Georgia will sport new look in Nike Pro Combat uniforms for Chick-fil-A Game
This is the Nike Pro Combat uniform Florida wore against Georgia last season. Imagine it in red,black and silver. (Nike photo)
Georgia will break out new unis when it takes on Boise State in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in the Georgia Dome on Sept. 3. But this will be no motivational ploy. The Broncos also will be sporting Nike’s new-fangled line of Pro Combat football gear.
It’s a one-time-only promotion that the Bulldogs and Boise State and seven other teams are doing for Nike this year. They’ll wear them only in this one game, just as LSU will be wearing a similar version against Auburn later this season.
But you’re out of luck what the Bulldogs’ Pro-Combat get-ups will look like. UGA is guarding them like a state secret.
“I’ll just say they will be unveiled on Picture Day [on August 20],” Georgia Athletic Director Greg McGarity said Wednesday.
McGarity, who has seen the uniforms and “approved it months ago,” declined a request to describe the new look verbally.
But he did take the opportunity to calm the nerves of UGA purists who might be unsettled by anything other than traditional bright-red helmets with a black Georgia G.
“The Georgia G is preserved in its rightly spot,” McGarity assured. The Georgia G is still as prominent as it has always been and is as it always will be. We’re not messing with the ‘G,’ OK? It’s school colors and all that stuff.”
Georgia’s players got a sneak preview of the uniforms Wednesday night in Athens and apparently loved them. They were under strict orders not to take pictures, but plenty of players tweeted about it.
“Saw the new uniforms. They’re awesome! I Love em!,” tweeted @crob45, known in your roster as junior linebacker Christian Robinson.
“Nike couldn’t have done a better job designing our Pro Combat jerseys. They are legit! #swag,” said quarterback Parker Welch, aka jpwelch2.
Georgia’s has changed its uniforms to varying degrees of on-field success in recent years. “The Blackout” victory against Auburn in 2007 remains one of the Bulldogs’ all-time great performances. But they lost 41-30 trying to recapture the magic against Alabama in 2008 and were annihilated by Florida 41-17 while wearing black helmets and black pants in 2009.
UGA was actually offered the opportunity to don the Pro Combat gear last season but passed.
McGarity said he just felt like this game was the right time for Georgia to do it. Plus, he felt the school owed it to Nike, with whom it has had a long partnership.
“It’s all about our relationship with Nike,” McGarity said. “We’re one of [nine] teams in the country and we’re proud to be one of those teams. This is not a gimmick. It’s for one game and Boise State is doing it, too. This game is so special in so many ways, it just seemed like a good time to do it.”
It’s not hard to guess what the new uniforms might look like. Several schools wore them last season, including the Florida Gators in their game against Georgia in Jacksonville. And there’s plenty of projected versions floating around in cyberspace. Here’s A LINK TO A PIC one blogger claims is what the uniform will look like. And several other teams wore them last season, including Alabama, Miami and Virginia Tech. You can see what those looked like HERE.
For what it’s worth, I’ve heard the helmet described as gray or silver with a wide red stripe down the middle. But, like I said, I haven’t gotten and will not get any official confirmation.
I guess we’ll all find out in a month. In the meantime, what do y’all think about Georgia sporting a new look in a nationally-televised game of monumental importance?
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196 comments Add your comment
DawgInaTruck
July 21st, 2011
8:08 am
I can live with a change every now and then. As a traditionalist I always prefer the classic uniform but I am also well beyond my college years. Kids at that age enjoy stuff like that and I don’t mind them having something like this to add to their college experience. They’re kids, let ‘em have some fun wth it.
GATA
July 21st, 2011
8:10 am
Leave the freakin’ unis alone. Yes, the black out vs. Auburn was epic, but every other time it has blown up in our faces. It is basically a commercial for Nike. If they pull this stunt, the Dawgs had better lay down a nice, swift a$$-kicking on BS or it will be an embarrassment. Like the black helments vs. the gators, every image of that brings back bad memories of a bitter loss. Yes, I am unapologetically old school and traditional when it comes to UGA football – hated the double stripes on the helments.
Simply Dustin
July 21st, 2011
8:11 am
I think its a great idea, ploy or not, our players will enjoy wearing the uniforms…and thats what its all about I think they just wanted to reward the boys.
