The USC Proposed Uniform Change

I love the anthracite helmets. Tradition is good and, breaking from tradition with these uniforms is great. “Everybody’s crazy ’bout a sharp-dressed man.”
                                                                                 Z Z Top

Just…no.

I don’t have a problem with the proposed unis.

And I believe tradition is everything at USC.

Here’s the rationale: “Tradition” means (to me, and to Websters) “the passing down of elements of culture from generation to generation”. Alternative, a “time honored practice”. But “tradition” doesn’t necesarily demand that you “don’t change anything…ever!”. In fact, “never change” is an aproach that is ultimately doomed to fail.

One could agrue that the proposed uniforms do honor USC tradition because they are “cardinal and gold”, and they have the traditional “Trojan” on the hlemet. For me, the bottom line is that I can take a quick glance at unis and tell it’s USC. When ESPN highlights are playing in the bar, I’d immediately turn to big screen when Robert Woods catches the game winner.

A school that honors tradition always has room for more. I could foresee that USC could develop a tradition where they break out a new uni every year for the UCLA game, taking care to honor the essential elements of USC uniforms. It would generate addition buzz and excitement about the USC program and about a rivalry that has become less competitive in recent years. My biggest concern has always been that USC will take the game too lightly (fortunately,they almost never do). A new uniform tradition would reinforce that the UCLA game is special, even if the opponent is a perpetual conference bottomfeeder. Heck, the USC coaches could even make the players earn the new unis, and withhold them for substandard seasons.

The vast majority of the USC players develop a tremendous appreciation for the tradition of USC. I don’t think a different uniform (as long as it embraces the Trojan image) deminishes the tradition one bit. And, if its something that fun and exciting for the players, its hard to argue against it. JMO.

Class of 2007. I have no family tradition of Trojans (grew up in Washington, first USC grad in my family).

I can’t stand these.

Ignoring tradition and all that, they’re just plain ugly. The pants don’t match up with the jerseys and the black helmets clash horribly. You can talk all you want about Oregon’s stuff, but at least their combos have some aesthetic sense to them.

If we’re gonna have to suffer alternates, at least make them appealing to look at.

to mock up uniforms for their teams. Which probably explains why:

1. The colors don’t match
2. They show up with Adidas cleats not Nike.

I remember seeing some even more godawful ones that looked like Redskins uniforms.

I’m sorry but this is a horrible idea and yes it is screwing with tradition. One of the traditions at USC is the unis have pretty much always stayed the same. What is next, playing D-1AA?

Those can’t be real. My old man would have a heart attack if they even think about changing the uniforms

I’m not going to pull the dumb “I WON’T PAY FOR TICKETS AND I’LL BOYCOTT” card, but it’s just stupid.

Now, if they wanted to do throwbacks, that’d be excellent. Do a 1972 throwback, which would basically involve a new jersey. Or a ’67 throwback… or something like that.

Doing fancy ass jerseys is for teams that don’t have a tradition. Oregon (other than the last year or two) has no football tradition to speak of. On the other hand, you don’t see teams like Michigan, ND, Penn State, Nebraska screwing around with uniforms other than small stripe changes or tradition-related throwbacks/alternates. Why? They don’t need to. They do it for the fans, not to impress a few kids.

Dumb. Oh well, this is a lost battle. Better learn to love the “black for black’s sake” crap.

I can see it now….white jerseys are next. Those corporate douchebags at Nike want to “Oregonize” us!

if it was for another game. I’d prefer for a home OOC game, building some hype about a game that might not otherwise have it (e.g., an Idaho), but Homecoming could work, as well. I don’t like doing it for the UCLA game, especially after we just went back to the dark jerseys on both sides.

Plus, it’s better than a black jersey, but I just don’t think it would look good. Maybe I’ll feel better about it once I see the proposed design.

Here is an interesting thought…… ND has their Green Shirt – how many times has ND won while wearing the Green Shirt – well it does not go so well.

As an Alum of the only Uni in SoCali…. Tradition lives on – Fight on!

No Nike, No Black Socks, No Black Helmet and the All Cardinal Uniform is horrible….. just looks horrible….