Jul 20, 2012

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    • Sports journalism'due south foremost uniform reporter
    • ESPN.com columnist since 2004
    • Also blogs at uni-watch.com

Every bit the fallout from the Penn State sex abuse scandal continues to rain down on not-and then-Happy Valley, several questions have been raised: Should Nike remove Joe Paterno's proper noun from the company's child intendance center? (Yes, they've done that.) Should anything be done with the Joe Paterno statue on the Penn State campus? (Best suggestion so far: Rotate it 90 degrees then it'due south looking the other way.) And should Penn State'due south football program be suspended for this season, or fifty-fifty longer?

Here at Uni Watch HQ, however, a different question has emerged: Once Penn State starts playing football again -- whether that turns out to exist this fall, or next autumn, or whenever -- should they redesign their uniforms?

This is an intriguing question on several levels. For starters, for the past several years -- long before the sexual activity scandal bankrupt -- information technology has been common for uniform fans to speculate equally to whether the Nittany Lions would get new uniforms once Paterno eventually retired. Later on all, the thinking went, the team'south austere, no-nonsense look has been widely viewed as a visual extension of Paterno himself for decades, so why not give the next jitney a chance to put his own visual postage on the squad?

And too, information technology's customary for teams to get new uniforms when entering a new era, whether that'due south defined by the team getting a new owner, a new stadium or whatsoever. And if always at that place was a team that needed to motility alee into a new era, it's Penn State.

Simply is that the right approach? If Penn State simply turns the page and moves on -- and if the balance of us, by extension, exercise the same -- does that just chemical compound the problem?

For now, these questions don't appear to be on the university's radar, or at least that'south the party line. When asked on Thursday about the a potential uniform change in response to the scandal, a Penn State spokesman said, "Every bit of today, the uniforms will be the same as in 2011."

Merely y'all know they have to exist thinking well-nigh it. For any other squad, we might say, "Strip them of all their glitz. Teach them some humility past making them wear a plainly, generic compatible." But Penn State already wears the plainest, well-nigh generic-looking uniform in the sport. What are y'all going to exercise -- remove the center stripe from the helmet?

I recently posed this question on the Uni Watch Web log and invited readers to counterbalance in with their thoughts. Interestingly, opinion was split up almost exactly down the middle, with a strong contingent of readers advocating a uniform change and roughly the same number of readers in favor of sticking with the current design. (Y'all can see all of the responses hither.)

Both sides made persuasive arguments. The "information technology's time for a modify" arguments were summed upwardly nicely by reader Mike Wissman:

The plain jersey, adorned only with numbers, was supposed to stand for the program -- one for all, hard piece of work, a no-frills commitment to winning the right mode. Well, that imagery has been exposed as a myth. And so given that, I'm all for exploring alternatives. I'm non saying they should go all Nike Pro Gainsay, merely let's consider starting some new traditions. The onetime ones aren't worth celebrating anymore.

On the other side of the fence, the "don't change a thing" people were ably represented by reader Jeff Provo, who checked in with the following:

I really hate to say this, because I've been wanting Penn State to change uniforms for years. But in calorie-free of this whole situation, I think they shouldn't exist immune to alter. Giving the team a uniform makeover makes information technology that much easier to sweep this whole matter nether the proverbial carpet. ... I can empathize the thought of "new era, new uniforms, fresh showtime," but that but works if every single person involved ends upward in jail outset.

Some readers tried to have information technology both ways by calling for the current design to exist kept, but with the add-on of a blue ribbon patch for child abuse victims, or some other small acquittance of the scandal.

Information technology'south a tricky one, correct? Personally, I come across merit in each position. But after considerable thought on the affair, the feeling here is as follows:

• Maintaining the current design with nil changes but is non acceptable. A uniform stands for many things, and making no changes to Penn State's design at this point would stand for continuity, complacency and indifference.

• But the point virtually a full makeover existence just a piddling too convenient, a little also much of an easy way out, is well taken. Whatever change to the uniform should be simple, not radical.

• The terminal thing the uni-verse needs is some other ribbon. If you want to get people's eyes to gloss over and have them develop a blind spot, slap some other ribbon on your bailiwick of jersey. It's become such a reflexive response to off-field events that it's essentially become no response at all.

• With all of that in listen, here'southward an excellent proffer from reader Pete Clark: "One change just -- opposite the bluish and the white on the helmet, so information technology's a blue helmet with a white stripe. Very subtle, but it says information technology all. All the same extremely conservative as PSU has always been, but a complete reversal, going in a new management."

That's pretty skilful. It's sort of like the uniform version of flying your flag upside-downwards equally a distress signal. That concept gets the official Uni Watch seal of approval. Here's hoping they get in that direction.

Meanwhile, there are some additional uni-related questions to consider here. For example, should the Nittany Lions clothing a memorial patch or helmet decal to marking Paterno's expiry? Or would that be wrong, given what we now know about Paterno?

And then at that place'south this: If y'all own a Penn Land jersey, are y'all going to keep wearing it? If they change the jersey design, will you lot buy the new one? Volition you lot defiantly clothing the old one? Should the proceeds from all jersey sales go to a group that fights child abuse and sexual assault?

These are all complicated questions with no easy answers. Feel costless to post your thoughts in the comments. And allow's try to keep it civil, right? Right.

Paul Lukas ever liked the simplicity of Penn State's uniforms merely volition never be able to expect at them the aforementioned manner once more. If you liked this column, you'll probably like his daily Uni Watch website, plus yous can follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Want to learn about his Uni Watch Membership Program, be added to his mailing listing so yous'll always know when a new column has been posted, or simply ask him a question? Contact him hither.