From Deseret News archives:

Post-Fiesta Utes fashion new uniform after Miami

Published: Thursday, June 16, 2005 11:49 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
Utah football is getting a new look.

Fresh off an undefeated season and the Bowl Championship Series, the Utes are getting new uniforms and a slightly lighter shade of red on their helmets.

The Nike-made jerseys will sport a design similar to those of the University of Miami. The Utes plan to wear red tops and white pants at home and white tops with red pants on the road.

Senior linebacker Spencer Toone, who joined other team leaders in choosing the new uniforms, said several options were explored.

"We decided that this style would be best. I think it's going to look real sharp," said Toone, who didn't have a problem with the old look. "They were just a couple of years old. They renew them every couple of years, and I think we are about due. It was kind of cool that they let the team decide what we wanted."

New head coach Kyle Whittingham has no problem with that. He, admittedly, spends little time worrying about uniforms.

"The players chose them," said Whittingham. "And if they're happy, I am happy."

Toone said that's just the way Whittingham is.

Story continues below
"He could care less what we look like as long as we're ready to play and we play well," said Toone.

Toone and several teammates were consulted on the changes by Robert Wiscomb, Utah's director of equipment operations.

"We needed to replace the red jerseys (embroidered with the Fiesta Bowl logo), and this was a great opportunity to let the team, the players, decide with which style we wanted to go," said Wiscomb, who expects the new gear to arrive soon and be in place for picture day in August.

The uniforms, which have a stripe that begins on two ends in the front and stretches across the back, will include "Utah" across the front and include a breastplate with the school logo on it. Nameplates will still be included on the back.

Utah's helmets, on the other hand, will be tweaked a little bit. They'll still sport a shiny candy apple finish, but the red color has been lightened to better match the Nike red on the uniforms. The company that reconditions the helmets for Wiscomb customized a color for the Utes.

"We had a lot of people that were not happy about the helmet not matching the jersey," said Wiscomb. "So we changed the color slightly to come closer."

Last year, the Utes chose a deeper shade of red to accentuate the finish on the helmets.

"Some people made comments about it. It was kind of hard to see. Sometimes it was really noticeable and sometimes it wasn't. People in the crowd noticed it," said Toone. "I think it's going to match a little bit better this year."

Comments

You can be the first to comment on this story.

Image
Deseret Morning News graphic

An artist's rendering of the new University of Utah football uniforms designed by Nike.

previousnext

Latest comments

BYU/Utah game big

Good luck to both teams and may both teams' fans applaud good plays and think...

Logan aims for impact on Wynn

Waaaah! It's all in fun. If you are looking to be offended, you will be...

Letters: Selfish agendas

People are so childish and apparently ignorant that they will sign up the...

Thanks to the Deseret News for posting this each year. It is a great service...

Logan aims for impact on Wynn

As much as some Utah fans would like to think so, Utah isn't nearly as good...

Hey Anonymous~ If you were active LDS you would know that hundreds, if not...

Smith--what do you have against libraries? Have you been in the Farmington...

Could I really the first person to comment on this story? Booz really D-will...

Cougs to host Weber St.

Bub, wow that was quaint. Is the Mtn. still broadcasting in Standard Def,...

Is that a word? See the "uneducated" posts in other articles. Exhibit B

Advertisements