Michigan football team releases Sugar Bowl look, which differs from M Den version
Turns out, the M-Den's version of the Michigan football team's Sugar Bowl jersey wasn't entirely accurate.
But it was close.
The Wolverines (10-2) will wear a "legacy"-type jersey when they take on Virginia Tech (11-2) in next month's Sugar Bowl, the school confirmed Tuesday evening.
Michigan first unveiled a "legacy" uniform for its night game against Notre Dame on Sept. 10 -- the first night game in Michigan Stadium history.
It then wore a version of that uniform in a road game at Michigan State, although it had alterations to the color schemes and block M.
The Sugar Bowl jerseys closely mimic the version the Wolverines wore against the Spartans, but includes gray facemasks, according to a news release -- an element that was included in the home uniform, but not the road version.
The mock-up released by the school does not have grey facemasks.
Michigan has altered its look significantly this year, including adding numbers to the helmets for the duration of the season after debuting them against the Irish. Hoke said the change was made because the players liked the numbered look.
For what it's worth, the Wolverines are 1-1 this season in the "legacy" uniforms, beating Notre Dame 35-31 via a memorable 17-point fourth quarter comeback, then losing 28-14 to Michigan State, the team's first defeat of the year.
Kyle Meinke covers Michigan football for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at 734-623-2588, by email at kylemeinke@annarbor.com and followed on Twitter @kmeinke.
Comments
Dcam
Thu, Dec 15, 2011 : 4:21 p.m.
Nothing says Michigan more than the old, black, high top spikes - without a logo. Where are they?
hammer
Thu, Dec 15, 2011 : 2:05 a.m.
The people who do not like the new uni's are old and will be dead soon. Wake up!! The way to market to new generations is to bring something new and exciting to the table. Its not like they are changing uniforms every week like Oregon. But I bet if asked, the majority of kids today think the Oregon uniforms (in whatever form they decide to take) are awesome. I love it how the old folks get on here and talk about how much the Michigan Icons of the past must be loathing the changes. The fact is that Michigan already has you. You are always going to be a fan. But in order to keep filling that big stadium and keep kids interested in the athletic programs, they need to keep up with the times in a tasteful manner. I don't think we will be seeing highlighter yellow uniforms any time soon, but I love how the legacy uniforms look. GO BLUE!!
BlueGator
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 10:08 p.m.
How long before some supplier talks DB into changing the helmet to feature a maize background with blue wings?
Ted
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 9:57 p.m.
I think this continual change of uniforms is ridiculous. Doesn't the athletic department have better things to do with its money? Enough with the stripes. There is nothing wrong with the basic uniform that has been used before.
ConcernedCitizen
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 5:38 p.m.
Would be interesting to see the look if the yellow was true to "maize," or something between maize and this yellow. Maybe it wouldn't look as good. Still would be interesting, since maize is our color.
Theo's Brother
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 4:36 p.m.
Guys, it's a couple of stripes. Keep your shirts on. It looks nice! Just look back through the years at the evolution of the white jersey. Nothing out of the ordinary. As long as they aren't doing the maize jersey and keeping the winged helmet.
Seasoned Cit
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 3:44 p.m.
Looks like communications broke down between the Football Program and M-Den the "official supplier" of M clothing etc.
Frank Legacki
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 2:59 p.m.
Why are we trying so hard to be different from our great classic look? I guess it is strickly for commercial reasons: to sell more jersies to the public. But the these jersies are busy and gaudy and they detract from our real distinctive uniform element, our winged helmets.I think these uniforms are ugly and too busy. Our players are beginning to look more like race cars. These new uniforms look cheap.
KeepingItReal
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 2:18 p.m.
When is M going to start paying its athletes now that it has entered the professional era?
WakeUpNow
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 2:14 p.m.
No, not again, the uniform of the week club! I like M Den's version better. I agree with the other comments regarding the Adidas logo plastered all over the uniform makes the players look like a walking human billboards. It's like prostituting the players for the almighty dollar. Big marketing, big money, big budget, naive kids. Folks these days will do anything for a buck, even make our football team dress like fools out there. Oh well, there is always next year. GO BLUE!
just a voice
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 2 p.m.
