**UPDATED** Gophers Creating Buzz Over New Uniform Teasing...

(photo - University of Minnesota)

***UPDATED 11:12pm - 12.18.11 - SEE BOTTOM OF POST***

If you're a Gopher football fan and have an ounce of connection to social media, you probably noticed all the buzz that the university is creating with their announcing, and well planned teasing, of new uniforms for 2012. Not just special uniforms for one or two games, but a whole new re-design. I'll openly admit that I feel the same way I did when I heard Fred Savage would be unveiling the first ever footage of Mario Bros. 3 in the movie "The Wizard"...is that sad?

I get down right giddy over this kind of stuff, and it probably dates back to loving uniform re-designs as a kid...and playing, breathing and living sports my whole life. Or maybe it's the fact that Gopher football fans DESPERATELY need something to be excited about. Any sort of buzz that can be created heading in to 2012, after finishing the this season with a couple wins...is all we can ask for. But will all of this uniform buzz/teasing lead to a buzz KILL?! (see what I just did there?)

Oddly enough, I recently posted an idea to what the Gophers could do in regards to a uniform change for the Michigan game next year. I'll pretend that's the reason they decided to unveil all new uniforms for 2012...as that's the power we hold here at WhatWouldBudDo.com (sarcasm warning)...and we all know that Bud definitely would do something "old school" with the uniforms if he was in charge.  

What I did was simple, and by no means, am I going to boast about my graphic design skills. I have visions in my head...and if i were an artist, I think they'd look decent on canvas. Unfortunately for everyone reading this, I am not an artist...at all. Below are my predictions of what the official "helmet unveiling" will look like on Monday. I hope they are more creative than me, but not too creative to where the uniforms look all WNBA'ish. Following my predictions, are some basic ideas to what I think would look rad for "alternate uniforms"...along with a very basic idea for a Nike Pro Combat design, for when they come knockin' on the U's door next year. 

2012 Helmet Prediction:
Based on photos A, B and C (released by @GoldenGopherFB and @GopherAthletics this week), I think the Gophers will go "modern" with a matte finish to their helmet, but also pay tribute to the past with a "classic" style helmet. See photos D and E for my predictions...

A)

B)
 

C)

**MY PREDICTION**


D)
  
E)
 
**Where I expect the "SKI-U-MAH" will be...according to photo "C" above**

F)
 

I'll admit that these designs wouldn't look too different than what the Gophers supported the past few years. But would that be a bad thing? The sparkle finish has to go...but the "M" has to stay...doesn't it? I hope they don't do something like this:

I fully expect the overall design of the uniforms, top to bottom, to be very "modern" or unique...after all, Nike is our jersey sponsor. I don't see Jerry Kill as the type of coach that wants Maryland or Oregon style uniforms...nor do I think the University has the money like Oregon does to support new uniforms every time they take the field (yes, I am aware of the their connection to Nike's CEO or what ever). With that said, here's the start to an idea I have about going with a BLACK alternate uniform the Gophers should wear for the home game vs Michigan next year:

The idea would be to have black helmets, jerseys and pants. A more modern look to the "M"...similar to what Arizona State did to their uniform design. Sure, the "black uniform" idea may be a bit over done these days, but they are bad ass...and it's not debatable. And like I said in my previous post, the Gophers should come out for warm ups in their normal uniforms...only to come out of the tunnel in their black uniforms (a la Colorado vs USC). How about that for stadium buzz...

Here's the start of an idea to what I think would be pretty sweet looking Nike Pro Combat uniforms. And before you look at them, yes...these images are VERY similar to what a 3rd grader could do on an Etch A Sketch, but it's all I've got at this point. 

Image the Boise State uniforms that have the logo taking up half of the helmet...then add the design from this photo:

Goldy's stripes are how most gophers are identified in the wild...so why not use what is unique to the University of Minnesota and flaunt it? I'd rather see the stripes be more faint, like the Maryland turtle shell design from this year...but the "wow factor" that makes the Pro Combat series what it is, would mean the stripes run down THE BACK OF THE JERSEY, behind the numbers, and fade in to the back side of the pants. I can in vision it in my head...and it probably would look super ugly on paper, but it'd be unique and different, which is obviously the goal of Nike and it's Pro Combat uniforms. 

This is all I've got...and it took a lot longer to throw this together than I anticipated, but it was worth it. Maybe the Gophers will consider this when choosing the winners of their contest of who gets to see the uniforms before they are unveiled..................................but I doubt it.

Interested to hear your thoughts!

**UPDATED**
Based on the new teaser photos unveiled by GopherSports.com (see the new photos HERE), I have re-created my original helmet prediction. Assuming the clues are what they appear to be, I wasn't far off...and they should look pretty sweet, assuming the uniforms match the helmets appropriately. 

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