Monday, January 11, 2016

Is Black the new Red for Wolfpack athletics?

Tuning in on TV to watch last Thursday’s home basketball game against Louisville, I encouraged the team wearing white uniforms to score and to play aggressive defense. My wife soon explained my team, the NC State Wolfpack, was wearing black. Louisville, the visiting team, was wearing white, a reversal of typical garb for college basketball. Home teams are usually in white (or a light color); visitors are in a team color other than white.

In addition to the confusing moment and the uneasy feeling the color selection offered throughout the game, the use of black uniforms simply looked awful! It was sacrilege of sorts. Unfortunately, NC State’s use of colors other than red and white in recent years has not been limited to basketball. In football last fall, Syracuse came to Raleigh to play a home team (the Wolfpack) decked from helmet to footwear in gray. And, in the Belk Bowl, "home team" Mississippi State was in its traditional maroon jerseys and helmets and gray pants, all team colors. My alma mater, NC State, wore black pants, white jerseys and black helmets. Where on the field was the Red and White Wolfpack?

There are many positives about college traditions, but, for some reason, recent Wolfpack athletics invaders who determine uniform colors have strayed from the Wolfpack’s longtime traditional red and white. And, the change has not been limited to colors. When Dick Sheridan was hired in 1986 to coach football, he changed the school’s traditional block “S” logo to a logo in the shape of a diamond to copy the logo he had at Furman. School traditionalists didn’t like it but Sheridan was successful on the field so he got his way, and the block “S” was tossed aside for all sports. At least he stuck with red and white uniforms.

When Sheridan left after seven seasons, basketball coach and eventual athletics director Les Robinson, a NC State alum and traditionalist, returned the men’s basketball program to the block “S” (with a smaller “N” and “C” embedded in the “S”). When Wolfpack alum Chuck Amato took over the football program in 2000, the block “S” logo returned to Carter-Finley Stadium with him. Thank goodness for Les and Chuck. About the only “odd” uniform change over the years, prior to the current football and basketball proprietors, was the football team wearing solid red uniforms, or switching the helmet from red to white and from white to red, but for full seasons.

NC State traditions have included the nickname Cow College, an affectionate salute to our College of Agriculture, an important part of the University’s founding. It’s understandable in today’s high tech world at State of the desire to downplay Cow College. The marching and pep bands no longer concludes football and basketball games with the playing of “Old McDonald Had a Farm.” But if getting away from our roots is so important to some, why did the University name its ice cream “Howling Cow?” Isn't that just a louder version of saying “Moo U!”

The University has many great traditions, and it creates more as the years go by. A recently installed tradition on the State campus is lighting the Memorial Bell Tower in a red glow for special reasons, such as winning a big game. Maybe the administration should consider using black lights instead or turning off the spotlights all together to give it that black tone if indeed Black is the new Red at NC State.

Last Thursday’s basketball game uniform situation was so confusing that, at one point, a Louisville player was substituted out and headed to the NC State bench instead of to the Cardinals’ bench where his team was wearing white uniforms. The player seemed embarrassed as he walked the length of the court behind the scorer’s table to return to his team. Easy mistake to make, huh?

Traditions are important to colleges and universities. One basic tradition at NC State is red and white team colors, not black or gray, no matter what the players may desire to wear. The color of the uniform will not make them play any better and it could be detrimental. The reason for standardizing team colors is for recognition—quick, what are Penn State’s colors; how about Alabama, Clemson, Kentucky, Southern Cal?—something not evident with NC State against Louisville last week.

If the use of colors other than red and white continues at NC State, then it’s time to re-write the Wolfpack fight song: We’re the Red and White and Black and Gray from State and we know we are the best. And, should the NC State Alumni Association change its blog title from Red & White for Life to Red & White & Black & Gray for Life?

Traditions matter, especially the Red and White tradition at NC State. If the Wolfpack wants to make a #Statement, winning is of utmost importance. Using only Red and  White uniforms is a close second.
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Post Script: Sunday night at Wake Forest, the Wolfpack wore the traditional road red jerseys and shorts. The results of the game were the same as the first two conference gamesa loss. If it's any consolation, State looked a lot better losing this time than it did against Louisville. Hopefully, when the Wolfpack visits North Carolina later this week, we'll be wearing RED!
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TIME TO TAKE ACTION!
Thanks to the many loyal Wolfpack faithful who have read this post and who agree with my take. The comments below are just a few. I've heard from many more via email and telephone calls. NC State is the Red & White, and we should not deviate from it. But one man's opinion carries little weight. 

  • If you want to make a difference, then you need to put pressure on the Department of Athletics to right its wrong and return all team uniforms to combinations of Red & White only! If you want to make a difference, you need to contact Athletics Director Debbie Yow. email: d_yow@ncsu.edu; office phone 919-515-2109. Tell her RED & WHITE...ONLY!
  • You can also tell the NCSU Board of Trustees to take action, to limit our athletics teams to Red & White uniforms. Send your email to PJ Teal, Secretary of the University, at pjteal@ncsu.edu who will forward your comments to the full BOT.

19 comments:

  1. Several years ago I made the mistake of asking a State student about the fascination with black uniforms. I was quickly told that black uniforms were really cool. I offered that deep violet and chartreuse was a pretty cool combination and received an immediate glare of distain. Apparently, I don’t get it. I guess I’m way past cool. And I realize those of you who know will say I was never cool. I doubt I’d argue.

