This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It's the same Utah football you've known (and maybe loved), but with brand new packaging.
The Utes revealed three new sets of uniforms on Tuesday afternoon, to a typical mix of bluster and consternation online from fans.
Utah's extension with Under Armour put them in line for a redesign this spring. The main difference is http://www.sltrib.com/news/justice/1398087-155/jerseys-utah-football-fans-replica-twitter";>that the sometimes-maligned mountains, particularly on the shoulder pad area, have been replaced by the "Utah stripe," a white, red and black set of parallel lines drawn from historical Utah uniforms.
http://www.sltrib.com/home/2810822-155/utah-football-unveils-throwback-uniform-for";>After throwback uniforms were well-received in the last two seasons incorporating the stripe, Under Armour reached back into the past to come up with the new design.
"As we worked to redefine the 'Utah' aesthetic, we wanted to find a design element that felt timeless, versatile, athletic, but most importantly specific to the university," said Adam Clement, UA senior design director, in a school news release. "As often is the case, history afforded us our best lesson, and a quick look back confirmed the university already had a dynamic stripe."
The redesign brings the "mountain era" to an end, but Under Armour's uniforms include a slanted stripe in the pants to represent the Wasatch Mountain range, an iconic feature of the landscape around Utah's campus that hasn't always translated well to apparel.
The Utes are expected to continue special design elements throughout the season, such as the hand-painted helmets that drew praise last fall.
kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon