Back to the College Football Uniforms
You have to give it to the powers that be within the University of Memphis’ athletic department — they’re entering uncharted territory in the apparel realm.
The Tigers are letting Memphis alumni vote on the team’s new football jerseys for the 2013 season, giving supporters two templates on the school’s web site with the winner to be revealed shortly before the season opener.
Among the noteworthy changes to the Nike redesign is the incorporation of contrasting Tiger stripes on the shoulders of jerseys and along the sides of pants. One option has stripes on sleeves and pants while the other takes control of the entire top half of the game jersey.
In 2012, following several years with stripes and piping, a “MEMPHIS” wordmark stretched vertically on pants from thigh to knee. The school is considering dropping its gray pants and will include an all-black option with blue accents in the near future. Memphis is in dire need of fresh tweaking from Nike having donned the same jersey template — with only minor changes to piping and a chest stripe — for several seasons.
The Tigers no longer wear the “MEMPHIS” wordmark below the neck, instead going with a primary “M” patch that is hardly noticeable. The Tigers switched from silver to blue helmets in 1999 and have kept the same look since.
Nike presented Memphis with arguably its best look over the last decade in 2010 with a piping-heavy, diamond template. The uniforms feature stylized stripes down the side of pants that formed in a point at the hip as well as side jersey piping that met at the rib cage to form a diamond. Several swoosh-sponsored teams donned a similar template, but the Tigers’ blue, white and black color swatch made it look the best.
Memphis is hoping the uniform switch will help pull the program from the depths a mediocrity, a football team that’s won just nine games since the 2009 season. Memphis signed its current five-year deal with Nike in 2008. The two sides are reportedly working on an extension.