    I just can’t see that black or gray or any other color combination other than red and white should be on the State uniforms. I can see breaking the small tradition of home teams wearing white or light uniforms and the visitors wearing dark when State and Carolina play. State should wear red jerseys and Carolina the light blue regardless of where the game is played.

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    1. Frizz! always good to hear from you. Thanks for chiming in. If you want to make a difference, you need to contact Athletics Director Debbie Yow. EMail: d_yow@ncsu.edu; office phone 919-515-2109. Tell her RED & WHITE...ONLY!

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  2. When we were at State Jim Valvano was asked if he would put black in his uniforms. He said that black was not a N.C. State color. He was reluctant to use blue in the trim because of Chapel Hill and Duke

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    1. Rehbs! Thanks for your comment. I remember Jim's stance so well. Wish our coaches and AD would do the same. If you want to make a difference, you need to contact Athletics Director Debbie Yow. EMail: d_yow@ncsu.edu; office phone 919-515-2109. Tell her RED & WHITE...ONLY!

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  3. My son (a sophomore at NCSU) and I (BA, MPA NCSU) went to the Belk Bowl and, and at first glance, could not tell which team was State! Hated the bowl uniforms - After all, "We're the red & white for State!", not the black and white, or the gray & back, or the cammo . . .

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    1. Thanks so much for your perspective. I hate the use of black uniforms as well. But one person's opinion will not stop the lunacy. If you want to make a difference, you need to contact Athletics Director Debbie Yow. EMail: d_yow@ncsu.edu; office phone 919-515-2109. Tell her RED & WHITE...ONLY!

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  4. Thank you Jim!

    NCSU (no wait, NCST? [UGH! It's painful to even type that abbreviation in jest.]), as I was saying, NCSU has made some horrific decisions regarding the University's branding over the years. And you've eloquently pointed out some of the worst. NCSU is the Red & White from State! Regarding uniform design, think classic & traditional; think Alabama football. Please leave gimmick marketing to the Ducks and Terps of the world.

    Kenny Carter
    NCSU '05

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    1. Indeed, Kenny, NCSU has made some really horrific decisions, especially lettering the players decide uniform colors. AS one former member of the NCSU Board of Trustees told me recently, if the players want to wear black, they should go to Wake Forest! If you want to make a difference, you need to contact Athletics Director Debbie Yow. EMail: d_yow@ncsu.edu; office phone 919-515-2109. Tell her RED & WHITE...ONLY!

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    2. LOVE it! "...NCSU Board of Trustees told me recently, if the players want to wear black, they should go to Wake Forest!"

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  5. What is the record of the basketball team when they wear black uniforms? I seem to remember us wearing black about half a dozen times over the last 15 years or so and don't recall any wins.

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    1. The record does not matter! Our teams could be undefeated wearing something other than Red & White uniforms, but that doesn't do anything for tradition. If the team's good enough to win in black or gray, it should be good enough to wear Red & White and be a proud representative of the University. If you want to make a difference, you need to contact Athletics Director Debbie Yow. email: d_yow@ncsu.edu; office phone 919-515-2109. Tell her RED & WHITE...ONLY!

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    2. Totally agree, I believe someone said we were wearing Black when we beat Louisville last year and started the path to the NCAAs, but that would have been at Louisville, not at home. And how about the Cheerleaders now wearing black. Did you catch the Northeastern game? Who were they cheering for, Northeastern was also wearing Black with Red trim.

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    3. Actually, the marching band also wears predominately black uniforms. Many years ago, the uniforms were primarily red which today would be a nice touch, bringing a lot more recognition to the band!

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  6. I don't like it but I think a lot of it comes from the students and players themselves, black outs and white outs are the big thing now. We had our time, let them have theirs.

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    1. Even as a former member of the NCSU Board of Trustees, you're just an old softy, Suzanne, with no attachment to tradition. The school colors are Red & White! As I reported to an earlier response, one former member of the Board of Trustees says, if the players want to wear black, go to Wake Forest. Without traditions, NC State becomes just another (not special) university, and surely you don't want that. We can grow in academics and offerings, but traditions are what solidifies the Alumni and urges us all to be Red & White For Life! How about Red outs at every game?!?!?!?

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  7. Back off guys and just enjoy the team. Cool uniforms, uniform variety are what recruits like. I think they are pretty cool too. But it's recruiting that is the biggest issue. Let the teams do this. We'll remain Red and White forever but a little black and grey are OK. Class of 85.

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    1. Thanks for your opinion, but I'll continue to disagree. Black uniforms are lifeless; Gray uniforms are dull. Neither are "cool." Yes, recruiting is the biggest issue, and if a recruit will only come to NC State if he or she has the say so on uniform color, they are signing up for the wrong reason. Jim Valvano would only have his teams wear Red & White. You were there then! On the other hand, you suffered during football seasons of Monte Kiffin and Tom Reed so maybe you can relate to the misery of the last three football seasons: 6-18 in the ACC!

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  8. My dad (class of '76) and I (class of '11) completely agree, black is not one of our school colors and our uniforms should be red and white.

    Side note, as a former member of the Marching Band and Pep Band, Old Macdonald is still played at the end of games but only if we won.

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  9. Actually, I was in the band from 2007-2011 and Old MacDonald is still played at the end of games but only if we won. I completely agree with you though on the uniform color, black is not a school color!

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