(PWD Note: Since we're talking about uniforms anyway, I figured I'd publish a note that Mike Floyd sent me regarding UGA uniforms)
By Mike Floyd
My memory may be faulty and it wouldn’t be the first time, but having written a feature on Georgia’s uniform history (and that of a few other schools) a number of years ago [in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal] I seem to recall that Georgia had always worn Silver Britches (straight silver – no stripes) until 1964, when Dooley came on board and revamped the whole look to include new red helmets and white pants. The Silver Britches returned in 1980, and of course you know how that turned out.
Georgia fans also have a lot of memories – both good and bad - of the red pants, but the fact is we’ve rarely actually worn them. With few exceptions, our road uniforms consisted of white tops and white pants that had an “extra wide” red stripe down each leg.[Image: Goff in white pants circa mid-70s]
Ironically, people remember the red pants so well because of Herschel’s debut game in 1980 and because the hugely popular “Wonderdog” team of 1978 wore them a bit more than usual. But, otherwise, they’ve been something we all remember seeing a lot more than we actually saw them. From what I recall from my research, the only times we actually wore the red pants after Herschel’s debut came in the 1988 South Carolina game, in which we got pasted in Columbia, and in a 20-13 win at Clemson in 1985.
Aside from 1962, when Georgia wore a silver helmet with a red block “G” on each side (no stripe), the Dawgs always wore solid silver helmets until Dooley arrived. The whole uniform, prior to Dooley, was actually rather drab.
We wore plain red or white jerseys (white number on the red and black number on the white), paired with silver pants that were probably actually closer to a dull gray. Ohio State without the stripes, basically.
Kudos to Dooley for putting together the combination we currently enjoy today.
As you correctly noted on your blog this week, any team that beats Florida is granted one free wish. Call it “The Godfather” clause, which states that Marlin Brando can’t turn down a favor on the day of his daughter’s wedding.
Personally, I think the black looks like total ass and is a bit Gamecockish for my taste, but if that’s what those guys want then I’ll dig something up from my Goth days and play along.
Unfortunately, the fact I didn’t actually have any Goth days means this will likely set me back fifty bucks. But that’s a small price to pay if the gimmick proves successful.
Mike Floyd
30 comments:
Who doesn't have a black t-shirt, sweatshirt, jacket or pull-over? Look through your closet b/f going shopping.
Just to remind everyone that the official colors of UGA are Red and BLACK. The black part has all but disappeared from the current unis. If the seniors want to do it and CMR agrees, then it's a good idea.
i'll be in black. i don't want them to run out of the tunnel on saturday and not see a sea of black. this will either be a momentum builder or a momentum breaker for our boys. i hope everyone else does there part
btw my girlfriend, who is never current on anything georgia, has gotten numerous emails about the blackout, so if she knows, it's safe to say that everybody knows.
I love being a DAWG and I will always be a DAWG. That means that I will live like a Dawg...Hear me out. DAWGS live in packs and what the alfa male says, goes. Therefore if the Seniors say wear BLACK then I will wear black. If they told me that it would help us win and be a step closer to going to the SEC Championship I would wear PINK.
Lets all come together and make this a memorable game and walk all over those damn war tigers.
GO DAWGS
We also wore red pants in the 1985 Sun Bowl tie vs. Arizona and a 1987 loss at Clemson.
Most people don't know that we actually have a pretty unique history with black jerseys in one of the biggest games we've ever played.
Here's a gem. I believe the last time we wore black jerseys was the 1943 Rose Bowl victory over UCLA to claim the 1942 National Championship. It was Sinkwich's swan song after a Heisman campaign, but the young freshman named Trippi stole the day. If we come out in them, many will say it's not tradition. One could argue that "that" black jersey in 1943 is part of some of our greatest tradition. It was Trippi & Sinkwich's last game together. Interestingly, Sinkwich's Heisman portrait is in the black jersey. So black jerseys and UGA are forever linked at the Downtown Athletic Club.
With all respect to Mike & PWD- because I do appreciate the historical info- I am tired of hearing the black/uniform debate. I think most of the fans know to wear black and I think most of them, except maybe some older fans will. I think the fans have no problem supporting the team by wearing black (since it is one of our team colors).
While we can debate what uniforms look the best for weeks, I would like to see us focus on the task at hand... beating the crap out of Auburn.
We just spent a week talking about celebration penalties and not worrying about beating Troy and honestly, we didn't look great in that game. I would like to see us get past distractions and focus on gameplans and execution.
Black outs and/or wearing black jerseys aren't going to make hardly a difference in this game. Sure, it might pump the guys up a little, but late in the 3rd quarter when we need to stop Auburn are the defenders really going to be helped by what color the Dogs are wearing?
I know that sound pissy of me, but right now I want to focus on football. I will be wearing black and supporting the Dogs for sure, but I just want our minds and the players' minds on what matters this week and on Saturday.
JasonC - I respect what you're saying.
But -- traffic is through the roof over this black jersey story. People can't stop talking about it. Look at the paper, message boards, etc. The comment count on here is ridiculous when we talk about it at all.
So if you're trying to convince me that people are sick of hearing about it...all evidence points in the other direction.
Now...as for the request to focus on the game at hand. What do you think I'm going to do? Break down film? All I can do is show up, get loud and hope for the best.
The team is the one that needs to focus. Not me. And definitely not my cyberwebs site.
And I can't see how this jersey stuff is a distraction for them. They're not ordering jerseys, filing out paperwork, printing up signs or filming PSAs. They're basically using the time otherwise spent on answering media questions such as "how are you going to stop Quentin Groves" with answering "Are you wearing black jerseys?"
It's not a big deal.
As for game coverage -- Auburn is going to show up in Athens and punch us in the mouth. THEY ALWAYS do that. It's simply a question of will we punch back.
