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?
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
196 comments Add your comment
THWGT
July 21st, 2011
11:48 am
I guess tradition is for sale.
Lyle Alzado
July 21st, 2011
12:02 pm
ATL Sports Fan–You know nothing about me…and clearly are in no position to talk down to me.
Look guy. If it is $25 million or $100 million…NIKE, being a for profit business, would not pay that money if it was not worth it to them. Worth it to them could mean many things–exposure, advertising, merchandise sales.
Let me simplify it for you: If every person that attends a game at Sanford Stadium buys a $60 jersey that costs $10 to make, Nike makes your $25 million back in less than 5.5 games. Now the number of people that are UGA fans and would spend money on some sort of Nike, UGA merchandise is a signifigantly larger group that the number of people attending home games for 1 year, thus Nike stands to make an enormouse amount of money after they have recouped the $25 million outlay to UGA for access to that market.
Nike more than makes up for whatever they pay UGA on merchandise sales because suckers like Lyle will buy new stuff every year.
Now did you have any more business lessons for me or was that the only one?
Honolulu Dawg
July 21st, 2011
12:02 pm
Why dont we bring back the old skool unis from the 70’s or 80’s?? I would rather play in those. Lets honor our tradition rather than to partner up with Nike. I would rather play in old beat up uniforms and win than play in Nike pro combat unis and lose.
jking
July 21st, 2011
12:09 pm
How many white pants, red pants and silver pants did we see during the Dooley Era? The answer is A LOT!!! My point..the traditionalist love to complain whenever the team alters their uniforms. They like to blame the Black Uniforms and helmets for the reason we lost to Florida, they like to blame the BLACKOUT for the reason we lost Alabama. The uniforms don’t matter, so stop complaining. Go watch old Herschel Walker videos and tell many how many times you see altered jerseys.He was wearing red pants when he ran over Bill Bates, not “Silver Britches.” Stop complaining, cheer for your team, no matter what color their uniforms are and be ready Fill The Georgia Dome against Boise State!! Go Dawgs!!
Lyle Alzado
July 21st, 2011
12:32 pm
I don’t believe we lost those games because of the uniform…nor do I believe we have ever won a game because of the color of the shirt.
There should be a certain amount of pride that goes along with wearing the silver britches…a certain amount of pride that comes with strapping on the best looking helmet in college football.
Not sure any UGA player could be proud of strapping on a black helmet that looks like you play for Grambling. I want them to look like they play for UGA. Let Oregon Change unis every game if they want to. UGA should not have to.
JHtanglewood
July 21st, 2011
12:46 pm
Hate ‘em. Red helmets only please.
JHtanglewood
July 21st, 2011
12:50 pm
No links in the comments huh?
Still all the rumored uniforms pics are here…
http://www.sportshoopla.com/forums/sports-forum-general-discussion
JHtanglewood
July 21st, 2011
12:51 pm
^^^
Just look for the thread titled “Nike better not **** up our unis”.
DAWGalum09
July 21st, 2011
1:02 pm
You OLD fans are so miserable. Whining about a JERSEY. lol so sad
borderline pathetic
Just Wanna Say
July 21st, 2011
2:15 pm
As a UGA student I grew tired of the gimmicks. However, I love this. The players that I follow on Twitter are excited about it, and I think bringing out something that has become a cool thing in the college football world might not help us when a game, but it will help us look modern and important that we were chosen to wear them. This helps with our image and recruiting, not winning the game.
"CaneDawg": Don't drink Nike's Hunch-Punch !
July 21st, 2011
2:40 pm
As a purist the new Nike Combat uniforms look very unappealing. I have seen two designs and the first design revealed has Georgia looking like UNLV. The second design has the appeal of a high school team and reminds me of the Cairo (H.S.)Syrupmakers. If UGA allows Nike to change the uniform it would be more acceptable if it had a retro feel. Three designs come to mind: 1) The Chrome Dome Silver helmets and pants w/ red jerseys and silver block numbers of the 1960 Pat Dye & Tarkenton Dawgs. 2) The 1976 WonderDawg design which featured the traditional helmet and jersey w/sleeve stripes and white pants with red & black trimmed stripe. Or 3) The “My Gawd A Freshman !” uniform that Herschel Walker wore that blessed night in Knoxville when he ran over the Vols Bill Bates in route to a TD. I would love to see any of those throwback designs, if Nike just has to tamper with the current uniform. Go Dawgs !!!
Maconbulldog
July 21st, 2011
2:49 pm
OMG PEOPLE BSU is wearing them too. Just lets see what happens this season
sue
July 21st, 2011
3:58 pm
Nike SUX…can’t say enough bad things about them. They support, and expect everyone else (children included) to support a company who endorses a dog killing, dog torturing piece of trash.
truedawg
July 21st, 2011
4:01 pm
I like a different UNI, I’d say make em wear anything but the standard red helmets and silver britches. they have to earn that. Getting to wear something different isn’t the prize, Getting to wear the same colors as D, pollack and D. Green, Baily, Walker, and Scott is earned.
