EFFECTS OF EQUIPMENT ON AESTHETICS
This section describes how the design of a football has changed over time because of equipment and how important design is for the face of a program.
In the early years of the NFL, the Rochester Jeffersons were the lone team to use a numeral identification system for their players. Because specialization was not common at the time, players were not forced to choose from a certain range of jersey numbers. The trend picked up, and by 1927, all 12 NFL teams wore numbers on the backs of their jerseys. Front numbers debuted in 1929 by both the Green Bay Packers and the New York Football Giants, and have been used ever since. In 1973, a standard numbering system was adopted for the NFL:
A visual identity in today's NFL is centered around the NFL, whether that is the classic horns of the St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings, the single logo of the Pittsburgh Steelers, or the complete lack-there-of for the Cleveland Browns. The first custom helmet design was created for the Los Angeles Rams in 1943. Halfback Fred Gherke, who had formal training in the field of art, hand painted the ram horns on his and his teammates' leather helmets. When the league shifted to plastic helmets, designs started to be placed on the helmet by the way of a vinyl sticker--a task that is much less strenuous than hand painting helmets for an entire team. While the St. Louis Rams are the first team to feature a customized design, winged helmets were a common stock item while leather helmets were in use. Princeton coach Herbert Crisler painted these wings in school colors, believing it gave them a "practical advantage" on the field. In 1938, Crisler became the coach of the University of Michigan, and carried over his winged helmets. These models have been worn ever since, and have become an icon of Michigan football for the better part of 70 years.
A casual fan may argue that a uniform and/or logo redesign may lead to more on-field confidence and success. In many cases, this could purely coincidental; for example, the Denver Broncos' first seasons in their new set produced two Super Bowl victories in the last of the 1990s. The Seattle Seahawks revamped their uniforms in 2012, and rebounded with two playoff appearances and a Super Bowl in those two seasons. One team in college football is an example of how uniforms and a strong visual identity can lead directly to success on the field: the Oregon Ducks.
In 1999, the University of Oregon football team did away with their classic uniform design in favor of a radical set designed by Nike, the leading manufacturer of sports apparel, also located in Beaverton, Oregon. Ever since then Nike has always outfitted Oregon with its newest and most advanced apparel and uniform templates. Some might venture to call Oregon the "poster child" or the "guinea pig" of Nike's design team. Because of the radical uniforms, higher caliber college recruits want to play for the University of Oregon. These potential athletes are promised with top-of-the-line apparel and uniforms, and Nike has continually kept that promise. This combination of cutting edge design and the best athletes culminated with a BCS National Championship Appearance in 2011. National recognition was just what Nike and Oregon hoped for all along when they made the switch in 1999. The next year, Hydrographics, Inc. (HGI) and Nike teamed up in creating a unique uniform for the Rose Bowl. A shiny, ultra-reflective helmet called "chrome" was the product, and quickly became the newest trend in football. Teams all across the nation, both college and high school, were itching to get their hands on this new product. To this day, the University of Oregon has several hundreds of possible uniform combinations, with multiple helmets, jerseys, and pants, which continue to draw top recruits from all over the nation.
This section describes how the design of a football has changed over time because of equipment and how important design is for the face of a program.
In the early years of the NFL, the Rochester Jeffersons were the lone team to use a numeral identification system for their players. Because specialization was not common at the time, players were not forced to choose from a certain range of jersey numbers. The trend picked up, and by 1927, all 12 NFL teams wore numbers on the backs of their jerseys. Front numbers debuted in 1929 by both the Green Bay Packers and the New York Football Giants, and have been used ever since. In 1973, a standard numbering system was adopted for the NFL:
- 1-19 for quarterbacks, kickers and punters
- 20-49 for running backs and defensive backs
- 50-59 for centers and linebackers
- 60-79 for offensive and defensive linemen
- 80-89 for receivers and tight ends
- 90-99 for defensive linemen and linebackers
A visual identity in today's NFL is centered around the NFL, whether that is the classic horns of the St. Louis Rams and Minnesota Vikings, the single logo of the Pittsburgh Steelers, or the complete lack-there-of for the Cleveland Browns. The first custom helmet design was created for the Los Angeles Rams in 1943. Halfback Fred Gherke, who had formal training in the field of art, hand painted the ram horns on his and his teammates' leather helmets. When the league shifted to plastic helmets, designs started to be placed on the helmet by the way of a vinyl sticker--a task that is much less strenuous than hand painting helmets for an entire team. While the St. Louis Rams are the first team to feature a customized design, winged helmets were a common stock item while leather helmets were in use. Princeton coach Herbert Crisler painted these wings in school colors, believing it gave them a "practical advantage" on the field. In 1938, Crisler became the coach of the University of Michigan, and carried over his winged helmets. These models have been worn ever since, and have become an icon of Michigan football for the better part of 70 years.
A casual fan may argue that a uniform and/or logo redesign may lead to more on-field confidence and success. In many cases, this could purely coincidental; for example, the Denver Broncos' first seasons in their new set produced two Super Bowl victories in the last of the 1990s. The Seattle Seahawks revamped their uniforms in 2012, and rebounded with two playoff appearances and a Super Bowl in those two seasons. One team in college football is an example of how uniforms and a strong visual identity can lead directly to success on the field: the Oregon Ducks.
In 1999, the University of Oregon football team did away with their classic uniform design in favor of a radical set designed by Nike, the leading manufacturer of sports apparel, also located in Beaverton, Oregon. Ever since then Nike has always outfitted Oregon with its newest and most advanced apparel and uniform templates. Some might venture to call Oregon the "poster child" or the "guinea pig" of Nike's design team. Because of the radical uniforms, higher caliber college recruits want to play for the University of Oregon. These potential athletes are promised with top-of-the-line apparel and uniforms, and Nike has continually kept that promise. This combination of cutting edge design and the best athletes culminated with a BCS National Championship Appearance in 2011. National recognition was just what Nike and Oregon hoped for all along when they made the switch in 1999. The next year, Hydrographics, Inc. (HGI) and Nike teamed up in creating a unique uniform for the Rose Bowl. A shiny, ultra-reflective helmet called "chrome" was the product, and quickly became the newest trend in football. Teams all across the nation, both college and high school, were itching to get their hands on this new product. To this day, the University of Oregon has several hundreds of possible uniform combinations, with multiple helmets, jerseys, and pants, which continue to draw top recruits from all over the nation.