Michigan and Michigan State both have traditional, classy uniforms that reflect on their rich football histories. Both Nike (for the Spartans) and Adidas (for Michigan) decided to blind us with that history.
It was already announced that Michigan State would go bronze/green/black for this game. When no article of the uniform (helmet, jersey, and/or pants) match, it becomes a recipe for disaster. Most people were angry at the fact MSU brought in not one, but TWO unofficial school colors (bronze and black) into these jerseys. Honestly, as long as they remain secondary parts of the uniform, and we're not suddenly rolling out an all-bronze jersey, I have no problem with it. If they had paired this uniform with bronze or green pants, I wouldn't be complaining. But the black really kills this, and it clashes with the green. The striping is boring and overused. With a team called the Spartans, why not throw some Spartan design on the shoulders?
Michigan was even worse. I always knew the Wolverines as a blue and maize team. We saw the navy throwbacks against Notre Dame, complete with numbers scrunched on the helmet, maize stripes all the way around the shoulders, and a big yellow M on the chest. Yuck. Today, Michigan went a step forward (which, in jersey talk, is two steps back). They went with white pants. Blasphemy! Michigan only wears blue/white/maize on the road, in no circumstance may they ever be allowed to wear anything else. The gigantic M was cropped and moved to the lower left shoulder, and was replaced by an oversized number. The numbers on the helmet are still only viewable with a telescope. And the maize striping on the shoulders became a blue-and-maize striping pattern. They looked like Stormtroopers ran away from the Empire and joined the circus (Star Wars reference - I'm such a nerd).
You know then old saying "Opposites attract?" Well these jerseys were clearly not opposites, as the game as a whole looked atrocious. The dirty, grimy look of Michigan State combined with the carny-inspired Michigan striping made for a terrible looking game. On the other hand, watching Michigan lose their undefeated status and begin their probable late season, "Well we lost to Michigan State so the season doesn't matter anymore" collapse is priceless.
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