Sports

Miami Hurricanes Create Logistical Nightmare For ESPN With Camouflage Football Uniforms

by Last Updated
Miami Football Camo Military Camouflage Uniform
University of Miami Athletics

Miami will look a lot more like Army than Miami during its upcoming college football game against Stanford. The Hurricanes are going to wear camouflage uniforms for Military Appreciation Night.

They are actually pretty sweet.

However, the new college football uniform creates a visual nightmare for the broadcast team and the sports communication team in charge of stats on Saturday. It will also be super embarrassing if Miami does not win.

Why is Miami wearing camouflage uniforms?

To be completely honest, I do not know the answer to this question. The timing of this release does not correlate to any major military holiday and/or day of remembrance.

College football programs typically wear their military and/or patriotic uniform combinations around Labor Day, 9/11 or Veteran’s Day. The Hurricanes previously wore alternate jerseys around Veteran’s Day. They will actually play a home game on the Saturday before and after Veteran’s Day on Tuesday, Nov. 11.

And yet, Miami is still going to debut its new camo uniforms against Stanford on the final Saturday of October. Perhaps it has something to do with the military fatigue tradition that lasted into the early 2000s. Maybe it was just what worked. Doesn’t matter.

Regardless of the reason, the Hurricanes and Adidas will debut the ‘Honor and Support’ uniforms at the Military Appreciation Game against the Cardinal on Saturday. It is a tribute to those who serve, past and present, on and off the field.

Per Adidas:

“For athletes like quarterback Emory Williams, whose dad is a former Marine, the uniform serves as a meaningful reminder of the sacrifice and pride associated with military service.”

It is a cool way to honor veterans and active members of the military. It is a cool look.

Miami will look like Army.

Although Adidas actually released a pretty solid looking alternate uniform — which is rare — the look is much better suited for the Black Knights than the Hurricanes. You would think it is an Army game.

The camouflage does not feature either of the school’s predominant colors outside of the ‘Miami’ logo on the crown of the helmet.

Putting the weird connection (or lack thereof) between Miami and camo aside, these uniforms present a logistical nightmare for the broadcast and stats team. The numbers are going to be extremely hard to see from a press box. Especially because this game will be played at night.

Mark Jones and Roddy Jones are on the call for this game on ESPN. Mark my words— they are not going to be able to identify who on the Hurricanes is doing what at any point. It is going to be a problem.