Back to the College Football Uniforms
Silver and gold are staples of Colorado football, but believe it or not, powder blue was the color of choice during the Buffaloes’ dreadful 10-34 run in the early 1980s. The color was added to the mix to signify “Colorado’s sky at 9,000 feet” then nixed after four dreadful seasons.
In 2011, Nike revamped Colorado’s uniforms to its current, a classic throwback appearance with “COLORADO” splashed across jerseys in all caps as opposed to the small wordmark featured in previous years (2007-10, CU’s first major overhaul since 1985). Back too are the sleeve stripes instead of numerals indicative of the 1980s and 90s. Colorado’s interlocking “CU” logo first appeared on gold shells in 1969.
The added “Buffalo” behind the CU made its first appearance in 1981 and is still being worn today, the school’s longest-running logo. In 2005, the logo was slightly tweaked to give the Buffalo an “in-motion” appearance.
Colorado has donned black helmets a few times over the last decade, but gold shells remain the preferred choice on gamedays. In 2009, the Buffaloes wore a Nike Pro Combat throwback with “horned” silver helmets, an ode to Colorado’s shells in the late 50s. In recent years, the Buffaloes have often worn black tops with gold pants at home and white tops with black pants on the road.
Black home jerseys are detailed with gold stripes on the sleeves and white numerals in the center and on the shoulders. An interlocking “CU” graphic adorns the right hip on game pants. Colorado’s black top-black pants get up is considered a home alternate.
Colorado’s current deal with Nike ends in 2016, a 10-year extension the Buffaloes signed in 2005. Colorado was one of the first schools to form a partnership with the swoosh across all sports in 1995. Since 1988, Nike has been associated with CU football. The swoosh has plans for a uniform redesign in 2013 with first-year coach Mike MacIntyre.
