Nike is outfitting both Army and Navy "with new uniforms" for their football game Saturday, and Navy Equipment Manager Greg Morgenthaler spent "four months working with athletic director Chet Gladchuk, associate athletic director Eric Ruden and head coach Ken Niumatalolo to craft Navy's version of the Nike Pro Combat System of dress uniforms," according to Bill Wagner of the ANNAPOLIS CAPITAL. Nike came up with a uniform design that "was based on the service dress blues that Midshipmen wear and incorporates elements of every division of the United States Navy." The jersey is blue with gold numbers and lettering, while the "pants are blue and represent the Marine Corps." The cleats are gold and "written on the inside tongue is the Navy SEAL motto: The only easy day was yesterday." The uniforms come with "ventilated under garment that has 'Don't Tread on Me' emblazoned across the front." That phrase "comes from the First Navy Jack Flag, which featured a snake." But perhaps the "most striking element of the uniforms is the white helmet with a gold anchor emblem on the side, which is based on the cover (hat) that Midshipmen wear." Riddell Regional Account Manager Bart Hallum has "heard from numerous people in the equipment business that Navy's helmet is the sharpest of all the helmets created for the Nike Pro Combat series." Wagner reported Army's Pro Combat uniform is "not as vastly different from its regular uniform." It features a white jersey "with black trim, gold pants and gold helmet." One "unique element is the tan cleats, which represents boots on the ground." The phrase "Sing Second" is "emblazoned across the back of the jerseys, referring to the fact [the] winner of the Army-Navy game goes last in the traditional playing of the alma maters." Army Equipment Manager Nick Determan said, "We didn't want anything gimmicky. We wanted to be very simple and traditional" (ANNAPOLIS CAPITAL, 12/8).
