Northwestern Univ. yesterday "apologized for any misconceptions" about the new uniforms it plans to wear in its Nov. 16 football game against Michigan, as the Under Armour-designed outfits "show what to some look like blood stains on a flag," according to Darren Rovell of ESPN.com. NU Assistant AD/Communications Paul Kennedy said the red, white and blue design is a "distressed pattern on both the stars and stripes that was inspired by the appearance of a flag that has flown proudly over a long period of time." He apologized "for any misinterpretation." Rovell notes NU "gave up its purple color, but the school's 'N"' is on the back of the helmets and the pants" (ESPN.com, 11/5). In Chicago, Teddy Greenstein wrote the unis "will have a tangible benefit," as they will be "auctioned off online after the game, with 100 percent of proceeds going to the Wounded Warriors." NU players instead of having names on their jersey backs "will have one of the following core values: Duty, Honor, Courage, Commitment, Integrity, Country and Service." The words were "randomly assigned to players" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 11/4).
