What is the "uniform surprise"?

[wizards8507]

You know what gets wins? Recruits.

Players love them ~ Recruits will love them = Great Success!

This is one of the most overstated arguments that comes up every time we talk uniforms. There's a total of ONE school that has any kind of recruiting bump because of their uniforms. That's Oregon, and it's because it's part of their persona/attitude/shtick. Make no mistake about it, this is about merchandise sales, not recruiting. It's a cash grab by the University and Under Armour. As such, my opinion (and yours) as fans and consumers is just as valid as any recruit's. I'm sure you're going to find some tweet of a recruit out there saying "kewl unis, ND!" but that tweet doesn't get laid out on the table when the kid is making his commitment decision.

You know damn well that if we matted the gold paint on our helmets, you'd be in here bitching about how they look like FSU's or BC's.

Absolutely not. This is what I was hoping for in my little fantasy world, but I would have been happy with any number of options. I just think they should have at least gone in this general direction.

 

[IrishLion]

You know damn well that if we matted the gold paint on our helmets, you'd be in here bitching about how they look like FSU's or BC's.

All of the reps.

 

[#1rish]

I think merchandise sales are the least of ND's worries.

 

[BobbyMac]

Thumbs up. The're not the '13 all whites by any means. There will be a signed #8 on my wall... game worn if I can do it within the rules

...and yes, UA needs to stop pushing the knee band. It's unattractive.

 

[NDinL.A.]

Of course they're for guys like us. Recruiting is one angle, but so is merchandise sales. Notre Dame is losing sight of the fact that their "base" is a bunch of 25 to 65 upper-middle-class CPAs and attorneys.

Here are all the early responses, both good and bad, from the other site I was talking about. You are in the large minority here, which is fine. Everybody has different tastes. But my bet offer still stands on our merchandise being the same if not better than the previous Shamrock games.

I like the white ones from two years ago better, but these are good! Especially like the leprechaun finally getting some uniform love!

These are awesome

I like going with wilder uniforms for one game per year, and I have to say that I really like these!

Perfect

Ostentatious and garish. Yuk.

Love them.

Amazing! One of my favorites

These could be the best ones yet IMO.

Awesome

I like these way more than last years

Awesome.

Sweet. Will look especially good with chunks of maroon and gold on them.

Love it. The green monster theme is clever.

Not a fan oh well.

I really like these!

Tight.

I love it.

Love these and the Green Monster theme is another perfect fit for a "home" game in Boston against Fredo!

Overall I like them tho. Love the green color. Love the Lep on the helmet.

Way cool. Very excited to see them on the field.

 

[wizards8507]

Here are all the early responses, both good and bad, from the other site I was talking about.

That's very interesting, because Twitter seems to be going the exact opposite direction.

 

[dublinirish]

i dont like how the gold on the face of the leprechaun is a different shade to the gold on the helmet, it looks kinda cheap

 

[NDinL.A.]

This is one of the most overstated arguments that comes up every time we talk uniforms. There's a total of ONE school that has any kind of recruiting bump because of their uniforms. That's Oregon, and it's because it's part of their persona/attitude/shtick. Make no mistake about it, this is about merchandise sales, not recruiting. It's a cash grab by the University and Under Armour. As such, my opinion (and yours) as fans and consumers is just as valid as any recruit's. I'm sure you're going to find some tweet of a recruit out there saying "kewl unis, ND!" but that tweet doesn't get laid out on the table when the kid is making his commitment decision.

I don't need to some tweet to say that. I already know recruits will love them. And the players already do. And even when we suck, we absolutely roll in these games. And in case you haven't seen...ND is fighting a massive perception problem. We're old, stuffy, no social life, etc etc etc. Things like this (and the Showtime series) are little/big things that ND can do to help change that perception. THAT is what I am talking about...not the whole Oregon recruiting bump. I'm not going there at all with that.

As for the fans and merchandise, put your money where your mouth is. Just because YOU don't like them, doesn't mean other fans don't. That's the thing you are completely missing here.

 

[aubeirish]

This is one of the most overstated arguments that comes up every time we talk uniforms. There's a total of ONE school that has any kind of recruiting bump because of their uniforms. That's Oregon, and it's because it's part of their persona/attitude/shtick. Make no mistake about it, this is about merchandise sales, not recruiting. It's a cash grab by the University and Under Armour. As such, my opinion (and yours) as fans and consumers is just as valid as any recruit's. I'm sure you're going to find some tweet of a recruit out there saying "kewl unis, ND!" but that tweet doesn't get laid out on the table when the kid is making his commitment decision.

I don't think it's about recruiting advantage anymore as much as just being on par with everyone else. It's kind of a disadvantage not to do it now a days.
Listen, it's not like it used to be. I couldn't care less about what I was wearing when I was playing, but times have changed. Kids really care about that stuff now. My little bro(18), was telling me that he needs 3 pair of cleats to play because his team has 3 kits. I was like take a pair of black ones and be done with it...
It's once a year anyways. Also, the unis in the past few years have all look sharp on game day. I'm sure this one will too.

