Nike; Virginia Tech Unveil New Football Uniforms

So the day arrived. This morning in a rather large-scale production on campus featuring head football coach Frank Beamer, former Tech greats Antonio Freeman and Bruce Smith, along with the Voice of the Hokies Bill Roth and a giant Nike army vehicle, unveiled the uniforms Tech will wear this weekend as part of Nike's "Pro Combat" promotion.

The uniforms will be auctioned off starting tomorrow to raise money for Herma's Readers, Frank Beamer's charity encouraging reading for kids grades K-3. He started to honor his late mother who was a schoolteacher in the Commonwealth.

Quarterback Tyrod Taylor and linebacker Cody Grimm modeled the new kits in front of a crowd of students likely wondering what all the hoopla was about.

The best part is probably the white helmet, which is a nice modernized version of some of Tech's older helmets. The obsessive compulsive in me wishes they'd made the middle stripes symmetrical though.





Not surprisingly, the Nike cleats are also super cool looking. Inside they have the school motto, "Ut Prosim" which means "That I May Serve" along with the Hokie Stone pattern seen on the gloves posted the other day.



While they may look a little too new age for some, I'd vote in favor of them over the current stupid Nike uniforms (which we thankfully never wear). Good news is, it sounds like Nike is on board with making our throwback threads our permanent jersey's next season.

Also, these new Nike threads are not just strange looking, they're incredibly high-tech. Through some super technological advances, these pro combat unis barely hold water or sweat, so a soaking wet jersey weighs less than the current ones do dry.

Thanks a bunch science!

College Football Quick Picks: Week 10

After a perfect 5-0 effort last week, my season mark now sits at 30-20. With another nice effort this weekend I think we'll be in good shape the rest of the way.

On a side note, next weekend Nike is doing yet another football uniform promotion. About 10 schools will wear new Nike gear the weekend of the 14th.

The Virginia Tech ones will be unveiled this week to join schools like Texas, Ohio State and Florida State that have already made their versions public. The FSU ones are my favorite so far sporting those sweet gloves and some really classy lookin' black helmets.



I'm both fearful and eager to see what Phil Knight has cooked up for the Techmen this time.

Time for the picks. I'm going to do them just like last week to try and keep things moving in a positive direction. It's sort of a weak slate of games but there are a few good ones including the battle for the Victory Bell in Chapel Hill. This is Duke's year finally*!


No. 3 Alabama defeats No. 9 LSU

No. 8 Oregon defeats Stanford

No. 11 Penn State defeats No. 16 Ohio State

Duke defeats North Carolina

No. 10 Georgia Tech defeats Wake Forest


* = Maybe



Here are the Tech gloves for loyal reader Bobby West. I'll post the actual uniform when it's revealed Monday.

Michael Vick Back With Nike

In a rather surprising development, Nike has once again signed an endorsement deal with Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick. The move comes two years after Nike severed ties with Vick amidst his legal troubles revolving around his bankrolling a dog fighting ring.

Vick has come full circle following his incarceration. After finally setting foot on an NFL field in a regular season game last weekend, Vick now once again has an endorsement deal according to Michael Principe, the managing director of BEST, the agency that represents Vick.

Say what you will about my favorite athlete (and undoubtedly one of the dumbest), but Vick is slowly but surely earning back all he lost. On a side note, I expect more from him next weekend than 0-2 passing and one carry for 7 yards.

Just like the old days eh? That's not in the playbook, but it should be.

Nike Strikes Again

Once again the coming of a new football season is marked by the Virginia Tech football team being outfitted with new uniforms. They aren't quite Oregon ugly, but they are pretty rough. I think that by the time the season rolls around I'll have warmed up to them. The worst part about it for me is the almost West Virginia style new wave number font we've got now. Honestly Nike, quit tinkering. Use Oregon as your guinea pigs, not us. Thanks.