Illinois Football Uniforms
And Orange?
#BPOTR
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
More arched ILLINI helmet deployment.
And I've finally made my peace with SLANT ILLINOIS after 37 seasons. In the same way I imagine that the Wolverine faithful who came of age during the Great Depression had made peace by the mid-'70s with Fritz Crisler taking Princeton's winged helmet design to Ann Arbor with him.
That's all I've got moving into summer.
And I've finally made my peace with SLANT ILLINOIS after 37 seasons. In the same way I imagine that the Wolverine faithful who came of age during the Great Depression had made peace by the mid-'70s with Fritz Crisler taking Princeton's winged helmet design to Ann Arbor with him.
That's all I've got moving into summer.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
I've all but given up, haha ... and the amazing developments this year on the basketball uniform front has helped me deal with it.
It seems that one of the following is the case, IMO. Just substitute "Bret" for whoever actually chooses the uniforms each game, but he has been the constant since we got the new uniforms.
(A) Bret absolutely hates the idea of blue pants with the white jersey in and of itself.
(B) When it comes to our uniforms' 3-stripe patterns, Bret thinks it would look bad to ever use three different ones. I of course think this would look totally fine, but it's just a guess, lol. For example, the all-navy Music City Bowl look only uses one striping pattern:
---> [O/W/O - on - Blue] helmet
---> [O/W/O - on - Blue] shoulder stripes
---> [O/W/O - on - Blue] pants
There are several combos where at least two match, with one example being our standard home uniform:
---> [B/W/B - on - Orange] helmet
---> [O/W/O - on - Blue] shoulder stripes
---> [B/W/B - on - Orange] pants
Assuming the standard orange helmet, the classic #BPOTR look would be three different ones:
---> [B/W/B - on - Orange] helmet
---> [B/O/B - on - White] shoulder stripes
---> [O/W/O - on - Blue] for the pants.
(C) Bret simply just does not care at all, and the mere possibility of wearing our blue pants on the road has literally never crossed his mind.
Personally, I find (C) really unlikely ... he seemed pretty invested in getting our uniforms back to this look. I also find (A) at least sort of unlikely, because we have worn blue pants at home (and most recently in Nashville) multiple times over the last few years. So, my bet would be some very casual preference toward (B) that he has?
MoCoMdIllini
- Montgomery County, Maryland
More arched ILLINI helmet deployment.
And I've finally made my peace with SLANT ILLINOIS after 37 seasons. In the same way I imagine that the Wolverine faithful who came of age during the Great Depression had made peace by the mid-'70s with Fritz Crisler taking Princeton's winged helmet design to Ann Arbor with him.
That's all I've got moving into summer.
That math can't be right. I remember when they debuted those my freshman year and that was at best 10 years ago.
Oh, man.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
lol "at best." I hear you, brother. The math on that one is brutal for me, too. I console myself with fond memories of the '89-'90 seasons after those helmets debuted.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
I despised it for decades for that exact reason. I accept it now. Fans like it and I'm finally OK with it (the '89 version, not the Zook-era one.) Still want the arched Illini helmet to dominate and (speaking of Fritz Crisler's theft from Princeton), quite frankly, wouldn't mind seeing the stripes Bob Blackman brought from Dartmouth in ~ '71 for the helmet that introduced that logo.
TentakilRex
- Land O Insects between Quincy-Macomb-Jacksonville
"Actukally" question coming: Is white officially a school color?
https://fightingillini.com/sports/2015/11/10/traditions_orangeandblue.aspx
https://brand.illinois.edu/visual-identity/color
I am just being a brat about this.
https://fightingillini.com/sports/2015/11/10/traditions_orangeandblue.aspx
https://brand.illinois.edu/visual-identity/color
I am just being a brat about this.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- Batavia
*crickets*
Our Nike contract is up in a couple weeks and there is nothing being said about it? I have to imagine at this point we are going to stay with Nike, otherwise the rollout with a new provider would have to be at absolute warp speed to be ready for August. It just seems stunning that we are this close to July 1 and nothing is being said about negotiations or bids or renewal with Nike. Are we trying to parlay our recent success into a better deal? But do we have any leverage if there is little chance we can get a new supplier ready to provide uniforms on such a short timeline, when these things typically take at least a year to get in motion?
It all just feels surprising and disappointing that this news is going to probably come out with a last minute whimper, rather than a big exciting announcement that everyone is excited about.
Come on insiders, does anybody know anything about where we stand with Nike and maybe others?
Our Nike contract is up in a couple weeks and there is nothing being said about it? I have to imagine at this point we are going to stay with Nike, otherwise the rollout with a new provider would have to be at absolute warp speed to be ready for August. It just seems stunning that we are this close to July 1 and nothing is being said about negotiations or bids or renewal with Nike. Are we trying to parlay our recent success into a better deal? But do we have any leverage if there is little chance we can get a new supplier ready to provide uniforms on such a short timeline, when these things typically take at least a year to get in motion?
It all just feels surprising and disappointing that this news is going to probably come out with a last minute whimper, rather than a big exciting announcement that everyone is excited about.
Come on insiders, does anybody know anything about where we stand with Nike and maybe others?
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Is it possible that's not true? Via some sort of extension done quietly?
Because otherwise I very much agree with your post.
The Galloping Ghost
- Washington, DC
Unless there was a renewal we all missed, which seems really unlikely, it's definitely up July 1st.
"The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) and Nike have extended their two-decade-old relationship for the foreseeable future as Nike will continue to be the footwear, apparel and equipment provider for the 21 Fighting Illini varsity sports. Nike has been the exclusive footwear and apparel provider for the DIA for 20 years with this 10-year agreement extending the relationship through the 2025-26 academic year."
...
"This extension will go into effect July 1, 2016."
