Rutgers yesterday "unveiled its new scarlet and white football uniforms" in conjunction with the athletic department's second annual "R Awards" ceremony at Rutgers Athletics Center, according to Ryan Dunleavy of the ASBURY PARK PRESS. Coach Chris Ash said, "I wanted a nice, clean, professional look that is traditional and identifiable with Rutgers." Dunleavy notes it has "only been four years since Rutgers last switched football uniforms, but the fan base was clamoring for change because the silver-colored numbers were difficult to read on the last set and the scarlet uniform looked more like a salmon color." Rutgers "kept some knight-inspired themes as the new uniforms have a chainmail design." The red jersey with white numbers and red helmet with white block "R" is "for home games," while the white jersey with red numbers and white helmet with red block "R" is "for away games." Players' last names "will appear on the back." Meanwhile, every Rutgers team is "receiving some degree of uniform tweak," as the new look is "designed to be consistent across all sports." The school also "launched a new secondary logo -- a graphic representation of the Scarlet Knight mascot." The school is "wrapping up its fourth year of a five-year apparel contract with Nike worth" $5.2M with a $130,000 base payment to the school. The next contract is "expected to go out to bid and be worth significantly more now that Rutgers is a member of the Big Ten" (ASBURY PARK PRESS, 5/4). Ash said that the process to change the uniforms "was underway when he was hired in early December." He also said that the team "will still have an alternate black uniform to use for one game per season." In Newark, Dan Duggan notes that uniform "was not revealed" yesterday (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 5/4).
LITTLE UNIFORMITY? In Newark, Steve Politi notes in regards to the school's uniforms, "for too many years, they've felt minor league." Rutgers "has allowed the sneaker companies to decide how their athletes should look on the playing field, and from game to game, there's been little uniformity as to what that means." The new uniforms "look
normal," as that is the "first word that springs to mind when you scroll through the photos and watch the videos." Politi: "Classic? That's another. Rutgers? That's one more" (
Newark STAR-LEDGER, 5/4).
A video from Rutgers Athletics offers more on the thinking behind the new uniforms and marks.
