mendensa]

helmets - yes, jerseys - no

 

[jwinslow]

Kids love alternates. They also like most new things that their label overlords tell them to like.

 

[Jaxbuck]

Kids love alternates. They also like most new things that their label overlords tell them to like.

 

[jwinslow]

The trapper keeper camo is the primary design of the unis. It appears on the helmet, sleeves and socks. The only thing that would have made it worse is if they had sprinkled in variations of scarlet camo (resulting in pink).

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

for better or for worse, it gets your University noticed. We are having a conversation about it now, right? If you aren't getting talked about, you aren't relevant.

Yep, I'm pretty sure that no one in the media was talking about Ohio State football before these alternate uniforms were announced. And it's even better that this discussion on BuckeyePlanet is making Ohio State's program relevant again...

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

Which pretty much proves my point. If kids will go nuts for any uniform, then why even bother changing?

You're comparing the wrong things. It's not this uni vs that uni......it's this program that does cool* things vs this program that doesn't. Which of course will lead you to the Alabamas of the world who aren't doing ridiculous alts (and yes....this uniform is pretty ridiculous aesthetically). It's a choice Bama has made to not go too over the top with it (yet). Possibly because they have a curmudgeon for a coach.....and the only people that have anything against these things are curmudgeons. Positive: It might make kids (not just recruits) more interested in the brand. Negative: Old people will shake their fists and still support the team. There's no real loss to doing this.

*cool being subjective

My post shows where they were "after Nike", if "after Nike" means when they started with the radical design changes. Not sure where their recruiting was from about 2000 and prior...put the blame on Rivals and Scout for that.

Your post shows recruiting rankings. I'm talking about the program. Do you think Oregon plays for a National Championship if they didn't decide to be Nike's bitch a couple decades ago? Do you think their program has the recognition to pull in those kids without having 137 different uniform combos per year? Do you see Oregon things in the stores when you AREN'T in Oregon? I do.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

Your post shows recruiting rankings. I'm talking about the program. Do you think Oregon plays for a National Championship if they didn't decide to be Nike's bitch a couple decades ago? Do you think their program has the recognition to pull in those kids without having 137 different uniform combos per year? Do you see Oregon things in the stores when you AREN'T in Oregon? I do.

Recruiting is the life blood of college football, and while recruiting rankings can be somewhat inaccurate at times the pattern in Oregon's rankings over 16 years shows that they don't get a whole bunch of top-tier talent. The Ducks played for a national title in 2014 because they had Marcus Mariota, and that's all. They played for one in 2010 because few could figure out Chip Kelly's offense.

As for Oregon stuff in stores outside of Oregon, I see some stuff here in Hawaii, but it's largely because Hawaii's own college football fucking sucks most every year, and locals love to bandwagon (see Mariota at Oregon). I actually see almost as much USC and Washington garb as I do Oregon garb...and the Oregon garb has been dwindling since Mariota went into the NFL (I see a crap ton of Titans garb now).

 

[HorseshoeFetish]

I was going to wait until I actually saw our guys running onto the field before giving my final verdict. After seeing where this discussion has gone I'm just going to go ahead and say they suck.

 

[BuckeyeNation27]

Recruiting is the life blood of college football, and while recruiting rankings can be somewhat inaccurate at times the pattern in Oregon's rankings over 16 years shows that they don't get a whole bunch of top-tier talent. The Ducks played for a national title in 2014 because they had Marcus Mariota, and that's all. They played for one in 2010 because few could figure out Chip Kelly's offense.

And why did they have Marcus Mariota? Why did they have LaMichael James or DeAnthony Thomas or Royce Freeman or LeGarrette Blount? They didn't all up and leave their home states for a school they'd never heard of before. They wanted to go to Nike U.

