What is the "uniform surprise"?

[Buster Bluth]

usc's uniforms = mustard and ketchup

I love both of those things.

 

[North Buffalo Irish]

I love both of those things.

Pah, ketchup is a children's food.

Mustard, on the other hand, is a gift from God.

 

[dshans]

Is that a misused period and a nonrestrictive clause without commas? For shame!

Oh, mustard and custard pie! That period after "Which" was intended to be a comma. 'Twas a typo in collusion with an old and smudged keyboard. I blame it on my migraine – or the wine I've been drinking to knock it back.

Good catch.

 

[Buster Bluth]

Pah, ketchup is a children's food.

Mustard, on the other hand, is a gift from God.

hah also true.

 

[IndyIrishFan1]

If that's what it takes, to make him want to sign on to ND...........then I don't want him. I don't care if his name is Jesus, Son of God. If he's more concerned about uniforms than the campus, the academics, the tradition, the challenge.............let him go to Oregon.

You're saying if Keith Marshall or DGB were leaning 99% towards ND and them seeing that ND can also do some "new school" things put them over the top to commit you would send them packing?

Of course a kid that would sign with ND would go for the campus, academics, tradition, etc. However, these student athletes seem to get VERY excited about these uniforms. How does it hurt ND to try something different for one game and then go back to our standard uniform?

 

[mgriff]

Without reading the massive amount of pages, I think it's summed up as we are doing something with the unis for the USC game, but naturally nothing has been released, and we won't know anything concrete until the game. Is that about accurate?

 

[Riddickulous]

Without reading the massive amount of pages, I think it's summed up as we are doing something with the unis for the USC game, but naturally nothing has been released, and we won't know anything concrete until the game. Is that about accurate?

Correct.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I just read the "big surprise" is ND will be wearing leather helmets, and is rumored to throw a forward pass sometime late in the first half if they are behind.

To prevent cramping and dehydration, the coaching staff will be harnessing the space-age power of salt tablets to keep the players running on all cylinders.

Manti T'eo is still questionable, for he has 12 more bombing runs over Europe before earning his discharge.

 

[kmoose]

You're saying if Keith Marshall or DGB were leaning 99% towards ND and them seeing that ND can also do some "new school" things put them over the top to commit you would send them packing?

Of course a kid that would sign with ND would go for the campus, academics, tradition, etc. However, these student athletes seem to get VERY excited about these uniforms. How does it hurt ND to try something different for one game and then go back to our standard uniform?

I'm saying that I'm tired of people trying to throw away every tradition that ND stands for, because it might affect a recruit's decision to come to ND.

 

[irishfanjho15]

I'm saying that I'm tired of people trying to throw away every tradition that ND stands for, because it might affect a recruit's decision to come to ND.

Well I just wish we didn't throw away the tradition of being a top ten program year in and year out.

So let's not get further behind. Tradition is tradition, but a lot of these kids don't care about the tradition of winning titles prior to when they were born. Got to get with the times, or even Notre Dame can get left behind.

Notre Dame will always have it's history and tradition, but how is not being a top tier program upholding the tradition ND enjoys?

 

[kmoose]

Well I just wish we didn't throw away the tradition of being a top ten program year in and year out.

So let's not get further behind. Tradition is tradition, but a lot of these kids don't care about the tradition of winning titles prior to when they were born. Got to get with the times, or even Notre Dame can get left behind.

Notre Dame will always have it's history and tradition, but how is not being a top tier program upholding the tradition ND enjoys?

Charlie Weis' recruiting classes were outstanding. He didn't have to resort to gimmicky uniforms to pull in top kids. Brian Kelly is putting together some great classes, as well. Oklahoma is a top tier program: they haven't bought into the "Oregon Syndrome". Neither has Alabama.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

Charlie Weis' recruiting classes were outstanding. He didn't have to resort to gimmicky uniforms to pull in top kids. Brian Kelly is putting together some great classes, as well. Oklahoma is a top tier program: they haven't bought into the "Oregon Syndrome". Neither has Alabama.

Bama just bought into the "T-Town Menswear Syndrome"

 

[irishfanjho15]

Charlie Weis' recruiting classes were outstanding. He didn't have to resort to gimmicky uniforms to pull in top kids. Brian Kelly is putting together some great classes, as well. Oklahoma is a top tier program: they haven't bought into the "Oregon Syndrome". Neither has Alabama.

