Nike and the University of Miami have collaborated for some new-look jerseys and based on player response, the multiple options are a raging hit.
The jerseys were officially unveiled at Sun Life Stadium on Saturday April 12th for the official spring football game and absolutely stole the show.
Miami displayed an all green, all orange, all white and all smoke (gray) look for this fall, with all tops and bottoms interchangeable for different options. The Hurricanes also have a handful of different helmet options—which is something that hasn’t been rolled out in the past, outside an occasional one-and-done look in-season.
While the jerseys were on display this Saturday, the retail side of the new-look jersey game remains on hold. Nike plans to have the jerseys to retailers sometime early July.
Below, the University of Miami’s official release regarding the new-look jerseys:
In South Florida, football is played with a sense of speed and style that transcends the field of play. The University of Miami Hurricanes have become more than a team – they embody the soul of Miami and have defined the culture of the sport.
The new Hurricane uniform design reflects the vibrant, bold style of the city – from the beach to the architecture to the people. Steeped in tradition, the new aesthetic is anchored by the familiar orange and green colors, as well as the iconic split-U logo. Modern accents have been added in order to harness the team’s early cutting-edge style both on and off the field in the ’80s and ’90s.
“Historically, UM has been a trendsetter in college football for uniform designs,” Miami Athletic Director Blake James said. “With this latest uniform design, we are able to combine our iconic history with South Florida tradition and a modern edge.”
The ibis has long been an important part of the university’s heritage. As a well-known Native American symbol for both danger and hope, the bird was believed to be the last animal to seek shelter before an oncoming hurricane and the first to emerge after the storm. An aggressive interpretation of the Miami Ibis has been integrated into the uniform on the shoulders, hip and helmet.
Miami will now feature four interchangeable uniform colors. The tonal colors of the Ibis logo (green, orange and white) inform three of the four new looks.
At home, the Hurricanes will dress in orange. The orange jersey is accented by green directional graphics at the shoulder. A clean white and silver helmet, featuring an anodized finish and grey facemask, completes the look.
The white jersey and pant combination is accented with green at the shoulder, and serves as the foundation of the away look. The white uniform is also capped with a matching white and silver helmet.
The team will also showcase two alternate uniform colors—the first alternate showcasing a green jersey and pant with a white helmet. The team will also introduce a new alternate anthracite “smoke” jersey and pant serving as a reminder of the early pioneering pre-game smoke that opened every home game.
“The uniform comes at the right time for the right team,” said Miami head coach Al Golden. “These young men, who unselfishly guided us through some very dark days, now display a renewed attitude and spirit! These new uniforms capture that outlook.”
“The innovative look respects our tradition but perhaps more importantly, represents the future and our current Canes,” Golden said. “We have one of the most iconic logos in college sports and Nike has combined that with its latest performance technology to produce a sleek, dynamic new uniform for The U.”
Miami will also keep its traditional and iconic white helmet with the split “U” in rotation, giving the Hurricanes three different helmet options.
“This more aggressive look will amplify our brand as well as incorporate Nike’s latest uniform technology,” said James. “We have one of the most recognizable brands in college athletics, and we hope this begins to strengthen that position in the years to come.”
The uniform font and numbers are now larger, refined and more aggressive, amplifying and anchoring the entire design.
Graphic details on the uniforms include the primary “U” logo on the helmet, jersey neck patch and back of the pant. The “U” is also present in custom palm graphics on the Nike Vapor Jet 2.0 gloves, appearing thumb to thumb when the hands are locked up.
This fully integrated uniform system incorporates the latest in Nike’s performance innovation, where the athlete’s base-layer works in concert with the entire uniform – true innovation from the inside out.
Lightweight padding is integrated directly into the crucial “hit zones” in the baselayer. Innovations include integrated Flywire technology in the neckline for reduced weight and lockdown fit over pads. Additionally, increased sleeve articulation provides better range of motion, and four-way stretch fabrication delivers a streamlined, shrink-wrap fit.
As the first team to bring a refreshed sense of style to the game back in the ’80s and ’90s, this new uniform aesthetic harnesses the team’s ever-present style and bravado, while positioning the Hurricanes at the leading edge for the future.
Guess with age, one gets stogy and cranky. Not agreeing with messing with tradition. One wouldn’t see Notre Dame, USC, Michigan mess with their tradition. Why does UM feel the need to mess with perfection. And, please, don’t compare with Oregon. How many national titles have they won? No tradition there. These changes make us look like a division III School.
Notre Dame, Southern Cal, Alabama and Michigan all have a deeper and richer tradition than Miami. By your rationale, the Canes should still be in kelly green jerseys with gold helmets sporting hurricane warnings flags, opposed to the eventual orange top and split-U logo that came along years later.
Miami is a small program, a private school and doesn’t have a fan base that compares with the Irish, Crimson Tide, Wolverines, etc. The Canes need to create an edge where they can and if the players and recruits like the change and multiple looks, fans need to embrace it.
No mystery that Canes fans always cite the look of the uniforms in the 1980’s as well as the early 2000’s, but dislike every other look Miami has tried—again, because UM was winning at that time. Those 80’s unis have fans thinking of Irvin, Sapp and Lewis while the 00’s look is about Johnson, McGahee, Dorsey, Taylor, Vilma, Rolle, et al.
Miami isn’t aspiring to be Oregon and their eight-zillion combinations and color. The Canes are simply moving into the modern era like many other programs. Ohio State has messed with tradition and has tried different looks. Florida and Florida State are doing it.
Let the Canes start winning again and folks will embrace the new look.
Fantastic !!!
More Nike crap. Looks horrible, as usual from the people who brought you the nightmare unifomrs for Tampa Bay and Jacksonville.
… unfortunately, it’s a no-win situation for Nike as they can’t make everyone happy. The demographic is grade school kids to grandparents, and everything in-between. No 40-year old will dig a look the way a 14-year old will, and vice versa.
At day’s end, it’s all about the players and incoming recruits. They dig the unis, the multiple looks and vibe, whereas the old school fan trapped in yesterday continues clamoring for those 80’s-style Russell Athletic jerseys, simply due to the emotions and memories they evoke.
Keep the players happy and let the kids start winning again. Once this program is “back”, there will be less focus on uniforms and shoe color. Right now this is where fans continues to dwell as it’s been eight rough years on-the-field.
Amen.
The uniforms look awesome