It’s that time of year. When everyone dresses up and goes out to scare the pants off of everyone in order to get a treat. Or a trick. How does one accomplish this? Well, some will go high-tech, yet throwback. Others will go retro.
First the throwback.
Let’s see. How does that work? The high tech throwback, I mean. Wait for it. Earlier this year, Nike announced that the Spartans would be one of nine teams chosen to sport their new “Pro Combat Uniform”. Kinda cool, I guess. The Spartans debuted theirs during the Michigan State vs Michigan game, Sat., Oct. 15, 2011.
As far as collegiate fashion sense goes, the uniforms are very throwback. Lots of bronze, dark green and black. No white. And when I say throwback I mean ancient Greece and Sparta, with a little classical defiance thrown in for good measure.
Beware, boring classical literature reference...
Sewn into the collars of the MSU football team is the Greek phrase “Molon Labe”. Google it and the phrase translates to “come and take them”, supposedly shouted out by King Leonidas of Sparta to the Persians when they demanded Sparta give up their weapons at the battle of Thermopylae.
I recommend renting the movie ‘300'. To say my wife Katy loved those uniforms is an understatement. She kept mumbling something about Gerard Butler parading around half-naked? I make no judgement regarding it’s validity.
Let’s not forget the strong carbon plate Nike has incorporated into the uniform which “symbolically mirrors the Spartan shield”. Ya want symbols? How ‘bout a big, fat white “S” smack in the middle of a green jersey.
For the tragically uninformed, let it be known I have no fashion sense whatsoever (sweats with a good tee or sweatshirt rules the day). I’m certainly no fashionista, but frankly, I like my Spartans decked out in plain ol’ Green and White. I’m just funny that way. (Can you say, “Old fart who doesn’t suffer change well?”) Repeat after me...
Now the retro. Anything you can do...
The fashion report aside, rival Michigan felt the necessity to parade themselves pre-game in their ususal uniforms on Saturday, only to leave and return to the field in a pseudo-retro 1970's all-white travel garb. Frankly, I can’t see too many reasons why I would want to return to the mid-seventies for much of anything, let-alone rehash such fashion faux pas as two-toned men’s platform shoes, feathered-back hair and earth-tones. (Me, not the Wolverines.) Throw in Nixon and it wasn’t our finest hour. Nor mine, fashionably speaking, that is.
All that being said, the Spartan uniforms will supposedly only be worn that one time against Michigan. Even better? Michigan’s loss Saturday was the fourth in a row to the Spartans, leaving Michigan’s graduating seniors with the dubious distinction of not beating the Spartans during their four-year tenure.
Bottom line.
This game wasn’t about new uniforms--or old ones. As Spartan fans and alumni we all know that Michigan doesn’t hold this particular rivalry in the same reverence we do. Ohio State gives them greater pause.
The Wolverines consider the Spartans as one regards a little brother. Someone who needs to be knocked down a peg or two. Why? For no other reason than it’s their job as the older sibling. Guess what? The Spartans are all grown up now. So is this rivalry.
“We are Sparta(ns)!” Deal with it!
