ozone
Buckeyes Like New Jerseys Despite Fan Outcry Over Design By John Porentas
The word this summer that the OSU football jersey would undergo a major overhaul this season elicited a surprisingly passionate response around the Buckeye nation. Some fans were simply outraged that the look of the jersey would get a fairly radical change. Those fans missed an important point. A football jersey isn't just a fashion statement. It is first and foremost a part of a functioning uniform that is designed to enhance a players' performance.
While the fans are focused on color schemes, the people wearing the jerseys, the players themselves, are more focused on the functionality of them, and almost to a man they like the new design very much.
The new jersey does indeed have a new color scheme and design, but more importantly it is cut radically differently and is made from new materials that will make it a far more effective uniform part.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=left border=0><CAPTION align=bottom>
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Anthony Gonzalez shows off his new uniform.
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
Photo by Jim Davidson[/FONT] </CAPTION><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
"The fit is the key aspect, that was the need for the change, because we had been wearing some pretty baggy uniforms," said OSU wide receiver Anthony Gonzales.
"When you look at the other schools we're playing against, Michigan had tight jerseys, Texas had tight jerseys, everybody had these form-fitting jerseys, and we had these sleeping bags we were wearing. To get into these is pretty neat for us I think," Gonzalez said.
According to the players, the tight fit of the new jersey should cut down on the holding that OSU players will have to endure.
"I like the fact that it's a lot tighter. Hopefully we'll get a lot more holding calls this year. The receivers used to be able to get inside and grab your jersey but I don't think they're going to be able to grab these too tight," said safety Brandon Mitchell.
Most of the Buckeyes loved the new techo-jerseys.
"We're not out here wearing leather helmets. I think technology advances," said senior fullback Stan White.
"It's a tighter fit jersey that allows you to play without getting grabbed by the other team. It's a penalty to hold, but it happens all the time. The way the jerseys are made it's a lot harder for the opponent to be able to hold our jerseys. It definitely makes a difference," White said.
There is still the matter of the color scheme. Some fans feel the lack of gray in the jersey is a break with the tradition at Ohio State. Most of the players disagreed.
"It's the function of it that matters. We don't care if its gray or white. White actually looks more old-school to me," said sophomore linebacker James Laurinaitis.
Gonzalez was nearly effusive in his praise of the new design.
"I love these things," he said.
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=150 align=left border=0><CAPTION align=bottom>
[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Brandon Mitchell sports the new uniform for the camera.
[/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
Photo by Jim Davidson [/FONT]</CAPTION><TBODY><TR><TD>
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
"I don't know what all the stink was about. I love these uniforms. I think they're great. They fit well, the look better, they're more 'now' I guess. I just like them. I don't see anything wrong with these jerseys."
The few exceptions to the love of the new jerseys came from offensive linemen who found the tight fit to be somewhat uncomfortable for their larger bodies, but by and large they did not object at all to the overall design.
"The sleeve style is not the thing that bothers me," said senior guard T. J. Downing
"When I'm playing I want to feel comfortable in what I'm wearing. Some things start to rub you wrong at first, but naturally you just break into it and it feels a lot better," Downing said.
Offensive lineman Steve Rehring agreed with Downing, but also saw the upside.
"Right now I have to say I like the way it looks but I don't like the way it feels. It's definitely an advantage for offensive line and defensive line. The d-linemen can't pull your jersey and get leverage, but I have to get used to the tightness of it," said Rehring.
Mitchell, however, laughed when informed of the comments of some of the big men.
"The big guys don't like them because it shows their figure," Mitchell laughed.
White, who loved the uniforms, also chalked up the concern of the offensive linemen to vanity, and nothing more.
"It's definitely form-fitting," he chuckled. "Some of those guys don't like how it shows their shape, but overall it's going to help our game by cutting down on how much we get held."
