What will Michigan's alternate uniforms look like and when will we see them?
Jim Harbaugh revealed something on Friday night that was sure to get the Michigan faithful talking.
The Wolverines will wear alternates uniforms at least once in 2017, according to Harbaugh.
“We talked about it (with Nike) and when we first signed up with Nike we said that’s something we’d be interested in, they were interested in it. It’s been designed,” Harbaugh said via MLive.com. “(They’ll be used) at least once this year. I don’t know, I think some people like the element of surprise. I don’t know if I’m at liberty to say which game.
“But I know which game it’s going to be. I don’t want to steal someone else’s thunder.”
Harbaugh made that announcement while at a satellite camp in Ohio. It’ll be the first time Michigan wears alternate uniforms since the final home game of the Brady Hoke era in 2014.
Those all-blue Adidas uniforms looked like this (via USA Today):
Michigan’s all-white Adidas road uniforms in 2015 weren’t alternates, but they were the last time the Wolverines changed things up.
The news of Michigan’s alternates shouldn’t come as a big surprise considering how groundbreaking the Air Jordan partnership was. And while uniform purists might resist, it’s almost a given for any big-time program now.
There are two obvious questions: What will they look like and when will we see them?
There aren’t definitive answers to those questions, at least not yet. With Michigan being the first Air Jordan football program, the Wolverines will likely have a look that hasn’t been seen before.
Don’t count on Michigan’s new alternates resembling the throwback look from the Hoke era, either.
They've had more than "minor" variations. pic.twitter.com/hYNwnGWoHn
— Chris Kalohn (@ChrisKalohn) June 3, 2017
The throwback look had mixed reviews, to say the least. Something a bit more subtle would probably make more sense for Michigan’s first alternate look in the Air Jordan era.
But this is something to keep in mind.
Remember…Jourdan Lewis last August at Nike reveal said Harbaugh was "joking around" but tossed out idea of all-maize unis…hmmmmm
— angelique (@chengelis) June 3, 2017
Harbaugh said he was confident that the fans would enjoy the design when they saw it, whatever and whenever that is.
So when will the Wolverines bust out the new look? There are a few dates that would make sense.
The season-opener against Florida in Arlington, Tex. could be an option. That game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Teams usually save alternates for a primetime slot in front of a national audience. Michigan actually doesn’t have any night games on the schedule yet, though that could change. The Wolverines could easily end up in primetime for matchups against Michigan State, Penn State or Wisconsin.
Assuming they’ll be worn for a home/neutral site game, that rules out Penn State and Wisconsin. And if history is any indication, rocking alternates vs. Ohio State would cause an uproar. With that in mind, the best bets could be for the Florida or Michigan State game.
But as we’ve learned with Harbaugh, anything can happen.