Fanbase

Uniforms are key. Uniforms make a statement. They could be flashy or they could be plain.  They grab our attention right away regardless of how awesome or heinous they might look. They’re used a recruiting tool sometimes.  Some schools are known for their jerseys. Just ask the people of Eugene, Oregon. The Ducks surprise us every year with something completely different and something more creative and crazier than what they had before. Then you have schools like Alabama and Penn State. Two teams that when you turn on the TV you know who is playing. Two teams with jerseys that have had little or no change over the years. Everyone loves the jerseys; they’re the first things we see when we turn a game on.

            There are many facets of the jersey that make it stand out. The first thing we tend to notice is the helmet; everyone looks at what is going on up top. You recognize how shiny it might be and you recognize how bold it might be with a logo, a letter, or a number. A few schools have had helmets that just make you say, “wow”.

• ·      2012 Rose Bowl- Oregon Ducks
• ·      2012 Fiesta Bowl- Baylor Bears
• ·      Alabama Football
• ·      Penn State Football
• ·      Miami Hurricanes
• ·      Florida State Seminoles

There are many other schools that you could put on the list but there are some of the greats that are easily recognizable. College uniforms are a lot flashier than in the NFL, of course. The NFL keeps it real basic and real classic. You recognize them right away, unless you’re watching the Jaguars or Buccaneers. The NBA and NFL are different in the sense that you don’t normally see NBA fans wearing jerseys at games but at NFL games it’s almost every other fan is wearing a jersey. But chances are that you’ll see people wearing an NBA jersey outside of sports venues than football.

            Maybe the biggest part of the uniforms is the jerseys itself. They make the uniform stand out. They could be the difference between you changing the channel or leaving a game on. We as humans like flashy things such as watches, cars, houses, and shoes just to name a few. If we see something that catches our eye we have the tendency to keep looking at it. Teams will often use different uniform combinations to do just, catch our eye and draw us in. Let's be honest, you aren't watching an Oregon game because of their offense. Early on when I really started to watch sports I watched a North Carolina basketball game, they were in their home white with the light blue lettering and trim. Obviously I knew who North Carolina was, but had never really watched a game, but after watching that game I instantly became a fan.

           

           In an age where the flashier the better, I remain loyal to the traditional uniforms. Don’t get me wrong though I do like the constant changing of Oregon. Growing up a Penn State fan I sort of got spoiled with the basic look. I got spoiled with the black shoes, plain white pants and plan white helmets. The white helmets with the single blue stripe have always been a staple of Penn State. In recent years the uniforms have taken on a new look, a more modern look. After former head coach Bill O’Brien took over at the helm he decided to recognize those player’s who stayed at Penn State after they had the opportunity to leave. He did so by putting the names on the back of the jerseys, something that had been talked about and argued for years as many believed it would take away from the tradition of Penn State. It didn't. 

            In recent years the NBA has tried to go down a different road with their Christmas Day uniforms. Last year they went with the quarter sleeve jerseys. Those weren’t such a popular style among players and fans. And I'm pretty sure they didn't sell very well either. Players complained about how they would restrict their range of motion when shooting but they still went out and wore them because, why not? It’s a fashion statement more or less. And that goes for all sports and their uniforms. As fans we buy jerseys to either support our favorite team or player(s). Or we buy them because they look cool. This year’s Christmas Day uniforms are just a little different, and by that I mean they’re a lot different. And they’re a lot better. We all know the normal look of an NBA jersey; team name and player number on the front and the player’s last name and number on the back. This year will have a different look. Much better Adam Silver, I applaud you.

            Uniforms can also show what a player has accomplished for a team. In college for example, Florida State players have miniature tomahawks on their helmets. There is a point system behind the sticker to determine who gets one and why. Ohio State has its own tradition; stemming from when Woody Hayes roamed the sidelines. Ohio State has been putting a buckeye leaves on players helmets to recognize their greatness as a Buckeye.

            Why do we buy jerseys? Is it because we as fans like to show our sport for our favorite player or team? Or maybe it’s because we think they look cool. Or is it that we want to feel apart of the team in some way or another. It’s a combination of all those things and just being a sports fan. It’s a weird relationship we as fans have with our teams. Take Cleveland Cavaliers fans for example. After LeBron had made his decision to take his talents to South Beach, you saw videos of fans burning his jersey. You then saw those exact same fans buying his jersey and welcoming him home with open arms. Whatever the reason might be; being a sports fan is fun. It makes life a lot more entertaining and we really need that sometimes.