Illinois Football Uniforms

[Fighter of the Nightman]

And you're right that Nike said the stripes represent the columns...even if that is mostly marketing speak with the two column artwork on every Nike jersey since the 2014 rebuild I imagine it was part of the initial discussion since we still have the 2014 Nike font on the football uniforms.

Oh I didn't even realize that?? I was referring to the V-neck surrounding the Block "I"?

I have wanted for a long time for us to incorporate the columns into more of our branding. The architecture and story of Memorial Stadium is so cool and unique and worth promoting, and it seems like a miss to not do it more. For example, it seems like it would be really easy to make a Block I logo a lot more interesting by giving it subtle column-themed elements. I am NOT talking about a full-blown column like the old academic logo below, BTW, as it is not great as a sports logo...

However, it would be cool to have a Block I that had more subtle lines running down it in the background or something to make it look SORT OF like a column, haha. I thought they did a great job with the 100th anniversary logo last year, and something in that same artistic "lane" would be cool for our primary logo, IMO.

 

[the juiceman cometh]

RE: Looking like the Bears, I used to be a proponent of always wearing a Bears combo when we play Northwestern to remind them that we are the school more tied to the Bears, Chicago and our state in general ... but that was with our old uniforms. These new ones have established a clear look for us that harkens back to pre-Zook Era uniforms, and I think we should almost always stick with the orange helmet (which the Bears usually don't have, obviously). During our era of uniform chaos that spanned from the later Zook years all the way to Lovie's final year, we did rock Bears color combos a few times:

To my eyes, the 1st and 3rd picture look a lot more like Broncos unis than Bears unis.

 

[skyIdub]

......

However, it would be cool to have a Block I that had more subtle lines running down it in the background or something to make it look SORT OF like a column, haha. I thought they did a great job with the 100th anniversary logo last year, and something in that same artistic "lane" would be cool for our primary logo, IMO.

I think I said it somewhere back....this should be our V neck design (minus the 100, Memorial Stadium, and years obvs) with the larger "I" as you mentioned.

Just the columns, the stadium silhouette, and Block "I".

 

[the juiceman cometh]

I have wanted for a long time for us to incorporate the columns into more of our branding. The architecture and story of Memorial Stadium is so cool and unique and worth promoting, and it seems like a miss to not do it more. For example, it seems like it would be really easy to make a Block I logo a lot more interesting by giving it subtle column-themed elements. I am NOT talking about a full-blown column like the old academic logo below, BTW, as it is not great as a sports logo...

However, it would be cool to have a Block I that had more subtle lines running down it in the background or something to make it look SORT OF like a column, haha. I thought they did a great job with the 100th anniversary logo last year, and something in that same artistic "lane" would be cool for our primary logo, IMO.

This is what ChatGPT was able to come up with:

 

[altgeld88]

My goodness I detest(ed) the matte helmets.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

To my eyes, the 1st and 3rd picture look a lot more like Broncos unis than Bears unis.

Definitely agree with that, just saying we used the color combos of B/B/W, B/W/B and B/O/W like the Bears do, and we obviously don't normally do that.

This is what ChatGPT was able to come up with:

View attachment 42643

While I might prefer a tweak here or there, I love this general idea! It just adds a tiny bit more backstory and depth to our block letter. I think it is cool when programs add a meaningful tweak to a block letter logo to make it less boring. Some decent examples below that at least add SOMETHING related to the school/team besides a plain letter:

 

[skyIdub]

This is what ChatGPT was able to come up with:

View attachment 42643

I don't hate this at all. Another great V neck idea.

 

[skyIdub]

Definitely agree with that, just saying we used the color combos of B/B/W, B/W/B and B/O/W like the Bears do, and we obviously don't normally do that.


While I might prefer a tweak here or there, I love this general idea! It just adds a tiny bit more backstory and depth to our block letter. I think it is cool when programs add a meaningful tweak to a block letter logo to make it less boring. Some decent examples below that at least add SOMETHING related to the school/team besides a plain letter:

Hawaii "H" has always been a fave of mine.

