What is the "huge difference" between an alternate uni and adding black. An alternate uni is a uni that's slightly different from the regular uniform weather that be in color or design. And adding black is not a fad that just started happening, open your eyes. Teams (even historical programs) have been adding black or white to their uniforms to provide a neutral color for home/road/rivalry/special occasion games. In all sports at all levels. Pittsburgh Steelers are Black and Gold yet they have white jerseys. The Lakers are Purple and gold yet they have white jerseys (used to be royal and powder blue). The Spurs are Black and White, yet they have gray jerseys. Oakland Athletics are Green and Yellow yet they have grey and white jerseys. A third color, even if it's just a neutral color like black, white, grey just adds to the options you can do with the teams jersey and design. Just because you add one of those colors in the overall design doesn't mean you are following a trend or attempting to be like Oregon.
1. How often do you deal with young athletes. When you get a chance, go by a local park and watch a group of teenagers play basketball and notice the attire they have on. 9 times out of 10 you'll see shoes on their feet that is more expensive than the book they keep in their backpacks. You'll even notice the guy who "isn't the greatest athlete on the court (field) have matching socks/shorts/tshirt/sweatbands/etc... To think that these athletes don't care much about the look of their uniform is "closed minded" and unrealistic. No they aren't making it their top priority but it is a factor as much as the campus life (girls) & weather.
2. And that was YOUR philosophy not mines, that we want to modify our uniforms to be relevant like these other programs doing it (even though I pointed out that many of the TRADITIONAL powers have used some sort of modification to their unis) Your last sentence almost quotes what I have been saying. Not that it's a side show but a means of revenue, more for the fans than the athlete. Top athletes love looking into the stands and seeing their jersey on some little kid or crazed father or sexy mother....... It's a representation of the loyalty the fan has for the team (player). Thus is how we get the "Sea of Red" "12th Man" "Death Valley" "Happy Valley" "Grand Old Lady" "The Swamp" "The Big House" etc..... The fans create the atmosphere. So why not create something appealing to the fans, whom are a huge recruiting factor with a lot of recruits.