I do hope that they don’t mess with the silver britches though…”run you silver britches!!” GO DAWGS!!!
disco davo
July 21st, 2011
4:03 pm
Just an extra jersey for them to be able to sell!!
style doggy
July 21st, 2011
4:33 pm
“Bull” Dog,
Description was hilarious. Been a lousy day, needed a good laugh.
willdawg
July 21st, 2011
4:47 pm
I’d love a return to red pants. I have and will always love the black jerseys with Silver pants. The players love them but some old fart fans will gripe. Too BAD!! I love the comment above about Herschel wearing red britches and trucking Bill Bates.
No matter what Go Dawgs!!
DAWGMAN
July 21st, 2011
4:58 pm
Sopwith Camel, chilidawg, and others of like mind. You are, of course, correct. You got to look like a Power Ranger to play football (and WIN) in the SEC? We don’t have problems putting fannies in the stadium. We have real problems getting guys and coaches motivated enough to pay the price of winning. Coach Erk Russell please forgive the Athletic Department again. Do it twice, please sir. Because I can’t….The first game will be all about the hype, and very little or nothing about the sacrifices made to be ready to play winning football. I guess the Athletic Department gets paid win or lose. Too, too bad. You Dawgs of 2011…Leave the iPods, iPhones on the bus…These guys from BS are coming to kick your butt on national tv. This ain’t no fashion show. The only way you get to get your swagger on is by doing to them what they think they can do to you. They win this game: their season is made. Time to get real. Dig it?
Any of you coaches getting any of this? Ain’t no number of high dives, or show boating, or fashion statements going to get the JOB done. Dig it?
Ya'll are dumb
July 21st, 2011
5:32 pm
Come on guys…Who cares what the uniform looks like…It’s not a gimmick or a ploy….It’s a money thing…and to be honest with you, I’m glad UGA has Nike and not under armor…Auburn has under armor and I hate Auburn….Go Dawgs!!!!
Randall H.
July 21st, 2011
6:12 pm
Just don’t care fot it, apparently Ringling Brothers is wearing them to.
BKbroila4224
July 21st, 2011
6:35 pm
Guys, It’s more of a recruiting gimmick than anything else…the players like to switch it up….no 17-20 year old cares about the “traditional uniform” of a college team…they like the ability to switch it up and look trendy…I am in favor of changing it up every once in a while, but you can’t beat the Red and Black with the Silver Britches….go dawgs,
AugustaDawg
July 21st, 2011
7:04 pm
Why do we need new uniforms? Let’s just put on the the red hats, red shirts, and silver britches and go kick some @$$!!!
Nike mercurial soccer cleats
July 21st, 2011
7:53 pm
To introduce the latest nike.adidas soccer shoes. Hope you will enjoy itNike mercurial soccer cleats
Black Helmets
July 21st, 2011
9:34 pm
Ga should wear black helmets in all road games this year to shake things up and black pants. The same helmet every game is boring. Wear red helmets at home with silver pants.
Snoop Dawg
July 21st, 2011
9:37 pm
More stuidity from Richt. What a zero. The biggest thing that UGA has going for it in the Georgia Dome is Tradition. That red G helmet and the traditional silver britches. Now we’ve zeroed out the psychological advantage and are now on equal footing with the Broncos with the blue astroturf. Get down to their level, Preacha Man… You three million dollar zero.
Snoop Dawg
July 21st, 2011
9:40 pm
Gimmick man Richt–how sad. He will really regret this Nike Power Ranger bs… The players will be posing for the cameras instead of kicking arse…
aarh
July 21st, 2011
10:41 pm
Why are you guys saying it’s a gimmick when both teams are wearing different uniforms? This isn’t like the past situations where UGA decided to wear a different uniform. Oh, & even though the last 2 times they did this they didn’t play well. The 1st 2 they did (AU & Hawaii).
Nike > Under armour
July 22nd, 2011
12:15 am
I don’t know if anyone else on here has worn any of Nike’s pro combat gear, but I do to work out in every day. It does its job well, and anyone who doesn’t think so is seriously misinformed or enjoys speaking in ignorance.
Just from watching the National Championship game last year you can see Nike’s superiority. Auburn won because it had better players than Oregon, but you can see Auburn’s UA cleats slipping much much more than Nike’s. Just the facts. UGA will be fine, Nike doesn’t want to look stupid any more than we do.
Kevin
July 22nd, 2011
7:20 am
So we gettin a New Look lets go better use the 1968 uniforms they wore then…….Ole school looks better yet get Beverly Hall as Mascot n toss test scores she help cheat on for opener at sept3 at Ga dome!Same ole Richt U can’t beat fla when they down why u think u beat auburn too and friends i see at 8-4 season again…and another lost in bowl and take Boise state win by 14pts in atlanta…Can u say Mark Richt fired now at end of season.
RedandBlackDAWG
July 22nd, 2011
7:21 am
I would think that for just this one game of wearing these special uniforms, that UGA is getting quite a chunk of change. That is what it is all about. Money, plain and simple. It really should not be that bad a thing unless you can’t identify UGA as UGA while they are on the field. Some company or another has got to provide the teams with unifroms to wear, so I think if a college can make some bucks out of it, have at it. At least it is not like the military, where they change uniform specifications and the G.I. usually has to pay to conform with the new requirement.
