The 2014 Illini Nike Uniforms and Rebrand
- Status
SuperMetroid
- Evanston
Stucco-textured white helmets and a bunch of pointless black? No thanks.
Their main gold helmet is great - hope they use that most of the time. The little sled dog graphic is a cool little detail, but overall not impressed with this. Gimmick central.
SuperMetroid
- Evanston
Exactly. The simpler purple jerseys with the gold helmets is a fantastic, iconic look. They've really messed that up with this version.
the W logo on that popcorn ceiling white helmet looks like it wouold peel off in about 2 minutes of game time.
I hate it when helmet logos look like the equipment manager put them on at 8am morning of the game. I sure hope ours look better than those.
overall, I really like Washingtons uni's. But they didnt have a uniform problem before as has been mentioned already.
overall, I like ours too. We needed the update way more than UDub did.
I hate it when helmet logos look like the equipment manager put them on at 8am morning of the game. I sure hope ours look better than those.
overall, I really like Washingtons uni's. But they didnt have a uniform problem before as has been mentioned already.
overall, I like ours too. We needed the update way more than UDub did.
Kams Bathroom
K
Guest
I mean, they look good in a very modern way, but it's not unlike the new North Carolina uniforms with the black trim, the opportunity cost of mixing in black is HUGE.
mattcoldagelli
- Script Illinois Enthusiast
Most people only like that jersey because the team that wore it was amazing, not because it looks great. It would be cool to have it as a throwback a few games per season (and maybe we will), but it would seem kind of silly for those to be our official uniforms. Especially when most recruits don't know who the 89' team is.
Kams Bathroom
K
Guest
THANK YOU. I can't believe he doesn't understand that.
But also, even before we knew anything about what our logos might be, we were discussing the idea that the Block I might remain along with a secondary logo whose place in the pecking order would be subject to further review a few years down the line in terms of how it was received by the fans. Which is a pretty smart way to go IMO.
Well anyway, to the extent anyone at the DIA cares about my blatherings (I definitely think they will be making themselves aware of the internet reactions to this project) I give the shield a thumbs up and a vote ahead of the Block I. I was intrigued by the idea when it was a vague rumor, I have long felt that the DIA needed something more readily identifiable than the plain block I, but still simple, clean, and iconic, and while I'm still kind of in the digesting phase of thinking about the uniforms themselves, I was instantly drawn to the shield as a pretty clever way of solving a problem where, as we've discussed ad nauseam, they didn't have a whole lot to work with.
Also, I would just like to register a "LOL" at IO's contention that because so many people seem to like the shield, that is evidence that they're wrong.
Kams Bathroom
K
Guest
Yeah, people go gaga over that uniform for two reasons: it had the Chief logo on it, and that team was so iconic. I am also fond of the top-and-bottom placement of "Fighting Illini", I always think top-and-bottom lettering balances a basketball jersey nicely, but other than those elements, those jerseys are not very interesting or good. They would be horrible as permanent uniforms today, even more so because the best thing about them, the Chief logo, wouldn't be able to appear.
However, as a throwback, they're great, because with a throwback uniform all you are looking to do is evoke an era, and also because you can just wear the orange, which was a much better look than the blue or white in that particular style. It seems like they have hinted at the possibility of bringing those back for a game here or there, and I would love that.
Kams Bathroom
K
Guest
I don't to be honest. I think it looks like silly, and worse, it looks discordant with every other uniform in every other sport we've seen thus far.
illini1
- Springfield, IL
I'm so happy I was able to get my hands on a pair of the 1989 shorts Nike was going to sell back in 2005, but the U of I changed their mind at the last second and wouldn't let them be sold. A store in Springfield, IL had a salesman sample of the orange and white shorts. I bought the orange shorts and am still kicking myself to this day that I didn't buy the white shorts too.
dgcrow
- Kelso, WA
Agreed. Totally out of place.
OrangeAndBlue217
- Decatur, IL
The basketball uni's are completely unique. I am waiting to see how they look on the court. From the sound of it though, kids in the age range of future/current recruits really like them. Which is likely all that matters.
mattcoldagelli
- Script Illinois Enthusiast
I guess I'll give them a fair shake and see what they look like in action, but as of right now I think they might be my least favorite component of the whole effort.
ha
I think the basketball uni's with the subtle native american imagery are a hit it outta the park with two out , on a 3-2 count, grand slam home run, to win the game 4-3 after an 8 innning shut out.
but thats me
theyre friggin awesome
Im gonna buy a suite at SFC just so my kinfolk can see the uni's in person
So awesome.
Stephanie got a crazy new nose, though!
why does it look like the girls are showing off their chests?
OrangeAndBlue217
- Decatur, IL
Ghost23
G
Guest
Help me understand how rounding edges -- in essence, softening the look -- on the inside of the block "I" is an improvement, especially when you keep them hard on the outside. I'm missing it. I've already started to come around on the shield, basically because so many are very supportive of it (and I like the fact they're so adamant about it). I'd like to "get" the improvement on the block "I," I really would. I don't see it as stronger; right now I see it as softer, if not weaker.
Agree :thumb:
chiefini
- Rockford, Illinois
If you're splitting hairs, cb, so am I. this is exactly how I feel. I've held back posting even though I've followed this thread since its inception. I was excited to see the revelation, then watched with interest as the "leaks" unveiled the news. I was immediately not impressed with the word logo font (but it's growing on me), LOVED the new Block I, was very impressed with the football unis and helmets, liked the "feathers" on the bball unis because they honored the Chief, wanted to see more of the silver unis, wished the words Fighting Illini were SOMEWHERE front and center, and liked the symbolism of the secondary logo, but thought it was way too busy graphically (so not a member of Team Shield yet)...When all is said and done, I will accept the rebrand in its entirety because I am a Loyal Illini who loves and supports the University.
Last edited:
ivwilsoniv
- Aurora, IL
Count me in for Team Shield too, but I feel like they may have tried to cram too much imagery/meaning into this shield design. I'm definitely not sold on the two "Fs" facing each other, and simply let the orange stripes symbolize the columns at Memorial Stadium - the two abacuses or "wings" as people have called them seem extraneous and make it look more like a banner.
That being said, I'm being completely critical for the sake of being critical. I love this shield as our secondary logo, but if I had a say, I'd modify it as seen below. Would look just as awesome on jerseys, t-shirts, but especially helmets. Thoughts?
That being said, I'm being completely critical for the sake of being critical. I love this shield as our secondary logo, but if I had a say, I'd modify it as seen below. Would look just as awesome on jerseys, t-shirts, but especially helmets. Thoughts?
Attachments
Last edited by a moderator:
AZillini
A
Guest
ivwilsoniv;929390 said:
Holy crap that is awesome. I've been warming up to the VB but your version is way better.
AZillini
A
Guest
When the Nike guy explained the Victory Badge, he showed a photo from the Captain America movie. The comic book version is below. Obviously the VB resembles his shield, but look at the little wings on his head, like Mercury -- is that why the VB has those odd protrusions at the top? 
- Status