Blue White Illustrated

f ever there were a year to do it, 2014 would seemingly be that year. Or so it once appeared. There's a fresh feel surrounding Penn State heading into the upcoming football season. From the illuminated Nittany Lion logos hanging behind the scoreboards, to the Lasch Building up- grades that are still under construc- tion, to the heralded coaching staff that is getting set to make its debut in Ireland of all places – new is every- where. Heck, there is even a different mow pattern on the Beaver Stadium grass. It seems only fitting, then, that this would be the season Penn State finally goes against its historical grain and ex- changes those iconic uniforms for something, you know, new. Everything else is changing. Why not those? Some players called for it in the spring, and while this might not be the consensus opinion of BWI's readers, I'll be the first to admit that I would be in- trigued to see what kind of design Nike might create if it were ever given the go- ahead by the university. But I also know what the black shoes and basic blues mean to the program's tradition. James Franklin has said that he will consult privately with his players before making any final decisions on the uni- forms, and nothing will be unveiled un- til the season or shortly before it. Pub- licly, though, he has mostly shot down talk of any drastic adjustments. He still hasn't made a ruling on the names that are worn on the back, which Bill O'Brien added in 2012. But going the way of Oregon or new conference foe Mary- land, both of which have a mix-and- match array of colors and patterns, isn't in the cards. Said Franklin, "I know how everybody is so consumed by the uni- forms around here." Perhaps one day Penn State will make a change. Even for just one game. Maybe it'll slap the chipmunk logo on the side of the helmet. (Longtime radio play-by-play man Fran Fisher made such a proposal in the 1980s, only to be rebuffed by Joe Paterno.) Or maybe it will sport a gray jersey, or solid navy blue pants. But not this year. The fan base has already endured more change than it is accustomed to, and those who are steeped in the tradi- tion of the uniforms were recently giv- en more fuel for their stay-put argu- ment. In a blog post on NFL.com, Penn State's "classic style" unis were deemed the best in all of college foot- ball – finishing just ahead of Oregon and its near-infinite combination of jerseys, pants and helmets. Blogger Bryan Fischer lauded the "clean lines and classic look of the Nittany Lions," and his rankings created quite a stir on Penn State fan sites and message boards. To many fans, the NFL.com rankings reinforced their belief that even without chrome lids and neon stripes, Penn State's uniforms stand out among the rest. And those rank- ings further complicated the decision to ever part ways with the traditional solid colors. Which, for right now, is OK. Recruiting is one of the main argu- ments that teams use to justify their ever-changing wardrobes. Flashy uni- forms are aesthetically pleasing on an HD television, and they're designed to catch the eyes of high school prospects and keep them talking about the program. But right now, plenty of recruits are already talking about Penn State, even if its players wear those same old threads. Other than some wins, not much else needs to be added. Case in point: Mecole Hardman. A defensive back from Elberton, Ga., Hardman is looking like a potential five-star prospect in the Class of 2016, and despite living in the Southeast, he is familiar with the Nittany Lions and their tradition. They might be long shots to receive his signature in two years, but Hardman is already talking about PSU. "Penn State is a different program," Hardman recently told me. "I remember my dad talking about Penn State and my uncle talking about Penn State. They're original, man." The Nittany Lions' uniforms have re- mained relatively unchanged through- out his lifetime, and that's OK with Hardman. Actually, the traditionalism is what piques his interest. "You know how most teams change their uniforms, different colors? Penn State keeps it real," Hardman said. "It's either blue and white, or all white. I like that about Penn State." So while the trend might make it seem as though Penn State is long overdue for a uniform overhaul, recent opinion sug- gests otherwise – even if someday I think it would be pretty sweet to see a Pro Combat set in front of a White Out crowd. But when so many other teams are moving toward a modern look, maybe vintage is what is in style. ■ LAST WORD T I M O W E N | O W E N . T I M . B W I @ G M A I L . C O M Dressed for success I

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