The 2014 Illini Nike Uniforms and Rebrand

[Larry Rose]

Ha, I know.

Just to reiterate - everyone knows that Team Shield is like 75% tongue-in-cheek, right? In fact, #Team[Anything] has become a pretty standard joke that plays on the instantaneous, binary tribalism of anything being discussed on the internet.

I like the Shield, but it's not like I'm getting a tattoo of it or anything.

Got a huge backpiece tattoo of the shield hours after it was first revealed. Believe in the shield

 

[lxAsTrOxl]

Got a huge backpiece tattoo of the shield hours after it was first revealed. Believe in the shield

You know...the more i've been looking at the shield logo...the less i've liked it. I think it works in a very small detail setting, like on the collar of the football uniform, but on a bigger piece like the front logo of a t-shirt...i'm just not feeling it. Looks awkard. And this is coming from a guy who originally liked the logo. All i can think of is the front of a train.

Go ILLINI

 

[BobtheBarber2]

Paul James rocking the shield

That reminds me of those "Baby on Board" T-shirts pregnant ladies like to wear. The ones that have an arrow pointing to their stomachs

Looks like a bullet to me.

 

[PaytonHighstep]

I am sure the shield will evolve over time. I like it as an accent on uniforms more than the focal point on a t-shirt too.

 

[Illinnoying Orange]

I am sure the shield will evolve over time. I like it as an accent on uniforms more than the focal point on a t-shirt too.

I agree that the 'shield' is ok as a uniform accent, helmet sticker or maybe on a hat. But it does not look real good as a large image on a shirt.

I'll stick with the or on shirts until (if) something better comes along.

 

[RHITIllini]

I agree that the 'shield' is ok as a uniform accent, helmet sticker or maybe on a hat. But it does not look real good as a large image on a shirt.

I'll stick with the or on shirts until (if) something better comes along.

It would have looked better on that shirt without the stripes on the sleeves

 

[DrewD007]

Here's an article detailing the whole process. Some interesting tidbits towards the end...

What changes will be visible next season? The football and men's basketball uniforms that were unveiled April 16 are the finished products. The women's basketball uniform could have a minor change and likely won't be ready until midseason, while the uniforms for volleyball, soccer and baseball could still change before they're used on the field or court in 2014-15. The rest of the sports update every two to three years, so whenever they are due for an update, fans will see their new looks.

Many fields and courts will have new looks next season. The middle of Zuppke Field at Memorial Stadium will not change for now, due to cost concerns, but the end zones will be updated. Plans are in place to have a new mark on the back of the Memorial Stadium scoreboard, which overlooks Kirby Avenue, one of Champaign's main thoroughfares. Huff Hall and State Farm Center will have new marks on the courts, including the updated Block I and the Victory Badge in some areas. The athletic department is working to see how it can incorporate the Victory Badge in athletics locations on campus.

 

[BZuppke]

From same article: What uniform combo will football team use in home opener? Beckman says seniors will choose. My guess: All orange.

 

[WesterveltVictoryCigar]

Here's an article detailing the whole process. Some interesting tidbits towards the end...

No need to include this, IMO:

due to cost concerns

 

[illinicb]

From same article: What uniform combo will football team use in home opener? Beckman says seniors will choose. My guess: All orange.

My least favorite, but I'm not voting.

 

[illini1]

It was idiotic to put permanent logo on the 50 yard line last year when they knew they going through a rebrand. Small details like this makes the DIA look incompetent IMO. You have to change it this year. Wasn't CONSISTENCY the reason for the rebrand in the first place?

 

[illinicb]

It was idiotic to put permanent logo on the 50 yard line last year when they knew they going through a rebrand. Small details like this makes the DIA look incompetent IMO. You have to change it this year. Wasn't CONSISTENCY the reason for the rebrand in the first place?

So the only other option would be to not have anything or wait for a new field until the re-brand? Not sure if either of those is much better of an option. Saying this without and "field" expertise.

 

[illini1]

So the only other option would be to not have anything or wait for a new field until the re-brand? Not sure if either of those is much better of an option. Saying this without and "field" expertise.

