After years of toiling in mediocrity, Miami football finally appears headed toward stability and ACC contention. That potential return to consistent competitiveness needs proper uniforms, not another adidas experiment.
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Watch out ACC, @CanesFootball is showin up stylin this season.#ItsAllAboutTheU #teamadidas pic.twitter.com/xy5WbPo7YA
— adidas Football US (@adidasFballUS) August 10, 2017
On Thursday, adidas and the Hurricanes unveiled two new alternate uniforms to be worn in two games (for now) this season.
“They’re basically taking the jersey that was the throwback jersey that became the new jersey last year and making a green and black jersey from it," Harry Rothwell, general manager of the allCanes fan apparel store in Coral Gables, told the Sun Sentinel. “They’re taking the throwback jersey and adding two colors they never wore before in the throwback days."
Rothwell appears to like the new designs and insists the local fans approve.
“The jerseys look great," he added. "The fans are excited. They love both colors.’’
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It's not that the jerseys are that bad; it's that Miami continues going further away from the good 'ol days. And the ironic thing is, they're trying to go back to good 'ol days. As Rothwell notes, they're putting a spin on the jerseys from the Michael Irvin and Ray Lewis days. While spinning throwback jersey can work (e.g. Pittsburgh), it's challenging and doesn't work for every jersey and with every apparel manufacturer. Adidas, more often than not, fails at blending the past and present.
Either go all-in on legit, non-adidas-altered throwbacks or revert back to the other stunning throwback uniforms that Ed Reed and Co. introduced 15 years ago.