@IlliniAthletics and Nike Agree to Multi-Year Extension - University of Illinois Athletics
CHAMPAIGN, IL – The University of Illinois Division of Intercollegiate Athletics (DIA) and Nike have extended their two-decade-old relationship for the fores...
And, even weirder, the last deal was announced on January 19th, 2016.
Nike and Illinois agree to 10-year extension through 2025-2026
#illini associate AD Marty Kaufmann tells me Nike deal is a 10-year, $44 million deal. Top-20 deal in country. New #illlini-Nike deal is 10 years, $44 million all in apparel. The last deal was 10 years, $1.2 mil annually in apparel, $325K cash annual https://twitter.com/JWernerScout The...
www.illinoisloyalty.com
It's pretty crazy we're under a month out and it's radio silence on this. But unlike previous DIAs, there's no doubt Josh knows what he's doing.
mattcoldagelli
- Script Illinois Enthusiast
Sure hope there is no news and we are staying with them considering we are currently looking the best we have looked in my lifetime by a country mile.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
It would be especially tragic of some brand switch messed with the current momentum on the basketball uniform front. I agree our football uniforms are the best they've been since I've been a fan ... but the (non-1LL1NO1S) basketball uniforms are easily among the best in the nation, and that is regularly affirmed by non-Illini fans on social media posts that rank uniforms!
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Yes. But eliminate the 1LL1NO1S font altogether everywhere immediately. Otherwise, agree with @mattcoldagelli + @Fighter of the Nightman. Football kit hasn't looked this good since the early '80s (and IMO looks even better.) Basketball ex-1LL1NO1S uni mix is flat out the best in the nation.
I still haven't fully absorbed the re-intro of the orange scripts. I never thought I'd see them again. In less than one season they've become an iconic branding vector.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Yeah, (only semi-) OT and all, but I think this postseason went a LONG way toward solidifying the Script look as a huge part of our basketball brand. I absolutely love the Flyin' Illini uniforms, don't get me wrong ... but from our first BTT game through the Final Four (i.e., the most visible this program has been in two decades!!) we wore...Yes. But eliminate the 1LL1NO1S font altogether everywhere immediately. Otherwise, agree with @mattcoldagelli + @Fighter of the Nightman. Football kit hasn't looked this good since the early '80s (and IMO looks even better.) Basketball ex-1LL1NO1S uni mix is flat out the best in the nation.
I still haven't fully absorbed the re-intro of the orange scripts. I never thought I'd see them again. In less than one season they've become an iconic branding vector.
1) White Script vs. Wisconsin (BTT Quarterfinals)
2) White Script vs. Penn (NCAAT First Round)
3) Orange Script vs. VCU (NCAAT Second Round)
4) Orange Script vs. Houston (NCAAT Sweet Sixteen)
5) White Script vs. Iowa (NCAAT Elite Eight)
6) Orange Script vs. UConn (NCAAT Final Four)
And compared to regular season games where an audience of 1 million viewers is very large, these games drew huge national audiences that culminated in over 14 million watching our Final Four matchup with UConn. I would not discount the number of casual college hoops fans (especially younger ones) who see our Script look as inseparably iconic when it comes to the "Illini Basketball brand."
mattcoldagelli
- Script Illinois Enthusiast
Oh, you know I'm with you on that, brother
TentakilRex
- Land O Insects between Quincy-Macomb-Jacksonville
The important part of the potential renewing of the Nike deal is this question:
Do we finally get an Illini edition of the Zoom Pegasus 42 and/or an Air Max shoe?
If yes- Renegotiate in good faith
If no- Dump the swoosh. The bar to get these shoes isn't high, Purdue, Mizzou, and many schools lower on totem pole get these shoes.
Do we finally get an Illini edition of the Zoom Pegasus 42 and/or an Air Max shoe?
If yes- Renegotiate in good faith
If no- Dump the swoosh. The bar to get these shoes isn't high, Purdue, Mizzou, and many schools lower on totem pole get these shoes.
altgeld88
- Arlington, Virginia
Spot on, brother. It's powerful branding and I'm so here for it.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- Batavia
This was the correct question to ask. I plugged it into the AI, which found a link to this page:
View Notice UIUC 1JNM2503E | Illinois Higher Ed Bulletin
www.procure.stateuniv.state.il.us
Basically, it seems like for the past few years we have allotted $200,000 a year to buy "Nike athletic apparel and equipment" from a Nike-affiliated vendor called Varsity Brands Holding Company Inc. I imagine that is the company that actually gets the clothes from Nike and puts Illinois logos on it.
But if you look at that page, it looks like this allotment was renewed in February 2026 for the 2026-27 term, going through June 30, 2027. This certainly seems to indicate/confirm that we will be wearing Nike gear in 2026-27.
What this means for the actual deal with Nike is less clear. We could either:
1. Have a full extension in place that hasn't been announced publicly (doubtful);
2. Have an agreement in principle that is still being tinkered with in the finer details and pending official approval (maybe most likely, but still surprising given these deals never get announced with so little time left on the clock; you would think they would announce a deal in principle); or
3. Have a mini year-to-year extension occurring that allows Illinois, Nike, and maybe others, to continue to negotiate a new long term deal (honestly I think this could be it; not sure if public institutions can operate contracts that way, but in the business world this seems fairly standard practice).
Bottom line: We can begin to understand from this why we haven't heard any developments just a few weeks out from the contract expiring, because we will be wearing Nike this year. But we still don't know enough to say anything about a long term deal with Nike or another company.
OrangeBlue98
Iowa is not in a great spot right now (LvilleILL1)
- Des Moines, IA
Can I get greedy and also ask for Illini-inspired Dunks! I have a pair of blue on white ones I wear in Fridays since those are the school colors of where I work. Gamedays would be better with Illini Dunks.