The 2014 Illini Nike Uniforms and Rebrand

IlliniBubba · Jan 14, 2016

I don't mind the metallic orange helmet, but I'd rather have just a simple orange.

I've also always though an orange helmet with a simple blue "I" would look great, especially if we're using the classic orange/blue/orange uniform combo. But I don't think that's been in the mix since the rebrand - maybe there was one year (2012 or 2013?) we used an outlined version of it?

AaronB28 · Jan 14, 2016

The i on the helmet is so outdated and whack....believe it or not uniforms do matter to these kids....not about how dull an professional you can look....these are 18 19 yr old kids....

they wanna be hyped and flashy....have millions of alternative uniforms...hell boise state has better uniforms than us....hell its IDAHO COME ON NOW IDAHO!?

uniforms sell believe it or not

Illinnoying Orange · Jan 14, 2016

AaronB28 said:
The i on the helmet is so outdated and whack....believe it or not uniforms do matter to these kids....not about how dull an professional you can look....these are 18 19 yr old kids....

they wanna be hyped and flashy....have millions of alternative uniforms...hell boise state has better uniforms than us....hell its IDAHO COME ON NOW IDAHO!?

uniforms sell believe it or not

I highly doubt any recruit picks Boise State based on their uniforms or helmets. They pick Boise State because they have been consistently good for a while now.

Hell, there are all type of college teams nowadays with goofy-**s, flashy uniforms and helmets chocked full of mediocre football players getting whooped week in and week out. No thanks.

I'd rather we try to improve our facilities and improve our coaching and improve our on-field play much more than try to wear faddish "cool" helmets and uniforms. I'd bet we'd get better recruits that way too - whattaya think ?

Bomb Squad 217 · Jan 14, 2016

I'm just a big fan of a classic clean look. A helmet that when people see it everyone knows who it is. I.e. Note dame, UM, bama, tOSU. You get the point. Of course at the same time those are the best programs in history so there's that.

dgcrow · Jan 14, 2016

Bomb Squad 217 said:
I'm just a big fan of a classic clean look. A helmet that when people see it everyone knows who it is. I.e. Note dame, UM, bama, tOSU. You get the point. Of course at the same time those are the best programs in history so there's that.

+1

Oskee67 · Jan 15, 2016

AaronB28 said:
The i on the helmet is so outdated and whack....believe it or not uniforms do matter to these kids....not about how dull an professional you can look....these are 18 19 yr old kids....

they wanna be hyped and flashy....have millions of alternative uniforms...hell boise state has better uniforms than us....hell its IDAHO COME ON NOW IDAHO!?

uniforms sell believe it or not

Don't tell that to Maryland football...

ILL in IA · Jan 15, 2016

Illinnoying Orange said:
I'd rather we try to improve our facilities and improve our coaching and improve our on-field play much more than try to wear faddish "cool" helmets and uniforms. I'd bet we'd get better recruits that way too - whattaya think ?

You can improve the facilities, and coaching, and on field play, while having cool faddish uniforms. Its not a choice of one or the other.

Ransom Stoddard · Jan 15, 2016

Oskee67 said:
Don't tell that to Maryland football...

2011 2-10
2012 4-8
2013 7-6
2014 7-6
2015 3-9

Those unis are really bringing in the talent.

wILL-INI · Jan 15, 2016

Ransom Stoddard said:
2011 2-10
2012 4-8
2013 7-6
2014 7-6
2015 3-9

Those unis are really bringing in the talent.

Its one of those things that initially everyone was like "its gonna change the game", but now that we have a nice sample size and some more data. We can see that uniforms are great for these players instagrams. But it does not make their decisions for them. Uniforms dont equal wins.

It could maybe be the selling point for a few kids, but a few kids a team not make.

So instead of clowns with flashy glitter on your uniforms, its better to just look good not trendy. IMO

Illinnoying Orange · Jan 15, 2016

wILL-INI said:
Its one of those things that initially everyone was like "its gonna change the game", but now that we have a nice sample size and some more data. We can see that uniforms are great for these players instagrams. But it does not make their decisions for them. Uniforms dont equal wins.

It could maybe be the selling point for a few kids, but a few kids a team not make.

