Will Nebraska Ever Throw it Back?

16 comments so far September 18, 2008 by Brandon Vogel

Unless you watched Furman take on Virginia Tech on September 6, you probably missed something pretty spectacular: The Hokies actually looked good and it had nothing to do with their play on the field (which was underwhelming). No the Hokies looked good because they were paying tribute to the Gobblers of yore with throwback uniforms. In terms of appearance, Virginia Tech is cursed both from a historical (what can you really do with maroon and orange) and modern (thanks for these Nike, and these) perspective. But white jerseys with a shoulder stripe paired with white helmets, a state outline and grey facemasks? That I can work with.

As throwback uniforms have gained popularity over the past decade or so, I've often wondered when the Cornhuskers will take their turn at the plate. For a program as proud of their history and heritage as Nebraska is, and all the merchandise dollars it would likely generate (let's be honest), it's shocking to me that it hasn't happened yet.

But almost as important as the question of when is the question of how would it look and, of course, I have some opinions on this matter.

This post probably requires a disclaimer so let's get it out of the way: There's nothing wrong with Nebraska's current look. I love the helmet, like the pant and sleeve stripes and I'm probably in the minority in that I even like the occasional monochrome look like we saw against CU last year. Virginia Tech's throwbacks were great because their recent uniforms have been so awful. Nebraska's throwbacks would be great because it would be nice to look at something different, while paying tribute to the past, if only for one game and it just so happens that next season is chock full of anniversaries that could herald just such an event.

So if Nebraska were to play a throwback game, what uniforms should they go with? There are really three options:

1. The Early Devaney Funky Serifs

The real beauty of theoretically planning a Nebraska throwback is that you don't have to buy new helmets--Tom Osborne appreciates such frugality--because Nebraska's been wearing white lids for the past 48 years. Perhaps the most notable Nebraska jersey of the past 50 years, and probably least discussed, featured the fancy number font of the early Devaney years. During that era, Nebraska wore red numbers with the same red stripe on a white helmet. Easy enough to replicate.

Reason to wear 'em: 2009 marks the 45th anniversary of Nebraska's first New Year's Day bowl win.

2. I Got Stripes, Stripes Around my Shoulder

In 1969, Nebraska switched from their curvy numbers to block and added a very traditional white-red-white stripe to their shoulders (referred to in some circles as a UCLA stripe). 1969 was also notable for two other reasons: 1) It was the last year Nebraska wore the 'NU' on their helmets, a switch they made in 1967, and 2) it was the 100th year of college football and teams across the country used a football shaped sticker with the number 100 inside, in various placements, to commemorate. I've always enjoyed the fact that Nebraska just said to hell with aesthetics and slapped their sticker right on the front.

Reason to wear 'em: 2009 will mark the 140th anniversary of that first Princeton-Rutgers scrum, so let's use the same front helmet sticker but just swap that middle zero out for a four.

3. Are You 'N'?

By the time Tom Osborne took the helm prior to the 1973 season, Nebraska's uniforms looked a lot like the uniforms you see today. The Huskers wore the same triple-stripe on the pants and the same lone 'N' on the helmets they do now. The only noticeable difference between now and then, minus this brief dalliance with 'Nebraska' on the road whites, was the absence of the sleeve stripes/tv number you currently see on Saturdays.

But as anyone who has watched the replay of that '84 Orange Bowl on a late summer night can tell you, there was a brief period of time where Nebraska featured an 'N' on their sleeves. By 1984, the letter would be replaced with the stripes/number combo and, purposely overlooking that one year mistake with the armpit-to-knee wide stripe of the Solich era, that's the way they would stay. While the jersey may not be associated with the most pleasant of Nebraska memories, it is the last major renovation to the uniform that mattered.

Reason to wear 'em: 2009 will mark the 25th anniversary of the sleeved N's last appearance.

Of the three choices above, my favorite jersey of the bunch is the early Devaney top but my favorite helmet is easily the 'NU' look from the late-60's. While I enjoy the early-80s look and will forever associate it with the Scoring Explosion, it just not enough of a departure from the Nebraska of today to really have an impact.

If forced to make a choice, and really I'd take anything, I would have to opt for ensemble #2. Good jersey, great helmet.

How about you? Do you want--nee yearn--to see Nebraska in throwbacks and, if so, what do you want them to look like?

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