Color Me in Something Other Than in Penn State Tradition

acabenI was young and impressionable in a time with flashy, bright uniforms. For years, I received on my birthday a different color and logo of my favorite teams’ hats. I remember the Phillies light blue uniforms, the Flyers bright orange away jerseys, and the Eagles Kelly green helmets. I had a Green Bay Packers coat and Buccaneers sweatpants. The neighborhood was filled with color when we played tackle football on the church lawn or street hockey in the asphalt shopping lot.

So when I went to college at Penn State, I didn’t own anything as boring as blue and white. It was not even Duke blue or even the Quebec Nordiques visitor’s shade. It was this dark blue and white. I remember going through the bookstore with my parents and they asked me to pick something out to wear. All they had were gray t-shirts with the same emblem and blue and white hats with the same Penn State University. It was not until my senior year when they brought out the lion on the rock stuff, which was hideous. My wardrobe took a turn to the drab even though I might not have spent $100 on PSU clothing.

I am proud Penn Stater. I just never liked the colors. I was never big on tradition, if that tradition was white helmets. I never understood why everyone wore the same spikes on the football field or boring uniforms when all the other sports changed them into something modern. So I was pretty excited when I heard they were changing the uniform even though I think the reason is ridiculous. Joe Paterno did not create the uniform and the Nike Swoosh broke the tradition 15 years ago for 2.6 Million.

 I was hoping they would go all the way back to the original Black and Pink. Now that would liven up the bookstore. I was hoping for silver helmets with the lion emblem. I was hoping for all blue uniforms or even silver pants. All we get as fans this year are names on the Penn State football uniforms meant to break from the past. I guess you cannot move Mount Nittany in one year, but is this really breaking from tradition and beginning a new era in Penn State football?

The Yankees never put their names on their jerseys. The Dodgers, Giants and Red Sox continue this tradition of team and tradition over individual recognition. If you are interested, this is great history on jersey names. But the players make up the history of a sports club, and I am glad the NFL has all the names on their jersey. One of my favorite parts of going to the Eagles' games is seeing the years of players walk by on the fans’ backs and telling old glories and follies. Penn State will start to enjoy that tradition.

The university and football program should celebrate the individuals that make a ton of money for the university. They should not bear the burden or brunt for the wrongs of people who should have made the right decisions. I do not know what tradition has to do with jerseys and helmets. The only tradition I like is knowing that on a Fall afternoon there is a Penn State football game. I just wish I could get some apparel to wear at the bar that does not look like I am going to a funeral. Maybe they can start a new tradition – no more boring helmets or colors.

You can follow James Dugan on facebook and on Twitter @jamesduganlb. Purchase his new book through Amazon What Baseball Teaches: A Poetic Odyssey into 2008 Season of the World Champions Philadelphia Phillies 

Comments

[bennythejetrodriguez]

I always thought the Penn State traditionalist approach was cool in an era of flashy, ostentatious uniforms. One thing about jerseys without names is that your #32 is cyclically replaced by a new player every three or four years--hopefully by someone good. I understand Penn State's movement to distance itself from a reprehensible leadership, but I would prefer not to see old-school unis go because I think they reject the selfish, money-hungry side of sports.

[Patrick Edmonds]

Great piece blending your own personal history and the history the team's uniform as a way to analyze its possibly brighter future.
A few questions though: Were Penn State's uniforms originally black and pink? That's awesome!
Also, did you ever manage to wear your Bucaneers sweatpants, Packers jacket, Phillies hat, and Eagles shirt at the same time? If I actually saw you dressed like this I would have assumed you were living in a shelter and were the unfortunate beneficiary of a Purple Heart donation.

[James Dugan]

I have in-laws who love the jersey and my wife would probably kick me out for writing such a blasphemous post. We had some good offensive teams and players and because the team wore the same uniforms from the 50s, everyone thinks we just run the ball. They use to have their numbers on the helmet and that would be cool. And the Nike swoosh was a total sell out and pretty much marked the end of anything traditional. I just want them to spice it up. And yes, edmonds, the original uniforms were black and pink and the colors faded to dark blue and white. That is the folklore. And yes, I did wear them all together, with Michael Jordan red, white and black hightops. No wonder I could never get any dates.