So instead of clowns with flashy glitter on your uniforms, its better to just look good not trendy. IMO

AaronB28 · Jan 16, 2016

Believe what you want im involve in these young kids a recruits lives everyday as a counselor trust me how they look when they play is super important to them.....

and of course osu didnt need new flashy uniforms cause the booster club takes care of their athletes literally....

the way these kids look when the play is so very important to them....more than some other important factors...its not ideal....but lets be real...kids like to be flashy.

Oskee67 · Mar 8, 2016

What are the odds Nike comes out with cool alternates for some games this season given the increased national exposure?

Fillory · Mar 8, 2016

Oskee67 said:
What are the odds Nike comes out with cool alternates for some games this season given the increased national exposure?

I guess there is a chance. I don't love the grey ghost look, so maybe they can replace that.

CoalCity · Mar 8, 2016

Fillory said:
I guess there is a chance. I don't love the grey ghost look, so maybe they can replace that.

Agreed. The grey ghost look is horrible. Just get rid of it.

:illinois:

Love My Alma Mater · Mar 8, 2016

Bomb Squad 217 said:
I'm just a big fan of a classic clean look. A helmet that when people see it everyone knows who it is. I.e. Note dame, UM, bama, tOSU. You get the point. Of course at the same time those are the best programs in history so there's that.

Agree 100%

Not a Michigan fan at all, but I did not like when they changed this year to the all white. They are one of the few schools IMO that should not change,except minor updates, and the occasionally row back game.

I too wish Illinois would go to a cleaner, simpler, consistent look.

Fillory · Mar 8, 2016

Love My Alma Mater said:
Agree 100%

Not a Michigan fan at all, but I did not like when they changed this year to the all white. They are one of the few schools IMO that should not change,except minor updates, and the occasionally row back game.

I too wish Illinois would go to a cleaner, simpler, consistent look.

I'm not sure what you want, per se. I think the current Illinois football look is fine, with the "I" helmets far superior to the previous gen "I" helmets and the awful, dated slant Illinois.

Oskee67 · Mar 8, 2016

Love My Alma Mater said:
Agree 100%

Not a Michigan fan at all, but I did not like when they changed this year to the all white. They are one of the few schools IMO that should not change,except minor updates, and the occasionally row back game.

I too wish Illinois would go to a cleaner, simpler, consistent look.

Add a GSH tag on the sleeves, bring back the stars and numbers for the helmets and drop the I, and accentuate the retro stripes on the jerseys. Ties in Papa Halas/Bears, Butkus, and Grange. Boom, done.

Fillory · Mar 8, 2016

Oskee67 said:
Add a GSH tag on the sleeves, bring back the stars and numbers for the helmets and drop the I, and accentuate the retro stripes on the jerseys. Ties in Papa Halas/Bears, Butkus, and Grange. Boom, done.

Why in the world would Illinois drop the I, the logo, from their helmet?

Their brand is that :illinois:

, period. It's clearly staying.

Kramer · Mar 8, 2016

I like the grey ghost uniforms.

Fillory · Mar 8, 2016

Kramer said:
I like the grey ghost uniforms.

I don't mind grey, but the trim doesn't really work for me.

They should draw more coloring cues from this

I love these basketball uniforms.

Kramer · Mar 8, 2016

I agree a little highlight color would be nice.

Fillory · Mar 8, 2016

Kramer said:
I agree a little highlight color would be nice.

Yeah, they just don't look quite right on the football field.

I would be all for one bizarre alternate per year, as that's what good programs often have but I also don't feel our current look is anything to laugh at. If we were better at football, maybe we would appreciate these unis more for what they are.

DrewD007 · Mar 8, 2016

Yeah, replace the navy with orange on the grey ghosts and they'd be so cool.

Fillory · Mar 8, 2016

DrewD007 said:
Yeah, replace the navy with orange on the grey ghosts and they'd be so cool.

Orange is so underutilized in college football right now. All the usual suspects, but we tend to be the bright ones, IMHO. Basketball made Illini orange famous and it belongs in a football trim.

Bomb Squad 217 · Mar 8, 2016

Fillory said:
I'm not sure what you want, per se. I think the current Illinois football look is fine, with the "I" helmets far superior to the previous gen "I" helmets and the awful, dated slant Illinois.

I agree. I think our jerseys are just fine. Still not a fan of the metallic or chrome orange. I think we need to pick one helmet and wear it every game. Maybe once a year break out and alt. helmet. This goes back to what I mentioned before about a recognizable helmet. Make it stick. Make players want to put that helmet on.

The 2014 Illini Nike Uniforms and Rebrand

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