Unis: Pitt great, Steelers better, PSU 19th Century


... some excited, some feel good, and some don't care

The video is powerful, using the word "tradition" as a key to excite their players. It shows some of the greatest players in Pitt history, with music to bring the faithful together.

And on Homecoming day in October, the Pitt Panthers will unveil a uniform that many of the old-timers -- and current players and fans -- will relish. At least, Pitt hopes they will.

They are a throwback uniform, and the coaches and players were excited, too when they watched the unveiling this week.

“They exploded a little bit,” coach Pat Narduzzi told the Post-Gazette about his players' reaction. “They were fired up. Showed them the little video.”

The shirt is a royal blue with white numbers. The numbers have a fringe of gold, and the players who are in the video are the greats like #33 Tony Dorsett and #13 Dan Marino.

Steelers

As for the Steelers, they had some good news for me about uniforms, though not everyone agrees with it. The infamous uniforms from the 1930s that have been labelled as the Bumblebees is being trashed -- after using it once this year.

I dislike them, but I know that many do. I had seen a number in the past that said that the Steelers have a good winning percentage when they wear them, but I could not find that right now.

The team will wear the the 1934 uniform in their game against the Jets on Oct. 9. Then, they will be mothballed, or so we have been told.

Penn State

The Nittany Lions are in a class by themselves. Without a doubt, they are the most blase uniform in history.

That is not my problem. My problem is with Coach John Franklin.

When Bill O'Brien became the head coach at Penn State, he put the player's names on the back and caught some hellacious flack over it. The coach said that the players deserved it because they stayed with the Lions when they could have bolted after the sanctions were levied.

Franklin continued that in his first season, but then caved to a bunch of egotistical former players -- and to heat from the Paterno family -- to take them off.

Coach Franklin, you were gutless in that situation. O'Brien stood up for his kids, but you did not.

Consequently, I did not watch any games last year. Watched the clips, but no games.

Franklin demeaned his players by doing that to them. He should be establishing his own Franklin legacy, not renewing the Paterno one.

Incidentally, for those Penn State players, the Nittany Lions have not won a national title in 30 years -- and only two in history, 2 in 46 years -- without those names on the unis. Maybe it is time to make that change … but Franklin has another year on his contract.

The uniforms are the same as when I started there 49 years ago -- with one exception. They have a swoosh on them. Why aren't the true believers upset with that?

Swoosh = money.

Uniforms = ugly.

End of story.

Pitt is going back because they already have 21st Century uniforms. Penn State is staying in the 19th Century. Steelers are using the bumblebee unis only once.

End of rant.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/08/16/pitt-football-unveils-throwback-uniforms-for-homecoming-game/

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