Ugly
Doug
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 3:44 p.m.
Beyond ugly!
stevejd66
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 1:32 p.m.
What is the most difficult thing to accomplish for a school and it's football team? Go 13 and 0 - NO. Recruit a top 5 class every year - NO. Beat MSU and OSU every year - NO. Graduate a high percentage of your student athletes - MAYBE. The most difficult thing to do is to earn and maintain one of the top 2 or 3 TRADITIONS in the nation. Now we have a Carnival Barker for an AD that is auctioning off that tradition, one game jersey at a time.
Lolly
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 1:20 p.m.
I'm glad to see that the white plastic snap apparatus doesn't cross over the wing on the helmet on this version. (I hate it when that happens.)
15crown00
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 12:55 p.m.
Engineer you had to bring the new OSU coach into this didn't you?while i intensely dislike the Worthless Nuts Coach Meyer has a much better overall record than Coach Hoke does and he did it in the beast conference in college football,the SEC.Jab all u want but the numbers tell the story. When is the last time Hoke went 13-1.Urban Meyer has done it 2-3 times in the last 7-8 years. So who is currently the best. Also his teams never "Backed Into a Bowl"like yours did this year. Hoke did a great job THIS YEAR.Let's see if he can maintain it over the next decade.
ethanblue
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 1:57 p.m.
And you are on this site commenting because you don't feel so full of worth because your team lost. Talk about not having a life: seeking out the opponent to flaunt about your coaching hire.
zax
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 12:48 p.m.
Wow, Project Runway here we come. Now it's all about the look. What color and style is somewhat humorous to me. Do they get matching jammies too?
15crown00
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 12:39 p.m.
the only thing is everything should be backwords because after all they did back into this bowl game. it must have cost a ton of money for all these uniforms.where did they find the money?
EyeHeartA2
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 3:05 p.m.
How did they back into the playoff? Did they lose their last game like (cough, cough) the michigan agricultural college?
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 12:13 p.m.
In the "good old days" of Don Canham a fan only needed a small corner of a dresser draw to house his UM gear. Now he needs a walk in closet. ;)
heartbreakM
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 6:45 p.m.
LOL. Now that explains the former coach's big residence in Ann Arbor (and apparently in Tucson too). And the worst part is:........I buy the stuff!!
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 2:50 p.m.
evidently, ethanblue, you don't much like my idea of humor?
ethanblue
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 1:54 p.m.
You're an adult, you don't have to buy every jersey there is. It's called a "decision."
15crown00
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 12:56 p.m.
Agree
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 12:14 p.m.
"dresser drawer".... all I want for Christmas is an edit button.
JJ
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 11:53 a.m.
What a waste. Adidas is laughing all the way to the bank. must be nice to have a budget that allows for such a critical needs.
Craig Lounsbury
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 12:10 p.m.
I imagine Adidas foots the bill for the uniforms. If I am correct they only laugh all the way to the bank if it spurs sales to the "private sector".
ytown
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 10:02 a.m.
The Program is always bigger than the kids. They are kids for a reason, they do not know enough at this point in their life. They should not be making the decisions for Michigan football. That is what is wrong with our society today. The kids should not make major decisions. The educated adults who are paid to do the right thing and uphold timeless traditions should make the decisions.
ethanblue
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 1:53 p.m.
These kids are Michigan football. Calm down, geesh. There is such a thing as an appeal to tradition, which is not always logical. Hold on to the past too long and you'll get stuck there, buddy. The helmets and the school color are still there, so I see such reactions to adults v. kids as a simple adult tantrum. These football players are young men, and you should respect them enough to let them have a voice in what they wear. I'd hate to be your son, considering you feel like an 18-year-old or 22-year-old cannot make a good decision. Just because you happen to not like these uniforms, it doesn't mean the school or players have sold out tradition. Stop being pathetic.
ytown
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 9:59 a.m.
This is an absolute joke. These jerseys are a disgrace to Fitz, Bo, and Michigan foootball. Coach Hoke is doing a good job. David Brandon is turning out to be not what I thought he was. It seems he is more into the CIRCUS aspect of football and not the stuff that matters. I always thought we would be one of the last real programs standing to wear are true uniforms. It is obvious we have fallen to the new culture of All Show and No Go.
