Illinois Football Uniforms

I have really enjoyed the current look. Its been a really clean nice look for us. But I am ready for a change, and maybe a look backward.

Those Butkus era mockups do look great, and should be used at least for throwback games once a year.

Contrary to the opinion of the majority, I am quite fond of the Illinois brand. I started watching Illini sports back in the early 2000s, so that is the first look I associate with the university. The urge for nostalgia within me, therefore, wants us to bring back a version of the Turner era uniforms. Not likely, but that is what I consider to be the quintessential look for Illinois football.

Can the Victory Shield still be used with the current branding? If thought it might look good as a helmet sticker.

This is an old mock, but I like the nod to the chief
https://assets-sbnation-com.cdn.amp...s.sbnation.com/assets/2219021/illinimock1.jpg

Hawk19 said:

I’m not a fan of ILLINOIS or the on the side of the helmet. I’d really like to see the block I on the back of the helmet. I think it makes sense with the symmetry of the letter. And let’s just go with the Butkus-era numbers/stars on the side. Any takers? (Excuse the amateur design)View attachment 6915

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These are what I have wanted for a while now

illini80 said:

I hope someday we get to the point where we don’t have to change our uniforms to pretend to be relevant. I always hear about how recruits love it. I’d lIke to see the list of guys we signed because of any uniform design changes we made of the last 20 years.

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The thing is, there are actually relatively few programs that don't regularly update their uniforms, and I think it's pretty misguided to just sort of pretend you have some longstanding traditional look when you don't. If winning spurs an attachment to something, that would be great, but can't put the cart before the horse.

And the thing about these helmet stickers is, the helmet is just not the big smooth dome it was for decades, and it probably never will be again. These new helmet designs with the holes and facets and what not keep the kids safer, they aren't going anywhere, and they change over time, are different by position and player preference, etc. Even at schools where great care is taken to make sure the helmet logos are aligned properly, they are still stuck with dealing with modern equipment they weren't designed for.




Seems obvious to me that the future is designing for the uniform as it actually exists. As always, Oregon is at the forefront.



They have the design manufactured into the shell of the helmet itself, rather than sticking it on with a sticker. They often use the kind of texture pattern above, but it can also be done with more detail as well



We could just print the Block I on that way and not have to worry about applying a sticker. Or we could go beyond that and do some sort of graphic, we could have the columns of Memorial Stadium subtly wrap around the helmet, we could have a photorealistic Alma Mater in orange tone printed on there, the world is really our oyster.

The other thing I wonder, in the age of branding consistency across the athletic department, would it make sense to have "Illinois" across the chest of our football uniforms like it is for our basketball ones?




The design of football uniforms in the days of leather helmets were a product of the time. Big smooth helmet shells and regular broadcasts from a side angle on standard-definition TV created the circumstances for a different way to do it.

I think we're at a new inflection point that way. And designing for that reality doesn't necessary mean being garish and gaudy and spurning any link to tradition like Oregon does. It's just recognizing that you aren't painting on the same canvas with the same set of tools at your disposal as before.

Food for thought.

We should put that new weird-looking bird on the helmet

Dude said:

These are what I have wanted for a while now

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Anything with numbers on the helmets is cringe, IMO. Bama owns that now.

And it's VERY mid major. Lower conference schools do that all the time.

Also, those stars were used like buckeyes at the time, given to specific players as a reward, so making those four-star helmets a uniform wouldn't even be true to that era.

ChiefGritty said:

The thing is, there are actually relatively few programs that don't regularly update their uniforms, and I think it's pretty misguided to just sort of pretend you have some longstanding traditional look when you don't. If winning spurs an attachment to something, that would be great, but can't put the cart before the horse.

And the thing about these helmet stickers is, the helmet is just not the big smooth dome it was for decades, and it probably never will be again. These new helmet designs with the holes and facets and what not keep the kids safer, they aren't going anywhere, and they change over time, are different by position and player preference, etc. Even at schools where great care is taken to make sure the helmet logos are aligned properly, they are still stuck with dealing with modern equipment they were designed for.

