Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/847744
BACK TO THE FUTURE Alternate uniforms gesture to the past while keeping PSU pointed forward t's finally happening. Penn State is going with an alternate uniform. Helping usher in this break with tradition are a variety of buzzwords aimed at mollifying fans who don't want to see anyone tamper with the Nittany Lions' classic look. The alternate uniforms are said to be classic, iconic, retro, throwback. Whichever term gets associated with the new threads – a helmet, jersey and pants to be worn once at home against Indiana on Sept. 30 – there is only one descrip- tion that truly matters: They're fresh. It took more than six months for head coach James Franklin, a few of his equipment man- agers and Nike to come up with the final design. When the uni- forms were released to the pub- lic (and to the team) in June, they were widely embraced. One of the big reasons for the warm reception was that they reflected the program's tradition rather than discarding it. It's a look that honors Penn State's history in about as many ways as a football uni- form can. That representation begins with touches from the 1959 Sugar Bowl, when the Nittany Lions wore gray facemasks – a tradition that continued up through the mid-'80s. The number appears on the helmet, a design choice that made a few appearances and reap- pearances from the late '50s through the'70s and was revived for a game in 2012 when the entire team wore injured captain Michael Mauti's No. 42 for the season finale. There are stripes on the jersey sleeves and on the pants, too. The Lions got rid of the former during Bill O'Brien's two-year tenure and the latter in the late '60s. White cleats, which haven't been worn since the 1979 Sugar Bowl, complete the ensem- ble. "We're taking all the different mo- ments in time throughout our history and [telling] a story," Franklin said. "What better way to tell a story than with our uniform?" Certainly, it pays homage to the past. But the new look will also help Penn State secure its future. Soon after the news broke about the new unis, tight ends coach Ricky Rahne tweeted, "In a moderately scientific and formal poll, 99 of 100 recruits agree that the retro uniforms are [fire]." His message might have been slightly tongue-in-cheek, but the point is sig- nificant. The sym- bolism of the uniforms can't be questioned, as the nods to vari- ous historical eras – "Genera- tions of Great- ness" in Penn State's parlance – are the No. 1 selling point to the public. What is of more value, how- ever, is how the new look helps present a modern version of Penn State to future recruits, fans and students. Sports, at their core, are a form of expression. In the age of social media, highlight reels and photo edits, that's never been more true. New uniforms at Penn State are just the latest visage. "Whenever there are positive things going on within a program... JUDGMENT CALL I BACK IN STYLE The Nittany Lions will wear their alternate uniforms on Sept. 30 when they face Indiana at Beaver Sta- dium. Photo courtesy of Penn State Athletics