GT / UGA: Who Has the Best Uniforms?

Last week’s Nike Combat reveal generated internet debate over Tech / Georgia uniform superiority. Since uniforms are something I think, read, and research daily, I consider myself an expert on the subject (perhaps NERD would be a better word). What follows is a detailed comparison, and a clear winner.

HELMETS: Both teams wear long-time, traditional helmets. The difference is the add-ons.

Georgia’s white facemask trumps Tech’s black mask, which is the overall deciding factor. UGA ugly-ups the back of their helmet with too many stickers: black and white bones, an American flag, numbers, the required warning label, and BULLDOGS on lower white helmet bumper. UGA helmet grade: B plus.

In comparison, Tech’s helmet is relatively clean. But the black facemask is a killer. Tech helmet grade: B minus.

SUGGESTIONS: UGA should move the flag down to the helmet bumper, and use smaller numbers. Tech would look great in the white striped helmet worn in the early 70’s. For both teams, a grey facemask would look better.

JERSEYS: Georgia’s simpler jersey trumps Tech’s garish garment.

TECH: Russell Athletics changes Tech’s jersey style (and shade of gold!) every year, meaning most fans are wearing out-of-date jerseys. I love gold numbers with black trim, but the font (which also changes every year) is rarely traditional, much less good-looking or even readable. In the rugged sport of football, the font should be simple and clean. Names on the back are too small to be laid out in a fancy font; they should be simple block letters (like UGA’s). Instead the name font doesn’t even match the number font.

The front is cluttered with at least FOUR patches: Russell’s “R”, YELLOW JACKETS, the ACC patch, and the GT patch on the collar. This drops the front numbers down around the belly-button. Better to drop the patches and raise the numbers. Then there’s the various “stripes” everywhere except the sleeves, where they should be. Tech’s jersey grade: F.

SUGGESTIONS: Return to the classic black-gold-black shoulder striped jersey, with simple, untrimmed, black block numbers.

UGA: Though simple, Nike has slowly tweaked Georgia’s jersey over the years. Gone are the sleeve stripes (because the sleeves are gone!). Instead of the simple, classic, untrimmed white block numbers of Hershel’s era, Nike’s numbers are slimmer and black-trimmed. OK, but not great. The black neck collar and sleeve band don’t stand out on the red jersey, but red would be better. They haven’t changed much in many years. Grade: B.

SUGGESTIONS: Beside those above, add the sleeve stripes back. If Auburn can keep their stripes, Georgia can too.

PANTS: Besides slight variations in the shade of grey, UGA’s signature silver britches have remained unchanged for 30 years. The stripes are simple, bold, and the perfect width. The distinctive red-white-black stripe is unique look in college football. Georgia’s grade: A minus.

One narrow black “stripe” meanders around Tech’s pants, rarely in a straight line. How this constitutes a football uniform is beyond me. Without thick stripes, Tech’s players look thick-legged, short, slow, and dumpy. Like UGA, the Jackets should return to three thick stripes. Tech’s grade: D minus.

MISC: For the most part, UGA wears red at home and white on the road, and silver britches all year. The much discussed black-out jerseys are a thing of the past, along with the ugly black helmets worn once against Florida. Simple and bold, UGA’s unis are consistently ranked in the top ten, nationally.

Thankfully, Georgia’s all red Nike Combat uniforms are a one time deal. I would’ve loved the silver helmet, except the red stripe is too wide and the “G” too large. No team has ever worn a two-tone face mask, which is cool, though ugly. Some Nike Combat unis have looked good (Ohio State), but most are too much. NO ONE has mentioned what weird shoes UGA will wear. I predict silver with red accents.

Across the state, Tech tries way too hard. Thanks to small-time Russell Athletics, Tech’s once-classic uniforms are a thing of the past. The Jackets don’t even wear white at home (that may be a Paul Johnson thing). Jerseys and pants are mixed & matched every week, lending to white over gold, white over white, gold over white, even navy over white (or gold). No consistent look. When Auburn wore Russell uniforms, they were the same classic striped unis as always. Even Under Armor isn’t allowed to tweak the classic look. Like perennial powerhouses Alabama, LSU, Texas, Ohio State, Michigan, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Penn State, and Southern Cal, Tech needs to go back to the basics.

In summary, UGA’s uniforms are much more traditional and good-looking than Tech’s. Save the helmet shell, nothing about Tech’s uniforms is good-looking (or traditional). Sunday’s sermon centered on the “first take the plank out of your eye” verse. This can often be applied to college football rivals as well.