New uniforms, same team
The Arizona State Sun Devils spent over a year in production and design to rebrand ASU athletics. The Sun Devils in a partnership with Nike unveiled all their hard work yesterday to show the collegiate world their new uniforms and designs under the “It’s Time” campaign.
Presumably, “It’s Time” refers to ASU’s time to actually start winning and becoming relevant in Pac-10 lore. From a football perspective, ASU has not won a national championship, has no Heisman winner, and is barely over .500 under the tutelage of head coach Dennis Erickson.
In reality, slick new uniforms will have a short-term impact on recruiting and school spirit. However, it’s just a uniform. Sticking to tradition and talent is not a bad thing, just look no further than schools that don’t really adjust their uniforms (i.e., Alabama, USC, Oklahoma, Penn State, Notre Dame, and Alabama to name a few). These programs all boast national championships, major bowl victories, Heisman winners, and an unparallel fan-base.
Skeptics were concerned about the time and money spent on the “It’s Time” campaign citing tuition hikes and significant state-budget cuts. To refute this concern, ASU issued a statement saying, “No state taxpayer funds or tuition dollars were used,” rather the campaign was primarily funded through donors.
The uniforms looks sharp, you cannot deny that. However, the fans want to see some wins. That is what this journey is all about.