KeepingItReal
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 4:43 p.m.
Where have you been. College sports in general and Michigan sports specifically are now professional sport programs. It's just that there have been no pubic declaration to date.
15crown00
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 12:58 p.m.
it's not exactly All Show and No Go.
goldenblue
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 8:58 a.m.
I like the alternate uniform. Bourbon Street here we come!
manbearpig
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 5:54 a.m.
Starting to look like West Virginia
Ben Pierce
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 3:49 a.m.
I already pre-ordered a Sugar Bowl jersey replica from M-Den but oh well. It will still be the best Christmas gift to myself in years! Next year's replica jersey needs to have Rose on it baby!
Doug
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 3:43 p.m.
What happened to "Support your local business"?
Blu n Tpa
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 1:16 p.m.
ted, you lost. Given your team cheated to win every game over the last several years I'm glad you keep coming by so I can remind you. Your team cheats to win. When you don't cheat, what happens? You lose. You didn't WIN a game in 2010 and after the first of the year you will have a losing season this year. Glad you stopped by, ted.
ted
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 4:42 a.m.
It'll be just like 2006 when Michigan made it to the Rose Bowl as an at large team and OSU goes to the NC game ? But will Michigan be chosen with the 2 losses it gets from OSU ?
heartbreakM
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 3:14 a.m.
why oh why?$? Yikes.
heartbreakM
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 6:43 p.m.
Blue Marker: I couldn't agree with you more. It seems that there is a constant conflict between tradition and the dollar (forcing change for monetary sake), and gimmickry. I do not think Michigan needs the gimmickry, the unis, etc. It is distasteful to me. But that's why I am sitting in my seat and Dave Brandon has his.
Blue Marker
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 12:19 p.m.
You can't buy the UTL jersey anywhere right now. It's sold out! So yeah, it'a all about the money. Let's cast away 132 years of tradition for the ol' mighty dollar. Personally, I don't mind this jersey that much. But it's the way Brandon want's to package and sell everything Michigan that bothers me. If it's not 7 different jersey's in a year is a jet-pack fly-over. Is this Michigan Football or a used car lot?
Anthony Andrews
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 2:45 a.m.
It's off of the subject a bit, but I remember when Georgia donned the all-red uniforms earlier this year. They even donned an all-black uniform that looked really great. I would love to see Michigan wear an all-blue uniform. It stays true to the color scheme, while incorporating a different look. Just a thought, but I think it would look great! GO BLUE!
Anthony Andrews
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 2:40 a.m.
I agree with you Engineer. As long as we win that is all that matters....GO BLUE!
belboz
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 2:27 a.m.
Looks good, except for that Addidas logo all over it. Nike logo's just seems to fit their product design much better. Addidas is just an ugly billboard. But I must admit, as a kid, I like the hidden message in Addidas much better. ...alright, as an adult too.
Engineer
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 2:03 a.m.
As long as we win I could care less what we wear. This is a great time to get practice for future players and this years starters and to showcase our program. Hoke will own the big ten soon. Urban Crier will crack under the pressure soon and even though ncaa is giving them one advantage after another. They are going to need them. They should be getting a 5 year death penalty. GO HOKE GO BLUE!!!
blUeMaize_N_SD
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 1:51 a.m.
Just an opinion, but what are we most proud of in our colors...the maize and the blue right? To each his own but which of those is the one that makes us the craziest? The maize? Can't get rid of the maize pants. That is Michigan, home or away the maize is always there. If we are going to play this game, not for it or against it, but if we are going to Oregon and now ASU it up, then why not a "Maize Out". An all maize uni? Instead of white, maize it out? Just an opinion because for me, the winged helmet is the tradition, the Maized wings, the Maize pants, that's Michigan for me. My heart pumps, my blood starts to race, and dreams come alive when I see the Maize Winged Helmets. Don't take away the Maize pants. I like the fewer strips as others have said here.
Larry Weisenthal
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 9:24 a.m.
Yellow the fields where ripens the grain And yellow the moon on the harvest wain Hail!
DeSean
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 1:40 a.m.
