Brent Yarina, BTN.com Senior Editor, December 16, 2013
With the year quickly coming to a close, I decided to take a look at the new basketball and football uniform designs that debuted in 2013. Don't worry, 2014 is certain to include just as many, if not more, new designs. Actually, I'm not so sure that's a good thing. Either way, enjoy the look back.
ILLINOIS
Tim Beckman and Illinois showed off plenty of new designs in 2013. Prior to the season, the Illini unveiled a new orange primary helmet. It went on to wear a blue helmet, white jersey and blue pants combination for the first time ever, doing so at Penn State and at Indiana. Before Halloween, vs. Wisconsin, the Illini debuted a festive all-orange look. Nothing, however, compares to the brilliant patriotic orange alternate lid the team wore in the final weeks to honor the 10 former Illini who have died in combat.
#Illini wearing special helmet logos to honor military tomorrow. 10 stars represent 10 IL players who died in combat. pic.twitter.com/bP4fd6pWxM
— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) November 15, 2013
John Groce and the basketball didn't unveil any new designs in 2013.
INDIANA
Hello, new helmets! The Hoosiers introduced a half-dozen new lids, including a head-turning chrome candy stripe one. Indiana made a slight adjustment to its jersey, adding the adidas TECHFIT ShockWeb design. You might have missed, but the team also placed an American flag on the back of its helmet the for Military Appreciation Day
And the new chrome candy stripe lid. #hoosiers. pic.twitter.com/6RvhPogyBg
— Brent Yarina (@BTNBrentYarina) July 25, 2013
The basketball team, per usual, didn't deviate from its historic look.
IOWA
Iowa didn't debut any new designs or roll out a throwback uniform in 2013. It did, however, add a patriotic design to its helmet at Purdue, filling the Tigerhawk on the right side with an American flag. Like the Pittsburgh Steelers' helmet, this particular design only featured a logo on the right side; Iowa's primary lid includes the Tigerhawk on both sides.
The Hawks are rocking the American flag Tigerhawk logo today in appreciation of those who serve(d) our great country pic.twitter.com/7VB1K62UDr
— Hawkeye Football (@HawkeyeFootball) November 9, 2013
The basketball team made the biggest changes in Iowa City, debuting a new Nike "Hyper Elite" uniform.
MICHIGAN
Brady Hoke and company opened the year by debuting a matte helmet and a new alternate uniform in the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day. Surprisingly, the Wolverines didn't break out any other new designs the rest of the year – a change from years past. Michigan did hand out several Legacy Jerseys, including Devin Gardner (No. 98) and Jeremy Gallon (No. 21).
Why do I feel like I saw this sight a dozen times yesterday? #spartans pic.twitter.com/vJWtaUNsB4
— Brent Yarina (@BTNBrentYarina) November 3, 2013
The basketball team rocked several designs on its way to the national title game. There was the adidas "Bleed Out" alternate, the 1968 throwback, the return of the 2011-12 road uniform (due to too many ripped 2012-13 road jerseys), and the adidas camo.
MICHIGAN STATE
The Spartans broke out their chrome helmets, first debuted in 2012, at Nebraska, and also went with an old-school all-green look vs. Michigan and in the Big Ten title game. The Spartans even carried the green pants over to the road, at Northwestern.
It's too bad they couldn't wear this helmet, which was on display before the B1G title game:
This is so cool. You need to check it out, @MSU_Football fans. (via @BTNJourney) pic.twitter.com/hYAY6uB54Y
— Brent Yarina (@BTNBrentYarina) December 7, 2013
Tom Izzo and the basketball team turned plenty heads with their Nike "Logo" alternate, which had "Spartans" on the nameplate and was paired with bronze shoes.
MINNESOTA
It was a light year when it came to new uniform designs at Minnesota. Keep in mind, the football team just received new Nike uniforms in 2012. That said, the Gophers went with a patriotic design on Military Appreciation Day and will wear a new white alternate helmet in the Texas Bowl.
White helmets #Gophers will wear at @TexasBowl pic.twitter.com/pp4UVbmKYv
— Minnesota Football (@GopherFootball) December 9, 2013
The basketball team did not introduce any new looks late in Tubby Smith's final season or in the first few months of the Richard Pitino era.