As for Oregon stuff in stores outside of Oregon, I see some stuff here in Hawaii, but it's largely because Hawaii's own college football fucking sucks most every year, and locals love to bandwagon (see Mariota at Oregon). I actually see almost as much USC and Washington garb as I do Oregon garb...and the Oregon garb has been dwindling since Mariota went into the NFL (I see a crap ton of Titans garb now).

Do you see Arizona State garb? Do you see Utah garb? I'm guessing not. I'm a state away from Ohio and I don't see Ohio State stuff....but I sure as shit see Penn State, Pitt, and up until the last couple years before they fell off....neon yellow Oregon.

 

[MililaniBuckeye]

And why did they have Marcus Mariota? Why did they have LaMichael James or DeAnthony Thomas or Royce Freeman or LeGarrette Blount? They didn't all up and leave their home states for a school they'd never heard of before. They wanted to go to Nike U.

I can tell you right now that Mariota didn't go to "Nike U" because of the uniforms.

I can't speak for the others. But for you to insinuate that not one of the players you listed would have "ever heard of" Oregon had they not had those hideous uniforms, I can only say that the offer letter they received from Oregon would've made them aware real quick-like.

Do you see Arizona State garb? Do you see Utah garb? I'm guessing not. I'm a state away from Ohio and I don't see Ohio State stuff....but I sure as [Mark May] see Penn State, Pitt, and up until the last couple years before they fell off....neon yellow Oregon.

I don't see Alabama garb, or Clemson garb, or Michigan garb, or Ohio State garb, either, other than that being worn by fans of those teams. But again, I see didn't see squat for Oregon garb here until Mariota went there.

 

[3yardsandacloud]

If we come to play I don't think the uni matters one way or the other. Maybe to the fans, but not too much the players. Since we are just throwing whatever designs we like against the wall (apparently), I think this might be most effective against the PSU psyche

 

[pnuts34]

Recruits have said time and time again that uniforms are not high on their priority list when looking at a school. Oregon has had hideous [Mark May] for coming on two decades now, and the only reason why they have been good off-and-on during that time wasn't the uniforms but rather the coaching they had (and some kid from Hawaii named Marcus). Here are the final Rivals recruiting rankings for Oregon since 2002 (earliest Rivals has):

2017 18
2016 25
2015 17
2014 26
2013 22
2012 16
2011 9
2010 13
2009 32
2008 19
2007 11
2006 49
2005 28
2004 12
2003 26
2002 48

They've finished in the top 10 once (and barely are that) out of sixteen seasons and finished outside the top 20 in half of those seasons. If uniforms were so important, Oregon would be the perennial recruiting champion instead of some school located in a southern podunk town name Tuscaloosa.

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/2015/10/ohio_states_black_uniforms_--.html

So here Ohio State is, changing with the times. That's why the Buckeyes have been experimenting -- and will continue to experiment -- with alternate uniforms, shoes and apparel. Teenage athletes love apparel. That's not an opinion; it's fact.

"Recruits are impressionable today and have a great deal of materialistic interest," Smith said. "So reality is we're going to respond to that. Our job, our core mission is our student-athletes that we serve, first and foremost. And that includes the recruits we're trying to attract."

Every time this topic gets broached, though, people are quick to say: "If a prospect picks a school based on uniforms alone, then they don't get it." Yes, that's true, but nobody is picking a school based off that alone.

.

Gripe all you want, but kids play the games we watch not message board dudes. and even if these uniforms are a small factor, they're still A factor and certainly help in recruiting. Fans can yell and get as mad as they want, but alternates will continue to be worn. and if fans don't like it then, don't watch! Thats exactly what Ohio state is telling you and any other fan who don't like. I'm sure you disapproved of the black unis, and guess what? They were still worn and the Buckeyes were still the Buckeyes. they'll wear gray on Saturday and possibly all white at seasons end, it is what it is. Traditions are to be sold now in CFB. And I wouldn't be surprised with the next Bama coach if they changed too. and lets not forget, I believe that Bama has worn alternate jerseys before with the Bear Bryant hounds tooth on the sleeve.