As has long been rumored, IU unveiled new football uniforms at the Cream and Crimson game.
You can see a photo here and IU's official release here. The best and most important news? They aren't remotely close to rock bottom:
Also good is that the minor change made since the prototype was leaked last December. That prototype included a really strange number font, but as far as I can tell, the new uniforms maintain the same font for both the numbers and for "HOOSIERS" across the chest. The new shoulder stripes, similar to what the Indianapolis Colts wear, are great. Given what we endured during the Cam Cameron era, I'm happy about some things that Adidas didn't do: no black trim, no monochrome-only home uniforms, no radical changes the fonts or logos. The color and logo regime implemented in 2002, also known as the only decent move made by Michael McNeely, remains in effect.
The other changes? Well, I'm a traditionalist when it comes to uniform design. I'm not a big fan of the "dickey," for lack of a better term, around the collar. This reminds me of the goofy look of the most recent generation of Nike basketball uniforms (Purdue and Iowa are the Big Ten teams that wear that look, and they look like they are playing in bow ties). I'm also not a fan of the "pit stain" stripe on the side of the jerseys or the odd "slash" instead of a stripe on the legs. The problem with giving in to trendy uniform designs is that it necessitates a change every few years. IU's prior look, with solid colored jerseys and two stripes on the pants, is a classic look that doesn't have to change every time Adidas invents the next big thing. Still, it could have been much, much worse. The helmet and colors remain the same.
More spring game headlines:
Defense shines in IU football game (The News-Sentinel - Fort Wayne IN)
"An optimist would praise the defense in the aftermath of Indiana’s Cream vs. Crimson spring game. A pessimist would fret over the offensive struggles. And coach Bill Lynch? He was happy that his Hoosiers got to have some fun."
Hoosier defense steps up (Evansville Courier & Press)
"With only four starters back from a unit that gave up nearly 30 points per game last season, the defense will again be suspect for Indiana University's football team in the fall. But on a crisp spring Saturday at Memorial Stadium, the unit more than held its own in the Cream and Crimson game, forcing a total of seven turnovers in a 17-10 final."
Love for Love (The Journal Gazette, Fort Wayne, Ind.)
"Charles Love III caught the game-winning touchdown, a 21-yard reception from Ben Chappell with 3:50 to go in the fourth quarter of the Crimson's 17-10 victory. Love had five catches for 46 yards and the touchdown. He appeared in one game last year, at Akron. He had offseason ACL surgery."