NEBRASKA
For the second consecutive season, the Huskers took part in the "Adidas Unrivaled Game." This time, vs. UCLA, the Huskers wore a black jersey and white pants that featured black accents. The helmet was a flashier white lid than Nebraska's primary design. Also, in a more subtle change, the Huskers added the adidas TECHFIT ShockWeb jersey design.
A good look at #Huskers new alternate uniform. pic.twitter.com/swmE5AOrTn
— Brent Yarina (@BTNBrentYarina) July 25, 2013
As for the basketball team, it wore an adidas "Bleed Out" alternate a few times, a throwback on a couple occasions, including the Devaney finale, and unveiled a new black alternate earlier this month.
NORTHWESTERN
The Wildcats opened the 2013 season in style at Cal, debuting an all-white uniform, including a new white alternate helmet. Northwestern didn't stop there, as it also worked with the Wounded Warrior Project to come up with a unique patriotic design vs. Michigan that received much attention.
First Look: Northwestern will wear this uniform against Michigan (11/16) in coordination with the @wwpinc #B1GCats pic.twitter.com/ZiciGmz96e
— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) November 4, 2013
The basketball team didn't unveil any new looks in 2013.
OHIO STATE
Prior to the 2013 season, the Buckeyes added seven Buckeye leaves (one for each national championship the team claims) to the back of the jersey collar. They also introduced a redesigned Nike "Rivalry" home uniform, which it wore vs. Wisconsin and vs. Penn State, and debuted an all-white "Rivalry" road uniform that it donned at Michigan.
#soon pic.twitter.com/1ObUYmdPkk
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 30, 2013
On the basketball court, the Buckeyes donned a Nike "Logo" alternate, which featured Ohio State's logo on the front and listed "Buckeyes" on the nameplate.
PENN STATE
For the second year in a row, Bill O'Brien and Penn State debuted a new wrinkle to the Nittany Lions' iconic uniform. The addition of the Nittany Lion logo to the bottom of the jersey collar wasn't nearly as noticeable or controversial as the addition of nameplates or wearing Michael Mauti's number on the side of the helmet, both done in 2012.
The basketball team introduced a new Nike "Hyper Elite" uniform at the start of the 2013-14 season and also donned a throwback for its recent game back at Rec Hall.
What grade do you give #PennState's throwback unis? http://t.co/4k4xS9wnn4 pic.twitter.com/mREaqAlb13
— Brent Yarina (@BTNBrentYarina) December 14, 2013
PURDUE
Darrell Hazell made a couple cosmetic changes in his first season, starting with bringing back helmet stickers. In a more noticeable move, the Boilermakers unveiled an all-black uniform, highlighted by a new black alternate helmet, vs. Ohio State. The team also donned the new lid, complete with a train track down the middle, at Indiana. And, for Military Appreciation Day, the Boilermakers sported this patriotic design.
VIDEO: Thumbs up or thumbs down to @BoilerFootball's new black alternate helmet? WATCH – – http://t.co/P4EAPpVMup
— Big Ten Network (@BigTenNetwork) November 2, 2013
The basketball team hasn't rolled out any new designs to it s uniform that debuted last season.
WISCONSIN
In Gary Andersen's first season, the Badgers unveiled a couple of new red alternate helmets, one that is the exact inverse of Wisconsin's primary lid (home) and another that features black accents (away). Wisconsin, as it has on occasion in previous years, also wore red pants at Illinois. The Badges, like Indiana and Nebraska, also debuted the adidas TECHFIT ShockWeb jersey design – a fancy term for a patterned stretchy material on the shoulders.
Another look at #Badgers' helmets for tonight pic.twitter.com/LsWNh12HB7
— Wisconsin Football (@BadgerFootball) October 19, 2013
On the hardwood, the Badgers unveiled their adidas "Bleed Out" alternate in both games vs. Nebraska.
About Brent Yarina | BTN.com senior editor Brent Yarina covers football and men's basketball for BTN.com. He writes the popular uniform feature "Clothes Call," which also focuses on the latest cosmetic changes across Big Ten arenas and stadiums. Read all of his work here. You can subscribe to Yarina's RSS feed and follow him on Twitter @BTNBrentYarina. |