And you're right. The fans and jerseys won't matter an ounce in deciding the outcome.
And I don't think anyone -- save a few over anxious college freshmen -- think it will.
5 steps to a Georgia National Championship.
Assuming we win out and UT looses a game.
1. Oregon looses to UCLA
2. OU looses to OKie State or TTech and then beats Mizzouri in the Champ game
3. WVU looses to l'vill, cinci. or uconn
4. BC looses to Vatech in the champ game
5. ASU looses to USC or UCLA
Go Dawgs beat the war chickens
PWD - I coudn't agree more. Players and coaches need to focus, practice, and game plan. Fans just need something to talk about to make the weekend come faster. And just my $0.02, I'm not expecting to see black jerseys...but I think it would be cool.
PWD'ed
I can't even concentrate at work this week im so excited for this weekend. Thats why I wrote the ridiculous 5 step process posted above. because I can't think of anything else but UGA football, an all black stadium, and how "black'd out" i'm gonna end up saturday night if we win this game.
Loose = to loosen a knot.
Lose = to be defeated.
Not that I'm a grammar freak.
Didn't we wear red pants against Wisconsin in 1997?
With all the crazy stats that are being thrown around now here is one that I am not sure if it has been mentioned or honestly the validity of it. The last 10 QBs for AU that started their junior year and then returned to start their senior year are 10-0 against UGA. Coincidentally they are 8-2 against UAT (University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa. If you have any bammer fans make sure to refer to their school by that term. It bothers them more then they will ever admit). We need all the luck/mojo/help we can get to reverse the previously mentioned stat.
Also this AU defense has been less than stellar they gave up 31 to us 2 years ago and 31 offensive points last year. I believe AU has gone over 30 points only 3 times this year to Tennessee Tech, Vandy, and New Mexico. All were played at home too.
Once a dawg, always a dawg, how sweet it is!!!!!
PWD,
Fair enough.
I understand what you are saying and I realize that the black out is the big buzz. I also realize that there is little that we as fans can do to affect the score; we don't play the game.
I just hope the players are focused on the game.
I respect the job you do with the blog- you do a great job and I check it daily (if not more). No harm meant.
How black is black? Can we wear a black shirt and khaki pants or do we have to dress like ninjas?
^^^ Will be a ninja
If I dress like a ninja, I'm not going to get taserd by the GBI am I?
how can you honestly think the black jersey looks like ass? that comment is a bit too contrarian for me. on another note, the uniform recap is noticeably missing more recent changes with the white pants we wore against tech and lsu and the black pants we wore against fla and wis as well as the change in the strip in the helmet among other things.
Personally I think the black uniforms are going to be kickass and that anyone against the idea is too much a traditionalist for me and should lighten up, it’s a game, they are young men who know nothing and care nothing of your traditionalism. Everyone who 'thinks they look like ass' will change their tune come Saturday. Black is one of our primary colors, not silver, not white. We are the red and black, infact that used to actually be our team name, deal with it.
(i say dress like a ninja, they cant arrest all of us)
No harm taken.
Your note inspired the Mr. T. Bit at the top of the page.
82 -- He didn't promise to provide a comprehensive overview of all uniform changes. He was going OLD school.
Although the dude that busted out the 1943 Rose Bowl reference gets +1.
Color is a matter of opinion. I think the black pants looked tough as hell in Wisconsin with the white shirts, but I thought they looked like complete ass in Jax with the Red tops.
Sanford during a normal game.
http://www.uga.edu/atsc/sanford-stadium.jpg
Sanford during a game attended by ninjas.
http://www.alumni.uga.edu/alumni/images/sanfordfromair.jpg
82 -
They cant arrest all of us, huh? What if they also dress up as ninjas? I bet ninja cops can arrest a whole let of a lot of regular, law-abiding, scooter-driving ninjas.
is it ok wear a black polo with a white and red had and red pants? i wore the outfit in Jville and for the troy game, and i really don't feel like breaking that win streak.
of course with "had" i meant "hat"
anyone seeing the stunt west virginia is pulling right now on ESPN? those uni's are worse than oregon's. hopefully we don't look as ridiculous when they run out in black
On my "Georgia's Greatest" Video, during the Glynn Harrison segment, it has color footage of us wearing black jerseys against Tech.
To the guy who asked about his black polo, red pants, red hat combo.
GATA! Wear it.
I'm wearing Red Pants, Black Polo and probably a black hat. I've worn this hat before, but I can't remember whether or not it was an unlucky or lucky hat.
It's a rare wear.
Question: I have one black UGA shirt. I bought it for Tennessee last year. Do I dare bring it out again or should I start over with a new shirt?
New shirt for sure. that black out sucked. that game sucked. everything about that shirt sucks.
Do these black pants make me look fat? Is it OK to wear....You guys sound like a bunch of girls.
Here's a black out for you. I want to see Joe Cox with black eyes.
Go Dawgs. We're proud of our 2007 team. I'll wear black for ya. Woof Woof Woof.
Get rid of that black helmet! When Coach Dooley gave us that red helmet in 1964, it became our IDENTITY!!!.....It is perfect just the way it is. Don’t change it in any way!!!
I personally love the black jersey. It provides the best balance of our red and black colors that any UGA team has ever worn, and when combined with REAL silver britches it makes for a great looking uniform! Black is the one of our two school colors that has been neglected for much too long. I would love to see it, at home, once or twice a season. I would also like to see the red britches with the white jersey for a couple of road games each year.
The Old School Money and Athletic Director Demon Evans need to realize that tradition should not be allowed to stagnate. It should be allowed to grow, naturally, as it has over the years. The black home jersey and the red road britches have earned their place in UGA Football Tradition.
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