JJ
July 21st, 2011
8:14 am
Gooddawg:
A gimmick is riding a steamroller to practice. A gimmick is having a blackout and asking all the fans to wear black in an attempt to intimidate the opponent. A gimmick is having your team run onto the field and dance around in the endzone after the first TD. A gimmick is a fake motivational ploy.
Wearing a different uniform is just that. Wearing a different uniform. If Georgia is the better prepared, better coached team on September 3 they will win. If they are not, they will lose. Simple as that.
Stop trying to make this something that it isn’t. Enough with all the gimmick talk and trying to make out like the color or style of the jersey will have any impact on the game. It won’t.
Mike
July 21st, 2011
8:16 am
I hope they are not as in the photo. Screw Nike! These uniforms suck!!!
bardawg
July 21st, 2011
8:16 am
It ain’t broke, so don’t try to fix it.(uniforms that is) .Lord knows there’s enough going on with every thing else that we don’t need to get all gimickey and screw up the appearance of the Dawgs . You’d almost think we want to look like the “transformers”,Please! Just GATA.
WDE
July 21st, 2011
8:18 am
Anybody actually read the article.??..CMR had nothing to do with the final say so on this its the AD…haters you can hate but at least ACT like your here to talk about the article and not just SPEW.
GeorgiaDog
July 21st, 2011
8:19 am
JJ, I suggest you consult a dictionary. Mine says the definition of “gimmick” is an ingenious or novel device, scheme, or stratagem, especially one designed to attract attention or increase appeal. If this ain’t some designed to attract attention, I don’t know what is. Might be more of a gimmick for Nike than for UGA. But it’s definitely a gimmick.
Hines Ward's Alphabet Tutor
July 21st, 2011
8:20 am
GEORGIA97,
How long have you been working in sales & marketing for Nike with your “C” average degree from a jock school?
Does it make you feel like a “REAL MAN” to belittle other people and call them names?
michael
July 21st, 2011
8:22 am
why is nike involved in anything, just like att?? wonder why corruption exists?????????? think about AMERICA!
Gorilla Biscuit
July 21st, 2011
8:24 am
That picture from your link looks like a recreation department uniform. Plain old ugly. I hope it’s not that.
Talon
July 21st, 2011
8:24 am
People say we need to be more like Bama and not rely on gimmicks. They a wear Pro Combat Unis. Florida wore them when they beat us last year. The only reason our fans think they are gimmicks is because we lost the last two times we changed up our unis. Do our fans really believe Richt and the coaches spent most of the week preparing the uniforms or coaching the teams. Let;’s not be stupid, we lost because they opponent was better then we were. Personally I love a little change sometimes, nothing will ever beat watching the Dawgs come out of the tunnel in 07 in the black unis. (Still the best Uniform ever) But who cares what we wear as long as we win. If we had won in our black helmets, ppl would have said that was the greatest thing ever. Fans don’t be stupid, uniforms don’t win games, players and coaches do. Go Dawgs and God Bless
Bama Fan#2
July 21st, 2011
8:24 am
Bama used the new Nike jersey last year against Miss St. and they looked
great. I bet Georgia uniforms look great and beat the potatoes boys like a
red headed step child. RTR
Joshhh...
July 21st, 2011
8:25 am
How is it a gimmick if BOTH teams are doing it?
Idiots.
DawginLex
July 21st, 2011
8:25 am
I really don’t want anything but the traditional stuff but in the end, if we win, who cares?
It wasn’t Richt’s call so this one will be on McGarity anyway.
Just win
michael
July 21st, 2011
8:27 am
GO TECH!!
JJ
July 21st, 2011
8:29 am
Georgiadog:
Fine. I’ll concede that I did not look up the literal definition of “gimmick”. My point still stands though. In the context of Georgia football, which is what we are discussing here, a gimmick is all of these motivational ploys that Coach Richt has used attempting to gain an emotional advantage in a big game. This is clearly different from that.
BSU is also wearing Nike Pro Combat jerseys for this game. Are they also guilty of being gimmicky?
And all of the above said, it STILL doesn’t matter which team wears what as the better team will win the game.
