Some 18 months ago the CFL partnered with Reebok to create a line of “signature” jerseys for the fans to enjoy. Thinking forward with modern designs and input from fans as well as the players; a great concept, right? The fans are involved with the league, as they should be, and the league is driven heavily by, who else, the fans.
B.C. and Toronto: from good to competent
Last season we witnessed the B.C. Lions unveil their own signature jersey to be worn for two games a year, and everyone marveled at how great they–gunmetal grey to go along with flat black and orange trim. Reebok nailed this one: it’s modern, it’s fresh, and it’s unlike anything we’ve seen on the CFL field.
From there we also got a treat in the Toronto Argonauts new look. It is white, which is at least a proven approach. Its slick look is combined with the Argos ‘A’ dead center in the chest – instead of the player’s number, putting the team first. With powder blue as the main colour and a bit of the Argos navy thrown in too, these new jerseys are good, but don’t make the tough, strong statement that the Lions do.
Saskatchewan, home of the “blitz green” Riders?
Than we come to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. With such a rabid fan base, Reebok could have hit a home run with these uniforms. There’s a wheat sheaf motif there, fine, with the Rider signature green and white, and – wait a second, “blitz green”? What is that?
Yes, Reebok and Rider brass fumbled this idea away. The lime green on the jersey, pants, helmet, and the godawful face mask kind of makes fans wonder: Is this an arena football game we are watching? Surely these aren’t professional football uniforms.
Yes, the masses will eat ’em up and say they’re great because, let’s face it, these are Rider fans and their team can do no wrong. With that thinking, Reebok sure missed the ball with the new uniforms. Imagine white accenting instead of that blitz green–what a difference that would have made. They would have looked like the Roughriders, not some jumped-up college team.
And then Winnipeg and Ottawa
Winnipeg recently released their look on football fashion forward, featuring navy-and-white digital. Are those not Argo colours? Did someone just create the Winnipeg Argonauts?
Reebok once again missed another hit in the CFL market in Winnipeg, by missing the gold we are accustomed to seeing with Blue Bombers football. Blue and white surely are not what fans think of when they think Bombers. There’s just no question that the Reebok team should have added gold accents on the Winnipeg uniform.
Than we have the expansion Ottawa Redblacks, who also get a new look uniform halfway through their first season in franchise history, as if that made any sense.
Plaid.
Plaid is what Reebok came up with.
They could have made some kind of play on history, recalling the disbanded Rough Riders of their glory years. Instead they went with plaid. The jersey itself looks fine: who doesn’t like a coloured uniform? It’s great to see a bit of flashiness instead of black. It’s also a fresh look, and not one anybody’s seen on a football field, so kudos to Reebok for the originality of the new look uniforms, I guess.
So this is the look of the CFL
The CFL is broadcasting more games than ever on ESPN 3 in the States, slowly trying to win over fans and showcase how great our three-down league is. Are these really the uniforms we want American fans to see? Is the neutral crowd going look at their TVs, see these jerseys, think they’re watching arena league football?
Just think of the reaction we’ll get from an American audience watching a CFL game between the Riders and Redblacks in their new looks, the Redblacks wearing plaid helmets and the Riders in their blitz green.
I’m not looking forward to it either.
But Reebok has their deal, and the rest of us just have to wait for the rest of the “signature” uniforms for the remaining teams. Here’s hoping they’ll look as clean and fresh as the Lions and Argos. Once all that is over with, we will be happy to finally turn this fashion show back to football.
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