UD football tries on significant uniform change

Delaware has broken with tradition by not making the NCAA football playoffs for seven years.

But when the Blue Hens bucked history Tuesday night, they were reaching well into the last century.

Delaware players suited up for practice inside Delaware Stadium ... and their pants were blue. 

So much for uniformity. As longtime Blue Hen followers can attest, that’s a significant fashion alteration.

Some may even consider it a faux pas, as Delaware has worn gold or yellow football pants below its blue (home) and white (road) jerseys for as long as anyone can remember.

Old photos indicate that means at least the early 1940s, if not before.  

Players loved the new look.

Love or hate the new look? Vote here

“They’re great,” said fifth-year senior inside linebacker Charles Bell, a team captain.

Bell said the blue pants were more comfortable “and they look better too ... I love 'em.” He added that the team was very excited about the change.

“We thought it would be something that our student-athletes would really enjoy and they were very excited and motivated to pursue some options,” second-year Delaware coach Danny Rocco said.

Rocco said athletic director Chrissi Rawak provided support in UD’s football budget for additional uniforms. The team's leadership council had suggested different uniform looks.

“We wanted to have a few more combinations,” Rocco added.

Rocco wouldn’t reveal other potential uniform hues for the Hens, though he did make a humorous reference to a set of black pants, jerseys and helmets.

Most Delaware fans have long been strongly opposed to changing the UD helmet, patterned after Michigan’s, which was copied from Princeton’s winged design. It was introduced after Dave Nelson, a former Michigan halfback, became UD coach in 1951.

“They’re comfy, very comfy,” senior quarterback J.P. Caruso said. “These blue pants are sweet. I like 'em a lot.”

Captains will lead a player discussion about what will be worn for the opener — next Thursday at home against Rhode Island — with all-blue now a possibility.

The Blue Hens also have new jerseys with more streamlined numbers. The thick, blocky numbers on the jerseys the past three years drew frequent complaints because they were difficult to read from the stands.

 Adidas has provided Delaware with all its athletic gear since the university signed a contract with the company in 2015.

“It doesn’t matter what we wear,” Caruso said. “You know we’re gonna go out there and play our ball, so whatever they want to put us in we’re cool with it.”

Contact Kevin Tresolini at ktresolini@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @kevintresolini.

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