Ohio State Kickin' It Old-School Against Michigan

NFL News - November 5th, 2009 - Written by John

They are controversial, unconventional, at times, horrid.

They are throwbacks worn by various NFL teams in honor of their roots in the AFL decades ago, many of which coming with a new-found appreciation for black-and-white televisions that diluted the effect of mismatched colors.

And for the first time, a collegiate team will now participate in honoring a historic team's uniforms. Ohio State announced that it will pay homage to their 1954 National Championship team by wearing their throwback unis during their November 21st game against rival Michigan. It will be the first time in the school's history that the Buckeyes will wear an alternate jersey.

"(Nike) offered us a chance to try a new uniform product featuring cutting-edge fabrics and technology," athletic director Gene Smith told ESPN. "Participation in the program also offered us a one-time opportunity to salute one of those great championship teams that have built the Ohio State football tradition."

The idea is extra motivation for a game that will have plenty of meaning already. It will be in Ann Arbor with a Wolverine team that will likely be fighting for a bowl berth after suffering through one of it's worst season's in school history. They have five wins, one off the requisite of six, and have remaining games against Purdue, no. 24 Wisconsin before meeting the Buckeyes. Losing the first two will mean a must-win against their nemesis. If Michigan fails to reach a bowl, it will be the first time since 1975 that the school failed to reach the postseason in back-to-back years.

Ohio State, however, may be in the running for a spot in the BCS by then. They only have one conference loss this year at the hands of Purdue, and control their destiny in the Big Ten. Their schedule still has games against Penn State this weekend and a meeting with no. 4 Iowa after that. Winning them both, along with a victory in Ann Arbor, guarantees them a spot against likely Pac-10 winner Oregon in the Rose Bowl.

There are no plans for continuous use of the jersey, said Smith, and the team will go back to the traditional garb for their bowl game.

"Again, this is a one-time opportunity to honor a great championship team," Smith said. "We have no plans to make any changes to the traditional Buckeye uniform for the foreseeable future."

The school won't expose the uniforms until later this month, but pictures of the '54 team show all red uniforms with the gray and white stripes seen on the sleeves like today. The main difference is an all-white helmet with a single white stripe down the center. Facemasks weren't worn back then, so no word yet on what that color will be.

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