Univ. of Maryland football players "unveiled new uniforms Monday night that update the team's brand with more intricate designs and a lighter, sleeker look designed to appeal to recruits," according to Jeff Barker of the Baltimore SUN. The uniforms, designed by Under Armour in consultation with UM, are "noteworthy for how many there are." With "four jersey colors, four pants colors and two helmets (black and white), the team will have 32 combinations to select from." Among the "distinctive features is a turtle-shell pattern -- called 'terraprint' -- on the white helmets." Under Armour Dir of Sports Marketing Walker Jones said, "Nobody has anything like that." Barker notes there also is a "brightly colored pattern on the shoulders of some of the jerseys," which say "Maryland" on the front. Also new this season will be "helmets with no lettering and jerseys with no player names." Previous helmets had "Terps" on the side. The uniforms are "part of an updating" of UM's brand, and will "more prominently display 'Maryland' much as Texas football features 'Texas' on its uniform fronts" (Baltimore SUN, 8/23). In DC, Patrick Stevens noted a "noticeable early change is Maryland’s 'terrafont' -- a typeface made specifically for the school -- popping up on apparel, billboards, letterhead and signs around the athletic department." The word "Maryland" is "front and center" under new branding, "with a ribbon featuring parts of the state flag below it." UM Athletic Department Chief of Staff Nathan Pine said, "You’re going to see a lot more ‘Maryland,’ and that’s an initiative that we’re pushing across the board in all of our sports. To use that rather than maybe the logo or maybe the M flag, we want to brand ourselves and be the University of Maryland." Pine noted that UM and Under Armour "have shared costs associated with the push" (WASHINGTONTIMES.com, 8/22).
UNDER REVIEW: In DC, Matt Bonesteel noted there are several combinations possible for UM football uniforms, and the athletic department said that "fan input will be used to pick the Terps' uniform for the opener" against the Univ. of Miami on Labor Day night. Bonesteel wrote his initial reaction is the "all-black unis work much better than the Hoth-style all-whites." Some of them "feature an intense amount of yellow" (WASHINGTONPOST.com, 8/22). The SUN's Barker wrote the "splashy and sleek" new uniforms are "radically different than the old ones." Barker: "There is an interesting dynamic here. On one hand, the uniforms are colorful and showy. There is a lot going on in the design. At the same time, the helmets are minimalist" (BALTIMORESUN.com, 8/22).