Seems obvious to me that the future is designing for the uniform as it actually exists. As always, Oregon is at the forefront.

They have the design manufactured into the shell of the helmet itself, rather than sticking it on with a sticker. They often use the kind of texture pattern above, but it can also be done with more detail as well

We could just print the Block I on that way and not have to worry about applying a sticker. Or we could go beyond that and do some sort of graphic, we could have the columns of Memorial Stadium subtly wrap around the helmet, we could have a photorealistic Alma Mater in orange tone printed on there, the world is really our oyster.

The other thing I wonder, in the age of branding consistency across the athletic department, would it make sense to have "Illinois" across the chest of our football uniforms like it is for our basketball ones?

The design of football uniforms in the days of leather helmets were a product of the time. Big smooth helmet shells and regular broadcasts from a side angle on standard-definition TV created the circumstances for a different way to do it.

I think we're at a new inflection point that way. And designing for that reality doesn't necessary mean being garish and gaudy and spurning any link to tradition like Oregon does. It's just recognizing that you aren't painting on the same canvas with the same set of tools at your disposal as before.

Food for thought.

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Some good ideas here but from what I've been told by DIA sources a lot is dictated by Nike and what they are currently marketing. As long as we are in their second (or even 3rd or 4th for football) tier our options may be limited. The helmets might be more under our control.

ChiefGritty said:

The thing is, there are actually relatively few programs that don't regularly update their uniforms, and I think it's pretty misguided to just sort of pretend you have some longstanding traditional look when you don't. If winning spurs an attachment to something, that would be great, but can't put the cart before the horse.

And the thing about these helmet stickers is, the helmet is just not the big smooth dome it was for decades, and it probably never will be again. These new helmet designs with the holes and facets and what not keep the kids safer, they aren't going anywhere, and they change over time, are different by position and player preference, etc. Even at schools where great care is taken to make sure the helmet logos are aligned properly, they are still stuck with dealing with modern equipment they weren't designed for.

Seems obvious to me that the future is designing for the uniform as it actually exists. As always, Oregon is at the forefront.

They have the design manufactured into the shell of the helmet itself, rather than sticking it on with a sticker. They often use the kind of texture pattern above, but it can also be done with more detail as well

We could just print the Block I on that way and not have to worry about applying a sticker. Or we could go beyond that and do some sort of graphic, we could have the columns of Memorial Stadium subtly wrap around the helmet, we could have a photorealistic Alma Mater in orange tone printed on there, the world is really our oyster.

The other thing I wonder, in the age of branding consistency across the athletic department, would it make sense to have "Illinois" across the chest of our football uniforms like it is for our basketball ones?

The design of football uniforms in the days of leather helmets were a product of the time. Big smooth helmet shells and regular broadcasts from a side angle on standard-definition TV created the circumstances for a different way to do it.

I think we're at a new inflection point that way. And designing for that reality doesn't necessary mean being garish and gaudy and spurning any link to tradition like Oregon does. It's just recognizing that you aren't painting on the same canvas with the same set of tools at your disposal as before.

Food for thought.

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I am intrigued by the columns design on the helmet. Draft up a design and present it to the board for our approval

ChiefGritty said:

Anything with numbers on the helmets is cringe, IMO. Bama owns that now.

And it's VERY mid major. Lower conference schools do that all the time.

Also, those stars were used like buckeyes at the time, given to specific players as a reward, so making those four-star helmets a uniform wouldn't even be true to that era.

Click to expand...

I just want to see the block I on the back of the helmet, much like what Oregon has done. Open to other ideas for the sides.

Dude said:

I am intrigued by the columns design on the helmet. Draft up a design and present it to the board for our approval

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If you’re looking for any artistic ability at all, you’ve come to the wrong place.

Hot takes are my medium.

I actually liked the original rebrand from the Beckham era. There are some changes I’d like to see on them but generally I liked them. I would want white face masks on the orange helmet. Replace the block I with the shield on the helmet and I think it would look sharp and fit a helmet much better than the I. I would’ve liked to see the pants striping extend the entire length of the pants and match the helmet striping pattern as well.

