Fashion Fabulous Football

The season came to an end last Friday night for the Wasatch high school varsity football team.  It was a great year and things are definitely looking up for the future of the program.  Can’t wait ‘til next year already.

Something I think the athletic administrators at Wasatch should take a look at in the off-season is some of those flashy uniforms the college programs are sporting these days.  The trend has actually started to seep into the high school ranks I noticed in a feature last week on the internet.  So maybe it’s time the Wasps got in on it.

I was thinking they should start with something progressive.  Picture this.  Chrome-plated helmets with a giant wasp decal – not the fighting wasp mascot they sport now (that is so yesterday) – but an outline of a real wasp.  Gigantic in size… covering the entire side of the helmet.  Oh, and only on one side!  Yeah – that would be cool.  Make the decal black and have bright yellow facemasks.  For the jerseys, they could use like three or four different versions.  I know that can get expensive, but think of the merchandising possibilities.  What mother of a player wouldn’t want to proudly display her son’s number in the stands if the jersey were designed with the texture of insect wings?   The numbers could be bright yellow to match the facemasks.  No, wait – they could glow in the dark!  Think of the home field advantage there.  They wouldn’t even have to turn on the stadium lights.  The pants should definitely be black, but with yellow rings around the legs, just like the body of a real wasp.  If they could stitch a piece of yellow fabric in the shape of a stinger right down the middle of the butt, I’m sure it would be a football first… at any level.  Top these new wave unis off with some bright yellow knee socks and all white cleats and I think you’ve got yourself a look sure to distract any opponent.

I think this new trend of mixing it up with the uniforms is the brainchild of Phil Knight, the big dog at Nike and an alumn of the University of Oregon.  That’s why you always have to look twice when watching a Ducks game.  You never know what they are going to come out wearing.  It’s become so popular, this football fashion thing, that teams that have been so deeply entrenched in tradition, like Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame have gotten in on the act.   Why the gridiron is becoming the red carpet.  It’s only a matter of time before TMZ supplants ESPN as the television coverage of choice for football games.  Nothing says football like the fellas discussing the choice of his team going with the teal on gold over the black on teal.

I’m sure my suggestion for Wasatch will fall on deaf ears, which is probably for the best.  I like the Wasps look this year.  Traditional, with a few updated touches.  No trendy over hauls.  Stick to your look, like the Chicago Bears or Nebraska Cornhuskers.  Put a quality product on the field and fans will buy your jerseys.  Even if they are just plain in comparison to some of the teams that are switching it up.  If a different look is something a team feels they need to do for a promotional reason, like the NFL does with their throwbacks, then do like BYU did this year with their black out design.  They kept their Y logo and traditional striping, and just went with black gear.  No need for chrome or neon-brights or weird decals of a fighting Brigham Young. 

I’m sure Phil Knight has his reasons for dressing up his Ducks.  Maybe he needs a tax right off.  They’re a good team.  They certainly don’t need the attention.  I’m just hoping the trend of  “uglying up” some of these football uniforms wears off soon.  I couldn’t stomach the idea of a football fashion show with Melissa and Joan Rivers on the E network.  But, it’s probably in the works.