You said all the traditions, didn't know you were referring just to jerseys. So you didn't like the UTL jerseys? Which is a direct representation of the tradition of ND. Weis had elite offensive talent because of his connections to the NFL, our defensive classes weren't nearly as solid aside from a handful. Weis didn't develop our guys like Coach Kelly does. I mean Alabama is in the South, so they are a moot point (plus let's be honest, they pay players in the SEC). Warm weather = speed athletes from the South. And Nick. Saban. Period. Oklahoma has the Texas pipeline, enough said.

I just see no problem with Notre Dame evolving, as long as we do it tastefully. I.e. if we're going to wear different jerseys on occasion they need to represent the history and tradition accordingly, like the UTL jerseys. It's just how ND decides to do it that will determine whether or not they honor the history and tradition we enjoy.

 

[kmoose]

You said all the traditions, didn't know you were referring just to jerseys. So you didn't like the UTL jerseys? Which is a direct representation of the tradition of ND. Weis had elite offensive talent because of his connections to the NFL, our defensive classes weren't nearly as solid aside from a handful. Weis didn't develop our guys like Coach Kelly does. I mean Alabama is in the South, so they are a moot point (plus let's be honest, they pay players in the SEC). Warm weather = speed athletes from the South. And Nick. Saban. Period. Oklahoma has the Texas pipeline, enough said.

I just see no problem with Notre Dame evolving, as long as we do it tastefully. I.e. if we're going to wear different jerseys on occasion they need to represent the history and tradition accordingly, like the UTL jerseys. It's just how ND decides to do it that will determine whether or not they honor the history and tradition we enjoy.

It's not just the jerseys. It's people wanting to lower academic standards, people wanting "green outs", people NOT wanting older people in the stands, etc. The jerseys are just the most discussed manifestation of this "new thinking".

 

[Rocket89]

I'm saying that I'm tired of people trying to throw away every tradition that ND stands for, because it might affect a recruit's decision to come to ND.

Complete overreaction.

Obviously, ND isn't throwing away "every tradition."

And even if ND did "buy into the Oregon syndrome" there'd still be 12,946 other traditions that keep the university and the football team unique from the rest of the country.

I'm tired of people acting like messing with the jerseys means the whole sh*t house is going up in flames.

 

[Damion704]

+1

 

[BleedBlueGold]

It's not just the jerseys. It's people wanting to lower academic standards, people wanting "green outs", people NOT wanting older people in the stands, etc. The jerseys are just the most discussed manifestation of this "new thinking".

Sorry, have to jump in on this one...

I don't see anyone on this board who wants to lower the academic standards. The green outs are a fun way to unify the stadium. I'm not sure who specifically said they didn't want older people in the stands, but that's a direct statement regarding the lack of decibels during a game. If you want to keep with the tradition of Notre Dame Stadium, then that place needs to be rocking and rolling like it used to be. ND is not a feared place to play like it once was. Home field advantage no longer exists. It's not just older people who are sitting quietly in the stands or telling others to sit down, it's the majority of the fans in general. What's wrong with trying to bring more excitement back to Notre Dame? College football is evolving and if ND doesn't try to tastefully keep up with the times, they'll get left behind.

 

[kmoose]

Complete overreaction.

Obviously, ND isn't throwing away "every tradition."

And even if ND did "buy into the Oregon syndrome" there'd still be 12,946 other traditions that keep the university and the football team unique from the rest of the country.

I'm tired of people acting like messing with the jerseys means the whole sh*t house is going up in flames.

I guess my problem with it is that it just represents a general change in attitudes. To me, it's symbolic of people losing sight of what is really important, to chase a couple of extra wins a year. Someone asked what would be going against tradition by being a top tier team. My answer to that is that they must not understand the tradition very well:

ND was never about being a top tier team, if being a top tier team meant that they had to compromise the high principles on which the University was founded. They don't redshirt, in the traditional sense; they were one of the last Universities to allow Freshmen to play Varsity football; you can count the number of Prop 48 kids that ND has admitted, on one hand... All of these principles were a stand, saying, "We want to be top tier, but only if we can do it the 'right way'." I'm also allowing my bias against Oregon to creep in here. Oregon has built a top tier program through slick marketing, NOT by beating other top tier teams! They haven't earned anything, in my opinion. They have become exactly what they espoused to despise, on their way up: a team that is always highly ranked, based more on their reputation than their play on the field. Now other teams seem to be taking Oregon's lead, and trying to build a "cool" program. I don't want to see ND fall into that trap. ND's traditions were built by a bunch of blue collar guys who didn't fit in well at fancy social events. They were the kind of guys who got sh!t done, instead of looking pretty while talking about getting sh!t done.

