GrayGhost77
- Centennial, CO
Honestly veeeery tempted to buy one.
Illinois Football Uniforms
Illinois has had no brand identity since the Chief retired in 2007.
Brett Belima changed that with the brilliant 1924 throwback uni. The design turned heads and got the attention of the college football world. Illinois actually looked cool and cutting edge for once, sorta the Oregon of the season. Recruits will take note.
Unless it’s against regulations, why can’t it be the new Illini Uni? It would still look great in multiple Orange/Blue/White variations. At a minimum, it should become an annual tradition/alternate. Plus, love it or hate it, they are all talking about Illinois football. Doesn’t that feel great?
Brett Belima changed that with the brilliant 1924 throwback uni. The design turned heads and got the attention of the college football world. Illinois actually looked cool and cutting edge for once, sorta the Oregon of the season. Recruits will take note.
Unless it’s against regulations, why can’t it be the new Illini Uni? It would still look great in multiple Orange/Blue/White variations. At a minimum, it should become an annual tradition/alternate. Plus, love it or hate it, they are all talking about Illinois football. Doesn’t that feel great?
band camp
- STL City
Me too ghost. Perfect addition to my weird collection of stuff.
I get the 100th year thing and cycling through all of these looks from different eras, but I will be happy when we just rotate among two or three classic combinations all with one helmet design. I like our O/B/O at home and O/W/O away with Block I helmet or maybe arched I L L I N I. We have no brand identity because there is no brand discipline.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
pretty sure those unis were one offs and they should be . they meant something yesterday . they won’t mean anything special in a month or a year if you repeat it
build the brand with our current uni
I’m fine with the Block I helmet or arched Illini . I actually would like to see a slant Illini helmet
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
The uniforms grew on me throughout the game yesterday. Especially seeing them in action on diving tackles, the looked pretty BA. I tend to think they should probably should be a one and done, especially given the cost/difficulty behind the helmets. But maybe if we ever have another “throwback” uniform, maybe we can make a somewhat more 2020s-friendly version of that, with maybe our usual color of orange, and maybe the Butkus era helmets.
But overall very well done on the uniforms for yesterday! I think the feedback nationally was more positive than negative.
But overall very well done on the uniforms for yesterday! I think the feedback nationally was more positive than negative.
Exactly. Which is why I said the throwback should become the new standard uni. Our current uni is generic without any character or tradition, literally the same font as Missouri (Lazy Nike). The throwbacks are pure tradition, something Illinois rarely has the opportunity to lean into. Without an official mascot, Illinois should take advantage of any traditions they can. Plus, recruits seemed to love this new design over the tired/current uni.
I think those throwbacks uniforms were about as well as they could have done that era. For the other teams that have honored teams from around then, I think ours was the best look because of the helmet and how it matched the jerseys. Still, those just aren't uniforms I need to see again even if I loved them for the occasion. I like our current uniform set though a decent amount for football (besides the dumb font). And I think Bret would say that the o/b/o is Illini traditional set and I'd agree with him there. I do like the orange uniforms for the orange out though.
My wife looked beautiful in her wedding dress but it would be weird if she ever wore it again.
The uniforms had their day and it was a good one. Let's not cheapen that memory by wearing them again.
*I do think there is potential to build some equity around the vertical stripes on the front of the jersey. If I remember correctly, we very subtly incorporated this into one of our sets 10 or so years ago. But it may have been too subtle to make any kind of impact (also didn't help that we weren't very good in that era).
The uniforms had their day and it was a good one. Let's not cheapen that memory by wearing them again.
*I do think there is potential to build some equity around the vertical stripes on the front of the jersey. If I remember correctly, we very subtly incorporated this into one of our sets 10 or so years ago. But it may have been too subtle to make any kind of impact (also didn't help that we weren't very good in that era).
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
Exactly
Reminds me of the gag in "My Favorite Year," when the '50s TV writer brings the Hollywood legend guest starring on the show that week to the Brooklyn apartment of his working-class family and his 60-or-so aunt enters wearing the nicest thing she owns, her bridal gown.
"Nice dress, Aunt Sadie."
"Thanks! I only wore it once."
But to your point, the school can get a lot more mileage out of merchandise commemorating this one-time event than trying to replicate it.
OrangeBlue98
- Des Moines, IA
We can end the Grange uniform comments with this. Can’t say it any better. As amazing as those uniforms are, it would just diminish how special they are if we wore them again for any purpose.
It was a special event and an incredible memory. Let’s just leave it at that.
Welp.....I was too, but I think we're too late.
List of $2000 and they're Out of Stock.
University of Illinois Athletics Auctions - 1924 Throwback Helmet
<p>Hand painted to match the look of the Red Grange era leather helmets, Illinois will wear these one-of-a-kind custom lids for the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary Rededication Game against Michigan on Oct. 19. Memorial Stadium's Dedication Game famously occurred against Michigan on Oct. 18...
https://fightingillini.com/auctions/ - More details here.
I'd be willing to bet that if you contacted the website listed above you'd be able to get one (probably noted as a 'replica') made at the same price. Assuming there is no verbiage in their contract forbidding them to do so.
I agree the helmets and uniforms should be pretty much a one-and-done thing. How sad that would be; but it is the right thing to do. But just throw them in a trophy case somewhere ? Nah. Put them up for auction for a good cause, a charity maybe. OK. Give me one! Even better idea!
But I think they've got to be worn again sometime, somehow, someway by the team. Someone posted 2124 game at Memorial Stadium if we can get Michigan back. Funny. Fine with me. I won't be there, but I wish everyone well.
Mr. Villarreal and his team deserve it - what artists! Most everyone has praised the helmets. I ain't never seen anything like them. I hope the Art Institute of Chicago gets the whole uniform for posterity.
Someone posted the helmets could be available for $1,500 to general public. Originals or what? Worth it.
Hoping for a nice tax refund. But I doubt it.
Mini-throwback quality helmet up to Mr. Villarreal's standards for sale at least?
But I think they've got to be worn again sometime, somehow, someway by the team. Someone posted 2124 game at Memorial Stadium if we can get Michigan back. Funny. Fine with me. I won't be there, but I wish everyone well.
Mr. Villarreal and his team deserve it - what artists! Most everyone has praised the helmets. I ain't never seen anything like them. I hope the Art Institute of Chicago gets the whole uniform for posterity.
Someone posted the helmets could be available for $1,500 to general public. Originals or what? Worth it.
Hoping for a nice tax refund. But I doubt it.
Mini-throwback quality helmet up to Mr. Villarreal's standards for sale at least?
They would sell so many of these if they were available.
I place the first order in advance! (Also want navy blue golf shirt with Grange orange pattern on front).
That would be cool!