 

[NDinL.A.]

That's very interesting, because Twitter seems to be going the exact opposite direction.

Twitter is a ceespool. Put your money where your mouth is.

 

[BobbyMac]

These will be ND's biggest selling alternative jersey ever.

The game is late in the year and ND will be undefeated when this game is played (all right, maybe).

 

[wizards8507]

I don't think it's about recruiting advantage anymore as much as just being on par with everyone else. It's kind of a disadvantage not to do it now a days.

 

[connor_in]

The base layer is UGLY. Looks like a Green Lantern shirt.

Personally tho...I don't mind them

 

[wizards8507]

Put your money where your mouth is.

By doing what, exactly?

 

[connor_in]

Very decent, but they would've been SPARTY with a darker shade of green.

fify

 

[ND NYC]

is it possible to post an actual picture of the uni and helmet in the thread (not a link to it)

thx in advance!

 

[PANDFAN]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Available to order later today from <a href="https://twitter.com/HammesNotreDame">@HammesNotreDame</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShamrockSeries?src=hash">#ShamrockSeries</a> #&#55356;&#57152;Day <a href="http://t.co/ec28jIC6Q2">pic.twitter.com/ec28jIC6Q2</a></p>— Iceberg (@Stan_Cherry) <a href="https://twitter.com/Stan_Cherry/status/631833689895366656">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[PANDFAN]

is it possible to post an actual picture of the uni and helmet in the thread (not a link to it)

thx in advance!

there are already

 

[BobbyMac]

i dont like how the gold on the face of the leprechaun is a different shade to the gold on the helmet, it looks kinda cheap

So you thought '13's looked cheap?

 

[wizards8507]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Available to order later today from <a href="https://twitter.com/HammesNotreDame">@HammesNotreDame</a>! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ShamrockSeries?src=hash">#ShamrockSeries</a> #��Day <a href="http://t.co/ec28jIC6Q2">pic.twitter.com/ec28jIC6Q2</a></p>— Iceberg (@Stan_Cherry) <a href="https://twitter.com/Stan_Cherry/status/631833689895366656">August 13, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

They botched the shirt on the left. If you're going to phoneticize the Boston accent, you'd have to modify "after" as well as "park" and "dark".

 

[NDinL.A.]

By doing what, exactly?

Really? So you don't even read the posts you quote and respond to?

 

[Wild Bill]

They botched the shirt on the left. If you're going to phoneticize the Boston accent, you'd have to modify "after" as well as "park" and "dark".

Take it easy dshans

 

[NCND]

They botched the shirt on the left. If you're going to phoneticize the Boston accent, you'd have to modify "after" as well as "park" and "dark".

LOL

 

[wizards8507]

Really? So you don't even read the posts you quote and respond to?

Yeah, I get it, you want to bet me money that these sell as well or better than last year's. No, I'm not making that bet. 1) Because I can't imagine that's publicly available information, 2) sales will hinge much more on the team's performance than whether people actually like the uniform or not, 3) I don't really care if people like them better than last year's because that doesn't change my own opinion, and 4) I didn't especially like last year's either. I think they looked very good on the players over pads, but the ones available for sale weren't great with the all gold sleeves.

 

[woolybug25]

I'd bet that "base" makes up <1% of ND fans.

I disagree. I think our base is definitely somewhere in the 25-65 middle-upper class male. Who else would it be?



As usual, I like the uniform and hate the helmet. No bother in debating it with you fellas, because we go through it every year. My opinion isn't going to stop the university from degrading their brand with these type of gimmicky BS either way.

 

[dublinirish]

So you thought '13's looked cheap?

yep, hated these

 

[wizards8507]

I disagree. I think our base is definitely somewhere in the 25-65 middle-upper class male. Who else would it be?

As usual, I like the uniform and hate the helmet. No bother in debating it with you fellas, because we go through it every year. My opinion isn't going to stop the university from degrading their brand with these type of gimmicky BS either way.

Stop making so much sense. It makes me uncomfortable to agree with you, but we have a habit of doing that when the topic is actually Notre Dame football.

Let's talk about elephant hunting or the latest boating fashions from Brooks Brothers so we can set things right.

 

[aubeirish]

They do other things ND can not do as far as recruiting advantage goes. I'm not going to go into that. There is a whole thread about it. Also, winning always is the biggest recruiting tool you can ever have...

 

[Irishcop]

I like the jersey however my favorite uniforms were the ones worn in the last second loss to michigan. Loved that helmet.

 

[BobbyMac]

I disagree. I think our base is definitely somewhere in the 25-65 middle-upper class male. Who else would it be?



As usual, I like the uniform and hate the helmet. No bother in debating it with you fellas, because we go through it every year. My opinion isn't going to stop the university from degrading their brand with these type of gimmicky BS either way.

In today's game, not going the alt uni route degrades your brand as it's one less branding campaign you get to run. If you aren't keeping up with the Jones' you are falling behind them.