There’s just a “coolness” factor to alternate jerseys. How many times have you been talking to a friend and said, “Man, wouldn’t it be awesome if State had all black jerseys?” Well, thanks to Adidas, now it does.
But what’s the point of having alternate uniforms? Yes, they look awesome, but why do sponsors such as Nike, Adidas and Under Armour bother making them in the first place? What advantages do they provide to the school?
The biggest benefit lies in the recruiting advantages the uniforms provide. All student-athletes want to look good while they’re on the field or court. Most recruits also want to play for successful programs. What recruit wouldn’t want to win and look awesome while doing it?
Alternate uniforms grab the attention of potential recruits and make them aware of the school’s athletic success — sponsors don’t waste their time designing an alternate uniform for a team that isn’t very good. Bad teams carry negative vibes and a smaller broadcast audience.
On the other hand, if the public sees a team succeeding while wearing a brand’s uniform, then people associate that brand with success. This positive association makes people more likely to buy that brand’s athletic products.
In short, if a team has alternate uniforms, then it must be a pretty prominent team.
The best example is the Oregon football team. Nike, the university’s athletic sponsor, has provided the Ducks with radical uniforms that have captured the nation’s attention since 2007. The program’s success, combined with its flashy uniforms, also captures the attention of stud high school football recruits: Now more recruits want to play football for Oregon.
The Ducks pulled in the No. 18 recruiting class in the nation last year, according to ESPN.com. The Ducks handily beat Kansas State in the Fiesta Bowl. Compare this to the Ducks’ 2006 recruiting class, which wasn’t ranked in the top 25.
Another benefit of having alternate uniforms is increased support from the school’s fan base. Fans love seeing their team in new uniforms, knowing that sponsors have deemed the team important enough for special resources.
Nevertheless, State’s jerseys are not completely original: Sponsors often have a concept uniform they use for multiple teams. However, they still implement elements that are school-specific.
For example, all of N.C. State’s basketball jerseys have graphics of howling wolves on the shoulders. Although State’s jerseys are created using the same basic template as those worn by Louisville, Michigan and Baylor, the howling-wolves graphic gives the jerseys a nice personal touch.
Adidas has made several alternate jerseys for N.C. State over the past two years. The 2011 Wolfpack football team wore all black jerseys for its game against Central Michigan. A few months later, State’s basketball team wore all black jerseys for its game against Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium. This year, State’s basketball team has worn both black and red jerseys.
Personally, I’m excited to see what Adidas comes out with next for the Wolfpack. Keep the new designs coming.