Also f Maryland.

I know I said I should quit today, but sometimes I can't quit you filthy anmals.

 

[TentakilRex]

This is what ChatGPT was able to come up with:

View attachment 42643

Throw my hat in this derby

I threw my hat in this derby using Grok, bit inception-y. Some artwork from Illiniwek or the Mississippian culture might bee nice

 

[Toews]

This is what ChatGPT was able to come up with:

View attachment 42643

This used to be part of the brand identity (columns from Memorial mixed with the finials found atop campus buildings), and was the backdrop to the university athletic website page for years. Would probably work with the I to create a similar look.

 

[CaptainCrutch]

Hey if we’re talking bears uniforms…I’ve never understood why they haven’t tried to pair the orange alternate pants with the default home. B/c I think it’s gorgeous.

 

[Krombopulos_Michael]

Hey if we’re talking bears uniforms…I’ve never understood why they haven’t tried to pair the orange alternate pants with the default home. B/c I think it’s gorgeous.

View attachment 42650

Bc the orange alternate pants don’t exist

 

[FGCUIllini]

I honestly think this look could be up there for the most iconic look in college football given enough time. While I get that it was meant as a 1 off special for the 100th anniversary Michigan game, I think those helmets and unis are too good to pass up.

For example, if we were to somehow be 6-0 going into the OSU game (won't be easy), seeing us run out on the field with those in primetime would be straight fire.

"The Illini wearing their amazing throwbacks. That look just screams football. Yeah Jim, they took it to what was the reigning national champion Michigan wearing those jerseys last year, and are looking to make a statement against the current reigning national champ tonight. You cannot get more hyped up than this."

I was in Atlanta a few weeks back for a work conference and went to the College Football Hall of Fame. Look what was in the lobby! The helmet looks SO GOOD up close!

 

[CaptainCrutch]

Bc the orange alternate pants don’t exist

Wait what they don’t?! So those are in Madden just for the fun of it?

 

[Krombopulos_Michael]

Wait what they don’t?! So those are in Madden just for the fun of it?

Yeah, was quite the lack of attention to detail we’ve come to know and love from EA. Or maybe they were trying to will them into existence bc they would have looked good in the right combo

 

[ugottabjoshinme]

Hey if we’re talking bears uniforms…I’ve never understood why they haven’t tried to pair the orange alternate pants with the default home. B/c I think it’s gorgeous.

View attachment 42650

Because it looks bad

 

[Battle89]

I was in Atlanta a few weeks back for a work conference and went to the College Football Hall of Fame. Look what was in the lobby! The helmet looks SO GOOD up close!

Gosh darn it. Was just there over Memorial Day weekend and did not have the time as we were flying out that day. Had I known I would have made the time. Went in the gift shop but not the Hall itself.

Do you recall, since you said they were in the lobby, is this something you could see without going through the whole museum? Like you just step in off the street and it's there? I will be back in the area over July 4th weekend.

 

[TheFlyingIllini1317]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1935848593480425596

I think I like the ILLINOIS more with the white unis and the arched more with the blue, not sure why

 

[mattcoldagelli]

Washington continues to (somewhat) sneakily have some of the best uniforms in CFB: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLIJCEhxHQE/

 

[TheFlyingIllini1317]

Washington continues to (somewhat) sneakily have some of the best uniforms in CFB: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLIJCEhxHQE/

If they were Nike instead of Adidas they'd be top 10 in the country, I'm a sucker for a gold helmet. That will also be one of our toughest games of the year, they have a very dynamic QB.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

Washington continues to (somewhat) sneakily have some of the best uniforms in CFB: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DLIJCEhxHQE/

I love Washington's uniforms, and I am pleasantly surprised that Adidas can throw something that good together, haha. I also love that the end of that video shows their version of #BPOTR, wearing the gold helmet, white jersey and purple pants. Obviously I think our O/W/B combo is the best of the bunch, but I will generally always be a sucker for the uniform setup of wearing a white jersey paired with your lighter color as the helmet and your darker color as the pants. It's a unique-yet-classic-looking combo that only a few schools can even realistically try, given how many schools have a "timeless" uniform combo that this would mess up (e.g., Iowa wearing a black helmet rather than yellow) or that simply only have one real color (e.g., the countless schools whose colors are some variation of "red and white").