 

[Rocket89]

Charlie Weis' recruiting classes were outstanding. He didn't have to resort to gimmicky uniforms to pull in top kids. Brian Kelly is putting together some great classes, as well. Oklahoma is a top tier program: they haven't bought into the "Oregon Syndrome". Neither has Alabama.

OH HAI.

Weird huh?

 

[Rocket89]

I guess my problem with it is that it just represents a general change in attitudes.

The uniforms do to a degree, you are correct. But there's nothing wrong with a general change in attitude is there? I think Kelly has found that many aspects of Notre Dame are uncool and he's pushing the envelope trying to make ND cool again. And let's be clear: ND can be cool without compromising its values.

To me, it's symbolic of people losing sight of what is really important, to chase a couple of extra wins a year.

I don't think wearing the same exact uniforms for 100 years straight is very important to the values of Notre Dame football and the university. It's never been that way, and it likely never will be---ND has worn plenty of "different" uniforms over the years for this fear to be nonsense.

ND was never about being a top tier team, if being a top tier team meant that they had to compromise the high principles on which the University was founded. They don't redshirt, in the traditional sense; they were one of the last Universities to allow Freshmen to play Varsity football; you can count the number of Prop 48 kids that ND has admitted, on one hand... All of these principles were a stand, saying, "We want to be top tier, but only if we can do it the 'right way'."

All legitimate concerns, but they have nothing to do with switching up uniforms every once in a while.

I'm also allowing my bias against Oregon to creep in here. Oregon has built a top tier program through slick marketing, NOT by beating other top tier teams! They haven't earned anything, in my opinion. They have become exactly what they espoused to despise, on their way up: a team that is always highly ranked, based more on their reputation than their play on the field. Now other teams seem to be taking Oregon's lead, and trying to build a "cool" program.

Yes, you are very biased against Oregon! I don't think we need to go through all of the big wins they have accumulated over the past 5 to 10 years, do we?

I agree, that other teams are following Oregon's lead. And in that sense I'm a little disappointed that ND has to be a bit of a follower to stay "cool" but it is what it is. ND used to be that team that was innovative and led the country in trying new things, but over the past 15 years a romantic clinging to tradition became more important.

I don't want to see ND fall into that trap. ND's traditions were built by a bunch of blue collar guys who didn't fit in well at fancy social events. They were the kind of guys who got sh!t done, instead of looking pretty while talking about getting sh!t done.

Eh. Notre Dame has had it's fair share of pretty boys and prima donnas. This is highly opinionated and extremely debatable.

 

[LuckyDomer]

That's what I thought. BK's response to the USC jerseys was something along the lines of, "Not even Oregon is doing this."

It is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, ND could be rolling out in all pink jerseys....

 

[military_irish]

After thinking about it when BK said "something Oregon hasn't even done". I am betting it will be some sort of technicality. Like ND wearing all gold cleats, nothing special but I bet Oregon hasn't done it. I would say it is something just that simple.

 

[irishfanjho15]

It's not just the jerseys. It's people wanting to lower academic standards, people wanting "green outs", people NOT wanting older people in the stands, etc. The jerseys are just the most discussed manifestation of this "new thinking".

I love the idea of unifying the stadium via color coordination, I think its one of the cooler things about college football stadiums. I definitely don't think lower academics standards is something many people want, I went to school for school, just happened to play ball also. I think college is all about being a student-athlete. Student first, athlete second. Old people in the stands is fine when they aren't mad and trying to get you kicked out because you are standing and cheering the team on (this has happened far too many times over the years). Back in the 40s and 50s all people did was stand at sporting events, albeit wearing suits and hats, but stood none the less.

Jerseys are for the kids not us. When we got black jerseys my senior year in college (maroon /white were our colors, black was a accent color for us) we the players were pumped. Just excited to wear something other than maroon or white. I agree that things can go too far, but it's not realistic to keep everything the same when kids who we want/need to come to ND are changing with every new generation.

