RipsIt reader Jonathan Copeland e-mailed in with this interesting equipment question: "I have always noticed that the USC player's uniforms have changed, referring to their pants. From 2006-present their pants have been different since Matt and Reggie left. Before they use to have pants that were shiny like how Notre Dame's, UCLA's, FSU's pants are currently. Do you know why they have not been wearing those pants since the end of 2006 National Championship game?"
Like many equipment alterations, this one comes from Nike, who made the switch after the 2005 season to a better material. The old pants, which had a distinct shine to them, carried water weight and were hotter than the current pants, which are duller but breathe more and wick away sweat.
The old pants were carrying more than two pounds of sweat by the end of a game, football equipment coordinator Tino Dominguez said. Meanwhile, the new, thinner material wicks water away much better and is much more functional for the players.
Take a look at the difference between the pants in 2005 on Matt Leinart and 2009 on Matt Barkley:
Like many equipment alterations, this one comes from Nike, who made the switch after the 2005 season to a better material. The old pants, which had a distinct shine to them, carried water weight and were hotter than the current pants, which are duller but breathe more and wick away sweat.
The old pants were carrying more than two pounds of sweat by the end of a game, football equipment coordinator Tino Dominguez said. Meanwhile, the new, thinner material wicks water away much better and is much more functional for the players.
Take a look at the difference between the pants in 2005 on Matt Leinart and 2009 on Matt Barkley:
The NIKE deal USC has signed has to be so one sided - toward NIKE. When is that deal up and shouldn't USC as an institution get more bang for its image than what the current NIKE deal is, which is one of the poorest in the NCAA?
Thanks for this kind of insight!
Well then, could someone please ask Mr. Dominguez why we can't at least get the COLOR right? Tell Nike our colors are cardinal and GOLD, not red and yellow. At least darken the color to a more traditional gold instead of the neon yellow we currently have. It's horrible.
Great Q&A. I agree with Jim. It's Cardinal and GOLD. Always has been, always should be. Fight on!
I couldn't agree more with the cardinal and gold comments. In some pictures those pants make us look like Ronald McDonald.