WINTer said:

I actually liked the original rebrand from the Beckham era. There are some changes I’d like to see on them but generally I liked them. I would want white face masks on the orange helmet. Replace the block I with the shield on the helmet and I think it would look sharp and fit a helmet much better than the I. I would’ve liked to see the pants striping extend the entire length of the pants and match the helmet striping pattern as well.

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The Illini used to wear white face masks for years. Would love to see them brought back.

The old Illini uniforms are in the past for a reason. Let’s leave them there.

dgcrow said:

The Illini used to wear white face masks for years. Would love to see them brought back.

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Yeah. The helmets looked much better with white masks. Hated when Beckham went to blue.

ChiefGritty said:

White

Mackovic

Tepper

Turner

Zook

Beckman

Lovie

You're up Bert!

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I prefer the Tepper uniforms. Plus the shoulder pads those guys wore back in that era made them look like gladiators. Made every player look huge. I hope Illinois goes back to that.

I hate the bland Block I so I hope they get rid of it. Much prefer the Illinois on the helmets

Dr.O said:

View attachment 6925

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How about this helmet design and the number(s) on the side?

The ILLINOIS helmets were ripped off from the NY Giants. I prefer something more unique that can only be associated with the Illini.

Dr.O said:

How about this helmet design and the number(s) on the side?

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Too similar to Michigan. Pass.

WINTer said:

Yeah. The helmets looked much better with white masks. Hated when Beckham went to blue.

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Of course we still do have white facemasks, just on our white helmets in our frequent white-out road look, the absolute worst uniform trend in college football.

I really do think the 2001-era uniforms are the best we've done though. There was a crispness to the whole package that we haven't ever matched.



And there is a lesson in us making some very subtle changes in 2004-ish, and ending up with a much lesser overall product



As I said before, they aren't wearing the same equipment, so it can't all be exactly the same, and I'm no devotee of slant Illinois, but if I'm looking to draw visual inspiration for what we should do, 2001 is where I'm going. That it's our last Big Ten championship team (and of course the era our AD played) makes it that much more natural.

ChiefGritty said:

Anything with numbers on the helmets is cringe, IMO. Bama owns that now.

And it's VERY mid major. Lower conference schools do that all the time.

Also, those stars were used like buckeyes at the time, given to specific players as a reward, so making those four-star helmets a uniform wouldn't even be true to that era.

Click to expand...

This is the context most people miss about the Butkus-era helmets. Numbers on the helmet aren't unique; everybody had them, even schools like Notre Dame and Penn State that people think always had plain helmets. Alabama is just the last major program to still use them. And like you said, the stars were pride stickers, so they weren't part of the helmet design at all.

MoCoMdIllini said:

Can the Victory Shield still be used with the current branding? If thought it might look good as a helmet sticker.

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I don't know why the Victory Shield isn't used at all with the current football branding. Every other sport uses it, and it makes a good secondary logo to give some variety to the brand. It looked sharp at the collar of the last football jerseys.

VictoryIllinoisVarsity said:

This is the context most people miss about the Butkus-era helmets. Numbers on the helmet aren't unique; everybody had them, even schools like Notre Dame and Penn State that people think always had plain helmets. Alabama is just the last major program to still use them. And like you said, the stars were pride stickers, so they weren't part of the helmet design at all.

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I still like the idea of the numbers even if Alabama owns it. I really want something that we can stick with for a very long time.

ChiefGritty said:

Of course we still do have white facemasks, just on our white helmets in our frequent white-out road look, the absolute worst uniform trend in college football.

I really do think the 2001-era uniforms are the best we've done though. There was a crispness to the whole package that we haven't ever matched.

And there is a lesson in us making some very subtle changes in 2004-ish, and ending up with a much lesser overall product

As I said before, they aren't wearing the same equipment, so it can't all be exactly the same, and I'm no devotee of slant Illinois, but if I'm looking to draw visual inspiration for what we should do, 2001 is where I'm going. That it's our last Big Ten championship team (and of course the era our AD played) makes it that much more natural.

Click to expand...

God I love those.