Some work betters than others, but I generally like the concept ... especially for us.

#BPOTR

 

[TheFlyingIllini1317]

I love Washington's uniforms, and I am pleasantly surprised that Adidas can throw something that good together, haha. I also love that the end of that video shows their version of #BPOTR, wearing the gold helmet, white jersey and purple pants. Obviously I think our O/W/B combo is the best of the bunch, but I will generally always be a sucker for the uniform setup of wearing a white jersey paired with your lighter color as the helmet and your darker color as the pants. It's a unique-yet-classic-looking combo that only a few schools can even realistically try, given how many schools have a "timeless" uniform combo that this would mess up (e.g., Iowa wearing a black helmet rather than yellow) or that simply only have one real color (e.g., the countless schools whose colors are some variation of "red and white").

Some work betters than others, but I generally like the concept ... especially for us.

#BPOTR

Hey look, Adidas finally aren't screen printing their numbers like a practice jersey. The material looks better too, copying that middle seam attachment from Nike as well.

 

[CaptainCrutch]

Re: helmet decals

Basically all preseason, with the exception of a Chick-fil-A commercial where backup QB Ethan Hampton had a Slant Illinois logo (which I think was just to match David Olano’s for consistency), it seems like pretty much everything I can find has the same pattern:

Offense wears Script Illinois, Defense/ST wears Slant Illinois.

Even the transfers and incoming freshmen have this same pattern. So, we really can’t take anything definitive from that, but since I didn’t see any Block I or Arched Illini, I’m going to take a swing that Bielema is either deciding between one of those two as this year’s primary helmet logo, or that we’ll mostly see a mix of those two. My guess is the latter, though I’d really like to see us get one design and stick with it. I really don’t think they’d have different logos for O/D in game either because besides the logistical nightmare I’m not sure that’s even allowed.

I think there’s a good chance though that the Block I is on its way out of the rotation.

 

[1970 John]

It may be mandela effect but I remember Altmeyer saying that he likes the Orange helmets. It makes receivers easier to pick out downfield, particularly when it's used every game. So if Luke likes, what more needs to be said?

 

[the juiceman cometh]

Re: helmet decals

Basically all preseason, with the exception of a Chick-fil-A commercial where backup QB Ethan Hampton had a Slant Illinois logo (which I think was just to match David Olano’s for consistency), it seems like pretty much everything I can find has the same pattern:

Offense wears Script Illinois, Defense/ST wears Slant Illinois.

Even the transfers and incoming freshmen have this same pattern. So, we really can’t take anything definitive from that, but since I didn’t see any Block I or Arched Illini, I’m going to take a swing that Bielema is either deciding between one of those two as this year’s primary helmet logo, or that we’ll mostly see a mix of those two. My guess is the latter, though I’d really like to see us get one design and stick with it. I really don’t think they’d have different logos for O/D in game either because besides the logistical nightmare I’m not sure that’s even allowed.

I think there’s a good chance though that the Block I is on its way out of the rotation.

I get the sense that Bielema has always preferred Slant to Block I (as all sensible men of refinement do). I assume he also likes the script, as we debuted it in a significant game. I also seem to recall reading that he's a bit superstitious, so the bowl victory in the first outing of the script helmet bodes well for its future use.

So yeah, I think you're right that we're most likely to see a rotation involving heavy use of Script and Slant, with the Block I mostly or entirely falling out of the rotation.