Kevin
July 22nd, 2011
7:29 am
Nice hear from Lyle Alzado since he pass away in late 1997 are after from steriods use…when played for raiders n broncos…so we change undies to after Boise state is beatin us in Ga dome n fans boooin richt off field at half time….ought be fun 8-4 season like said in athens unless someone is better on defense n offense we not ..are not in Jail are DUI are salein ford trucks too sad ain’t i….so remember dawgs fans if we lose to Boise state n fall 0-2 like did last year i change record 7-5 is best u get….and a low grade bowl game from theTidy bowl game from shevrport La
Allen Waters
July 22nd, 2011
8:11 am
Just play in our regular uniforms and like the Dawgs did in the old days! WIN. Enough gimmicks. What else do the players need for motivation? You are playing in the SEC for UGA.
UGA fan in India
RedandBlackDAWG
July 22nd, 2011
8:13 am
Kevin,
I am having a little bit of a hard time, understanding what your are typing. You can use full sentences on here as it is not facebook or some other social network.
King Gator
July 22nd, 2011
8:23 am
Hope it works out better than the “blackouts” did for the Dawgs..I hope they’re working on their dance routines too..still better than the “orange jumpsuits” a lot of them don in the offseason. Go Gators!!
tim
July 22nd, 2011
9:57 am
Nike designs ugly unis……aka Oregon. I’ve never bought anything nike, never will. A low life trash company.
Jborodawg
July 22nd, 2011
10:10 am
OK, all you who keep calling this a gimmick please get your panties outa the wad. It’s not a gimmick; it’s a one game deal. It’s not a CMR gimmick idea; it’s a one game deal, approved by McGarity. They’ve said also the “G” is not messed with; the “G” is still prominent, etc. And, they’ll be back in “traditional” unis for the rest of the season. Notice the pic of the Gator in the Pro Combat. Doesn’t look all that different. It’s not like they gonna wear day-glow yellow shoes or something.
CMR has said that it’s true that uniforms don’t win or lose games, “…If you win it was a good idea. If you lose it was a stupid idea…” He’s also said that football, even when you love it and breath it, can be a grind. Doing something every now and then that’s fun for the players is appropriate. Some of you fans hate it when the team goes swimming and diving. Big deal. It breaks up the monotony and can even possibly be a positive for team chemistry and unity. Like, at work when your boss buys everybody a pizza or caters lunch or whatever. That hour or two can be thought of as non-productive and/or a waste of money. But it can also be good for morale.
Heck, “the winningest program over the past 10 years” plays on a blue artificial grass field; and some of the gaudiest uniforms. Not to be outdone by the Ducks, of course.
Again, it’s a one game deal and the players are having fun with it. And, I betcha a beer the unis won’t be gaudie and will be completely recognizable as UGA unis. I also betcha the players won’t give it much of a thought when they’re running sprints and lifting weights. Give em a break.
Sun Devil Dave
July 22nd, 2011
10:49 am
Can anyone say Ooooooooooooooklahoma where the wind comes streaming down the plain!!!
UGA Insider
July 22nd, 2011
11:14 am
Has anyone noticed our britches are not silver anymore? They look grey. There is a difference.
inspired
July 22nd, 2011
12:42 pm
wish the dawgs would go back to the uniform they were wearing when Hershel was playing….and leave it alone forevermore….less is more
ksleezy
July 22nd, 2011
2:36 pm
Go Dawgs! I love it when we mix up the Unnies…
RedandBlackDAWG
July 23rd, 2011
10:00 am
The men in the uniform that UGA has on the field, will make the uniform and it will be good. It is not going to be the uniform that makes UGA look good, it is the men in those uniforms. From what I have read, the players are excited about the uniform, so that should be what counts. I am not worried as long as the colors are not blue, orange or crimson. The fans will know what team is UGA when they see them on the field. I am sure the big “G” will be prominently displayed.
Georgia to wear Nike Pro Combat Uniforms against Boise State
July 23rd, 2011
10:02 am
[...] 2: From the AJC – McGarity, who has seen the uniforms and “approved it months ago,” declined a request to [...]
glo
July 23rd, 2011
10:40 am
Scratch all the padding and fancy uniforms — play like a man, the way Rugby players do it.
AceDawg
July 23rd, 2011
1:04 pm
I am not looking for UGA to be the East Coast’s Oregon, but a new uniform twist here and there isn’t as heretical as some think. I’m looking forward to seeing a new look against Boise – hopefully one that results in a W.
tim
July 24th, 2011
9:19 am
someone please tell Nike to stop!!!!!! These unis they keep coming up with are a joke they all look like something out of a scifi movie. The University of Georgia like the University of Florida last
year have nice uniforms designed and built on tradition, this new stuff is a joke. Look at Oregon they look like a clown circus with all the different uniforms. Nike please stop.
Media Days Rewind: And It All Begins Again | The War Eagle Reader
July 26th, 2011
9:01 am
[...] Lastly, Media Days also brought news that both Georgia and LSU will unfortunately be wearing Nike Pro Combat costumes this upcoming season. Georgia will [...]