We should be in darks. VT was sugar bowl's second choice, why do they get home jerseys? Buncha crap.
Doug
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 3:39 p.m.
Thanks for the answer!
Blue Marker
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 12:11 p.m.
Higher ranked team is home. VT is higher ranked.
Scott
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 1:27 a.m.
Like this uniform
David Briegel
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 1:24 a.m.
The Proudest Tradition = Adidas U Sad
lugemachine
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 3:35 p.m.
@ Larry Weisenthal: The winged helmet was a tactical move by Yost. All helmets looked alike back in his day, so it was difficult for quarterbacks to discern offense from defense as they looked to pass. The winged helmet enabled Michigan quarterbacks to better see their receivers. These current changes are just ... I don't know, to make the players look cool, I suppose. Personally, I don't hate it, nor do I love it... I'm just "meh".
Larry Weisenthal
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 9:19 a.m.
There's everything right with new "traditions," as long as the old are remembered. The winged helmet was a radical change from Yost, for goodness sake.
TcFlint
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 12:43 a.m.
Love this new version! However, I think they would be even better with white pants. GO BLUE!
rickske
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 10:28 p.m.
NO BLUE Pants!
Matt Patercsak
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 12:33 a.m.
the team was practicing with their grey facemasks which would make these uniforms even cooler! way better with gold pants
MRunner73
Tue, Dec 13, 2011 : 11:51 p.m.
That makes three changes in the uniform this year. Look for three or four more next year and then several more each year. I wonder if there will be any repeats, like the night game version or something more provocative each time.
Terry Star21
Tue, Dec 13, 2011 : 11:50 p.m.
Well, I admit I didn't like the other two versions this year - however these are VERY NICE. The other two had too many stripes and looked more like advertising gizmofanatic. I love the two stripes, the 'M' on the sleeve, on te shirt and the 'M' on the pants - these are flippin' uniforms. Just imagine how awesome those 'M's look coming at the vt's team, flattening their players and then celebrating in the end zone (that will be a ton of 'M's in the 'zone'). MgoBlueForTiM............the Sugar Bowl is 'M's Super Bowl
Blacksburg Wolverine
Wed, Dec 14, 2011 : 1:43 a.m.
As a Wolverine (70, 72, 75) and a retired member of Virginia Tech's faculty, I have cheered on my Wolverines since 1963. I fly an M flag on my Blacksburg, VA home every football Saturday, much to the chagrin of my neighbors and many friends here. I have watched VT games for 36 years -- never attended one since I couldn't bring myself to do that. But, I do know that a smack-down by Michigan may not be as easy as some here think. VT has been vastly over-rated for years and have never beat a top 10 team in their history. But, they do have some athletes and they play a quick game. They have good receivers, a very good running back, and a big mobile QB. Special teams are and have been a specialty. If they decide to "show up" (that has been their problem this year), M could be surprised. When they score, it usually very quickly due to their ability to make the big play. Michigan and VT were tied for seventh this year in points per game allowed. The D is quick with good corners. I am not replying so much to Terry as the group as a whole. M needs to "play" this game as they did the last three. Certainly, I think M is better, but VT cannot be underestimated despite playing in one of the weakest conferences in the country. I guess all I am saying is not to feel superior or assured a victory despite the questionable presence of VT in this BCS game. I have watched them lose to nobody many times, but I have also watched them explode on somebody who was -17. Further, this community, Blacksburg, just went through another tragic shooting on campus (recall the 32 killed by a campus gunman in 2007). This community is small (enrollment about 26,000) and one thing that has astounded me is how the this community and the university rally around each other when something happens. The football team tends to do the same -- give them a reason to play their hearts out and that's what I have seen them do. GO BLUE!
EastCoastBlue
Tue, Dec 13, 2011 : 11:44 p.m.
Looks like Brandon wants to take the Athletic Department fund to new heights!
paperstreetsoap
Tue, Dec 13, 2011 : 11:33 p.m.
check that 'already'. my bad
paperstreetsoap
Tue, Dec 13, 2011 : 11:30 p.m.
They are all ready the 'road' team? When did Michigan lose that bet with va tech? These uni's still are lame but you have to appeal to the kids, right?