Matthews Dawg
July 21st, 2011
8:30 am
It’s not a big deal!! Some of you think it’s a gimick and CMR made this decision, who cares if it’s a one time thing. The uni DOES NOT make us win or lose! If you think it does then you need to think again! I don’t mind the idea and I can’t wait to see them. I’ll be in the Dome and I’m sure my son will want to buy one. Just win and everything will take care of itself! Go Dawgs
junkyarddawg
July 21st, 2011
8:31 am
Back in the day reshaping the G to its current shape was a uni change, going to silver britches was a change, adding a black stipe to the helmet was a change, etc, etc.
Change in uniforms is going to happen, otherwise they’d still be wearing leather helmets and hobnail boots.
The Nike “Combat Gear” will be radical and most of us old dawgs won’t really like it BUT the players and Nike Generation fans will go crazy over them. As long as the Dawgs play like they are capable of playing and whip BS, noone will care what we are wearing. Win in them on Labor Day weekend and the Dawg Nation will want them to wear them for every game. GO DAWGS! GATBA
Matthews Dawg
July 21st, 2011
8:31 am
Ok, spelling police…gimmick!
CPO Dawg
July 21st, 2011
8:32 am
Screw the fancy new uniforms, the Dawgs need to dust off the hobnail boots, and come out of the junkyard with bad intentions towards the opposition.
1981 National Champ Grad
July 21st, 2011
8:33 am
“Get the picture, now.” I just wish Larry Munson would be describing the uniforms to us.
JM
July 21st, 2011
8:37 am
Have we forgotten that college football is a business? The CFA Kickoff game is one giant nationally televised advertisement. There is nothing “gimmicky” about the uniforms….its a way for nike to make money. As a long time UGA fan if you believe that the uniform lost us the game against Bama in 08 and Florida in 09 you are really missing something crucial. There is a football game on the field, not a beauty pageant.
JB
July 21st, 2011
8:42 am
I just hope we’re sporting a new attitude and a new team
JimB
July 21st, 2011
8:46 am
I don’t like the idea but a gimmick? I don’t think so. Both teams are doing it and it is being announced 6 weeks ahead of time. This is about the relationship with Nike.
Hines Ward's Alphabet Tutor
July 21st, 2011
8:51 am
NIKE truly was a quality brand…
25 years ago.
GEORGIA BULLDOGS meant a quality football….
25 years ago.
Mark RIcht Football, like NIKE in 2011, is a cheap knockoff of something superior and substantial like Florida, Alabama or Texas Football.
anotherdawg
July 21st, 2011
8:57 am
If the players and coaches like it, what’s the big deal? The Braves and Falcons have a number of different combinations. Sometimes, changing it up is good.
JAWJeRDAWG
July 21st, 2011
8:58 am
I understand that we and Boise State are honoring ‘a sponsorship’ and the new Nike Pro Combat uniforms are just part of that income source for UGA. We old school fans don’t have to like it; we just have to tolerate it this one game.
Since the change was McGarity’s call, and if the players like it and play like they do, I can tolerate this one-game uniform change.
Just wish they wouldn’t change the traditional bright-red helmet though. Guess this is the price we fans must pay in tolerance to UGA’s financial gain.
Just win. That’s the important issue to me. The uniform change will only be a photo memory in UGA’s football annals. In the short term, a win will mean so much more than that.
Looking forward to being in the Dome on Sept 3rd. .. Go Dawgs!
Dawglasville
July 21st, 2011
9:03 am
Now that the off season is over who won the Fulmer Cup? So many visitors to the UGA blog last year were real concerned about it. Since we are tied for last at zero points no one wants to bring it up. So, has a winner been decided yet? I’d love to know who it is and have their fan base, who spend a lot of time on our blog, chime in on it. As a Georgia fan I would love to congratulate them.
GaTruth
July 21st, 2011
9:07 am
If the relationship with Nike is so strong, ask them to honor our traditions and make the uniform look like the Red and Silver (&Black) it’s supposed to! When you see the Dawgs on TV there should NEVER be a question of “Who’s that?” Red helmet, black G, red jerseys, silver britches. Why is ANY tiome being spent on what we are going to wear?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Football Insider
July 21st, 2011
9:13 am
LOL…
UGA changes uniforms more than Richard Simmons during a workout video.