 

[irishfanjho15]

After thinking about it when BK said "something Oregon hasn't even done". I am betting it will be some sort of technicality. Like ND wearing all gold cleats, nothing special but I bet Oregin hasn't done it. I would say it is something just that simple.

I think all gold cleats would be one of the coolest things I've seen, simple, different, still ND. Gold from head to toe, or technically on head and on toes, haha.

 

[irishfanjho15]

you can count the number of Prop 48 kids that ND has admitted, on one hand

Yeah, one was Tony Rice. The last QB we had that led us to a National Championship. Notre Dame just picked the right one to let in because he was special and Lou knew it, so he fought to get the kid in.

 

[irishfanjho15]

Sorry, have to jump in on this one...

I don't see anyone on this board who wants to lower the academic standards. The green outs are a fun way to unify the stadium. I'm not sure who specifically said they didn't want older people in the stands, but that's a direct statement regarding the lack of decibels during a game. If you want to keep with the tradition of Notre Dame Stadium, then that place needs to be rocking and rolling like it used to be. ND is not a feared place to play like it once was. Home field advantage no longer exists. It's not just older people who are sitting quietly in the stands or telling others to sit down, it's the majority of the fans in general. What's wrong with trying to bring more excitement back to Notre Dame? College football is evolving and if ND doesn't try to tastefully keep up with the times, they'll get left behind.

It has, as unfortunate as this is, become a place where visiting teams and coaches come to make a name for themselves. It has become a place where signature wins exist only for the visitors. As if it wasn't bad enough that you always get teams' best games when they come to ND, its not loud and its not intimidating. Autzen was a perfect example of this on Sat. night. You could hardly hear Herbie commentating it was so loud. This happened time after time during the broadcast. And this was through the TV. That's loud, that's intimidating.

 

[IrishSteelhead]

I think its selfish to want ND to cling to outdated customs/traditions and not forge new ones. Sure most of us have seen the Irish at the mountaintop, but I want my kids and grandkids to be able to see it too. If a few "Green Outs" and radical uniforms can make that a possibility, I'm all for it. It isn't "my" Notre Dame, it's "our" Notre Dame.

 

[Chamellion]

It has, as unfortunate as this is, become a place where visiting teams and coaches come to make a name for themselves. It has become a place where signature wins exist only for the visitors. As if it wasn't bad enough that you always get teams' best games when they come to ND, its not loud and its not intimidating. Autzen was a perfect example of this on Sat. night. You could hardly hear Herbie commentating it was so loud. This happened time after time during the broadcast. And this was through the TV. That's loud, that's intimidating.

You want stadium noise? Throw an overhanging deck on the stadium, or shields to "keep the glare down." That will funnel noise back into the stadium. Its unfortunate that every person in the stadium has to be going wild to reach the noise levels of the 1989 (I think) Michigan Game, but thats just the way the stadium is built. Autzen is built so that you can achieve Death Valley levels of noise with only 80,000 some people. Pining for that sort of noise at Notre Dame throughout the game is understandable, but not as easy as it could be.

Clarification: Not saying that we should build on ND stadium at all. I mean it would be sweet to turn it into an exact replica of the Coliseum in Rome, but I doubt they'll build anything onto that stadium aside from a Jumbotron in the next 10 years.

 

[Rocket89]

You want stadium noise? Throw an overhanging deck on the stadium, or shields to "keep the glare down." That will funnel noise back into the stadium. Its unfortunate that every person in the stadium has to be going wild to reach the noise levels of the 1989 (I think) Michigan Game, but thats just the way the stadium is built. Autzen is built so that you can achieve Death Valley levels of noise with only 80,000 some people. Pining for that sort of noise at Notre Dame throughout the game is understandable, but not as easy as it could be.

Clarification: Not saying that we should build on ND stadium at all. I mean it would be sweet to turn it into an exact replica of the Coliseum in Rome, but I doubt they'll build anything onto that stadium aside from a Jumbotron in the next 10 years.

Sad thing is, Autzen only has 54,000 seating capacity.

 

[Chamellion]

There you go. Probably means that there are a lot of students in comparison to the rest of people who attend. Also, I do LOVE the way the stadium is uneven at Autzen.