They could've painted it like they did with the endzones. It wouldn't have looked as good, but it's better than having the wrong logo on the field this season.

 

[IlliniByProxy]

The cost of making all these changes is a reality that the DIA has to face. That leaves them with two options, 1: do a gradual roll out as they are doing or 2: save money and fund raise until you can make a complete change, years down the road. They would be criticized if we didn't get new uniforms for another three years, they would be criticized if we painted all of our logos on the field, and now they are being criticized for a slow rollout.

The point of the rebrand is consistency, yes. Does that mean instant consistency, no. It means they are working towards being completely consistent. That means within the next 5 years all fields, uniforms, and signage will be changed to the new designs when funds allow. Eventually, years down the line we will have a uniform look.

To me the DIA would only be considered incompetent if they replaced the current center field logo with an old slant Illinois or another made up logo not released by Nike.

 

[HsvIllini]

The point of the rebrand is consistency, yes. Does that mean instant consistency, no. It means they are working towards being completely consistent. That means within the next 5 years all fields, uniforms, and signage will be changed to the new designs when funds allow. Eventually, years down the line we will have a uniform look.

Unless they decide to change something part way through, then the whole cycle starts over again.

 

[DrewD007]

It was idiotic to put permanent logo on the 50 yard line last year when they knew they going through a rebrand. Small details like this makes the DIA look incompetent IMO. You have to change it this year. Wasn't CONSISTENCY the reason for the rebrand in the first place?

To be fair, the turf was installed 2 seasons ago (Beckman's first). Still strange they can't do something with it, such as paint the white outline orange or blue so it's not as noticeable.

Anyways, I believe the turf previous to this one was there for four seasons (2008-2011), so wouldn't be shocked to get new turf for 2016 season.

 

[matt1all]

Here's an article detailing the whole process. Some interesting tidbits towards the end...

putting the shield on the back of the MS scoreboard would be pretty sick

 

[illini1]

To be fair, the turf was installed 2 seasons ago (Beckman's first).

OK. I was off by a year. However, they still knew the logos would be outdated in a couple years, which is why they left the endzones blank. The only explanation I can think of is that they intended to not make any changes to the I, but they changed their mind late in the process.

 

[Kams Bathroom]

The middle of Zuppke Field at Memorial Stadium will not change for now, due to cost concerns

 

[IlliniByProxy]

Unless they decide to change something part way through, then the whole cycle starts over again.

I could be wrong but I doubt we change the font or any of the marks anytime in the next 10 years. That's the whole point of the branding initiative, pick something and stick with it so your university can be identified with it, good, bad, or ugly.

 

[Kams Bathroom]

I could be wrong but I doubt we change the font or any of the marks anytime in the next 10 years. That's the whole point of the branding initiative, pick something and stick with it so your university can be identified with it, good, bad, or ugly.

But I'm not sure we can even continue on as a University with the kind of criticisms GHD and STLFan have leveled. I mean, who would even apply to the school anymore?

 

[Warriors1994]

Will there be anyone who even notices that the "I" is not curved? I bet you 75% of people watching will not even realize that it hasn't been changed. People are overreacting over 1 year

 

[Kams Bathroom]

Will there be anyone who even notices that the "I" is not curved? I bet you 75% of people watching will not even realize that it hasn't been changed. People are overreacting over 1 year

Is it one year? Or does "cost concerns" mean "we can't possibly tear out something we've already sewn in, we're going to have to wait a decade or whatever to get a whole new field"?

And if you have two subtly different logos, you have no logos.

 

[mattcoldagelli]

It was idiotic to put permanent logo on the 50 yard line last year when they knew they going through a rebrand. Small details like this makes the DIA look incompetent IMO. You have to change it this year. Wasn't CONSISTENCY the reason for the rebrand in the first place?

Agree. Between this and the potential missing blue uniforms, I'm like

 

[Kams Bathroom]

But, the good news is, if there's going to be lag in putting a new midfield logo down, that gives us time to start a new hashtag!

#ShieldAtMidfield