Coochie Man
July 21st, 2011
9:13 am
Why do college teams do Nike a “favor” by wearing uniforms designed other than the traditional uniforms of a school? If there is this much corporate involvement, it’s definitely time to start paying players.
Music City Dawg
July 21st, 2011
9:14 am
I hope they’re not designed to make us “look faster” like Oregon’s bowl uniforms were. We want the opposition to think we’re slower than we actually are, not faster.
Terry
July 21st, 2011
9:15 am
Chip,
I’m not a huge fan of this but they say the young kids like it.
Correction though, Oregon will be wearing their Pro Combats in the opener vs. LSU. I actually thought Oregon wore them every week
LSU will be wearing their Pro Combats uni’s at home vs. Auburn later in the year.
CanisFamiliaris
July 21st, 2011
9:16 am
No, it doesn’t affect the outcome. Yes, Nike and their dooshy uniforms are awful. Why does Nike think that it is their right to crap on every college tradition. It is bad enough that Phil Knight routinely embarrasses the Oregon program, but why us?
Tobias Funke
July 21st, 2011
9:17 am
Silver Helmets. Write that down.
gomdawg
July 21st, 2011
9:17 am
COACH CMR , PLEASE MAKE SURE THESE JERSEY’S DONT GET IN THE HANDS OF PLAYER ‘S THAT MAY WANT TO SELL THEM.
Big Ten Champs Nebraska....Dawg
July 21st, 2011
9:17 am
http://media.huskerlocker.com/files/995/album_husker_stuff/49471cfd4f3e2/P8201730.jpg
St. Richt
July 21st, 2011
9:19 am
Hopefully ya’ll will have better luck than us when GT breaks out the blue jerseys. I’ve always been partial to the blue jerseys considering we won a National Championship in them, but we seem to lose everytime we break them out these days.
LakeDawg
July 21st, 2011
9:19 am
Sell outs. Nike uses child labor in overseas sweatshops. I’m proud UGA is selling out our tradition to them.
securtiy dawg
July 21st, 2011
9:19 am
OH HOW SAD THE COMMENTS FROM THIS ARTICLE ARE MAKING ME (AS A TRUE DAWN NATION FAN)…Nike gives these players, coaches, trainiers, AD, swim team, golf team, etc etc etc BB, baseball etc, etc, etc…..Gym dawgs so much stuff during the course of 1 year//(warm up/sweats/shorts/shoes/outdoor shoes,track shoes/indoor training gear/S&C gear blah blah blah..and they want us to Premier a new line (that cost us nothing more in our contract), and we are 1 of 9 256 DIV 1 schools that gets this chance and all we can do is complain…..SAD GA FANS SAD…WE STILL ENDED UP LAST YEAR 6 – 7 RECORD AND MOST OF THOSE GAMES WERE IN THE TRADITIONAL SILVER AND RED….NOW WHAT U GOT TO SAY
Bodda Getta
July 21st, 2011
9:19 am
This is good news for UGA.
Perhaps some casual viewers will not recognize it is Georgia who is taking the beatdown.
Whosnext95
July 21st, 2011
9:22 am
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jWznxplEqIQ/TZZPy7-nlTI/AAAAAAAACbc/b2EFE_cY6C8/s1600/8oLLy.jpg
I’m pretty sure this is what we’ll be seeing in the Dome.
Dawg Fud
July 21st, 2011
9:26 am
So lame…….
Vince Lombardi
July 21st, 2011
9:26 am
Wheee! Hopefully it’ll be another blackout game.
Joey
July 21st, 2011
9:27 am
I don’t care if we play in jorts – just as long as we win.
UGAgrad71
July 21st, 2011
9:27 am
God forbid if this was Penn State!
superDawg
July 21st, 2011
9:30 am
I guess when Boise State came to Athens a few years ago they came to play.UGA-48 boise state-13!UnderAmour>nike take that BS and put it in your trophy room at port-o- john.
BulldogBen
July 21st, 2011
9:31 am
Whosnext95, if that is the case, kill me now. AWFUL.
Am I the only one who remembers Joe Cox getting pummeled wearing an Arena League uniform?
The only thing these things do is add insult to injury when we lose.
BLECH.
Frank Lane
July 21st, 2011
9:31 am
DO not like the idea.