The Univ. of Michigan yesterday unveiled their new Jordan Brand football uniforms, and they "look similar to last year, including the all-white road uniforms, only they now have a Jumpman logo above the number on the front and the number font is slightly different," according to Mark Snyder of the DETROIT FREE PRESS. Though the traditional helmet returns, it "now has a matte rather than glossy finish." The uniforms were revealed at the Ford Piquette Avenue Plant and were presented on mannequins, each in its "own blue highlighted box, creating a blue glow through the dark rooms as if at a fashion show or a wax museum." Former NFLer and Michigan alum Charles Woodson said, "We got our swag back. It’s all about looking good and feeling good. That’s what having Jumpman on our jerseys means to us.” UM coach Jim Harbaugh "helped design his own sweatshirt, asking that it be navy blue with the Jumpman and skinny Block M on the front." His "ubiquitous khaki pants will also be produced by Nike, though he wasn’t sure if they’ll have the Jumpman logo on them" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/3).
NOTHING TOO DIFFERENT: In Michigan, Nick Baumgardner noted the jerseys "feature a few tweaks -- but, for the most part, look rather similar to Michigan's traditional on-field image." As for the possibility of alternate jerseys, Harbaugh said, "We'll definitely keep an open mind" (MLIVE.com, 8/2). In Detroit, Bill Shea noted the new uniforms from an aesthetic perspective are "functionally unchanged" from what UM wore under its adidas deal. The "only major change" appears to be the Jumpman logo added to the chest of the football jerseys and near the waist of the pants (CRAINSDETROIT.com, 8/2). ESPN's David Jacoby said, "They didn't try to do anything fancy, they didn’t do any Oregon Ducks or Maryland Terrapin craziness. They didn’t try to make a big splash. They were like, ‘We're going to take the classic Michigan uniform, we’re going to make it just a little bit doper,’ which is exactly what they did” (“Jalen & Jacoby,” ESPNews, 8/3).
NEW LOOK: In Detroit, Shawn Windsor notes the unveiling felt like the "set of a Hollywood parody whose aim was to poke fun at the self-importance of college football fashion." Windsor: "It was hard to tell if we were in Detroit or Paris." Harbaugh: "You are with whom you associate. So, let’s associate with the most evolved human beings in the world.” Asked how he ranks Michael Jordan, Harbaugh said, "As one of humanity’s most evolved human beings of all time." UM is the "first program to align with the Jordan Brand," and the goal is for it to "become synonymous with the Jumpman logo the way Oregon’s football program is with the Nike swoosh" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 8/3).
