How do I know this?
Well, I went to the Hokie Club event in Raleigh last night, and Mr Whit Babcock dropped a, and believe me this is a quote, "as the young kids like to say... AllMaroonEverything" when referencing the looks we have for football this fall.
All traditional looks. Whether or not this is the same throwback look, he didn't go into detail. There will be another military uni set. There will be no wacky helmets. Our identity is going to come back into focus. (And if you don't like the unis, blame Frank & Weaver... the 2014 Uniforms were ordered in October, 2013) Oh, and for those of you pining for the days of Stick it in to be brought back..... Your voice has been heard loud and clear. Lets just say he's looking to bring back some long-forgotten traditions to the Lane Stadium experience. (I'll put it to you this way, I overheard someone ask him, and his reply was "well, it depends, if it was Jim who made that call, its an easy one, but if Steger... well... he's still my boss")
Oh, and another knowledge bomb he dropped on us last night. He was born and raised in the Commonwealth, but not necessarily a Hokie. He does remember coming to Lane for some games back in the 70s with his parents, but they weren't necessarily fans. He was, however, "raised to despise that school in Charlottesville". He specifically called Tech his home. If you're worried about this guy ever leaving, don't.
Comments
WHY CAN WE NOT UPVOTE ORIGINAL POSTS
Because this one deserves to turn green immediately.
Haha...
The impression I got last night. Whit is the man. He brings an energy to the room you expect from someone in a position such as his, and he's all about improving. He basis his entire mantra on a simple acronym. CAPS. Compliance, Academics, Performance, Support. In order to be excellent as an Athletic Department, you have to excel in all 4 pillars. There were more than a couple subtle jabs at UNC while discussing Compliance and Academics. Performance speaks for itself, and the Support was directed at us.
I came away from last night hyped for the future of Virginia Tech. He doesn't just want us to be relevant, he wants us to be the best. Not just in football, not just in basketball, but he wants us to have the best Athletic Department in the country, and he has a plan in place to do it. Status quo is out the door. As he said "you can be on the right track, but if you never move, the train will eventually run you over".
So he's pretty much on board with the current mission. Just turning it up to eleven.
I like it.
Obligatory Spinal Tap:
ELEVEN!!!
Every single thing that Whit has done (publicly at least, I'm not stalking the man or anything), has given me the impression that this is easily one of the best hires in the history of Virginia Tech. He's personable, knowledgeable, and like you said, he just brings an energy to the room and gets other people just excited about whatever he's doing as he is. I really can't wait to see where he takes this athletics department.
#Whitness
2 upvotes in 3 seconds and now 3 with mine. Nice.
Must've been the #Whitness
Joe is a visionary. Been pro-CAPS for years.
GOOSIES, WHIT. GOOSIES.
In sharp contrast to Mike London's strategy:
Compliance
Recruiting
Academics
Play stoppage
Or
C ommonwealth Cup...Never
R ecieve timeouts... always
A ssume the position.. daily
P redicted wins.. 2 yearly
most appropriate use of a gif EVER
You ever wake up and just think today's gonna be a good day?
Yup.
i'm ready for a new (but traditional) look for our unis. maroon helmet with standard VT logo, a maroon jersey, a white jersey, maroon pants and white pants. those 5 things can be worn in any combination the players want, but stick to those 5 pieces.
Call me old fashioned, but I would be content with this on a regular basis:
minor tweaks: use the all white numbers on the front and back from our current uniforms and go back to the all orange numbers up on the shoulders from 1995(?). i am not a fan out outlines on uniform numbers...but other than that, absolutely.
I don't like how the outlined numbers look either.. I wonder how all numbers done in orange would look.. eliminate the while altogether
Probably a bit harder to see on camera. Especially since we use burnt orange.
I think a lot of people consider white to be a part of our scheme. I say do maroon uniforms, white numbers, orange accents. For away games, white uniforms, maroon numbers, orange accents.
I HATE the orange numbers on the shoulders. Always did, always will. They're unique -- as in uniquely ugly IMO.
Yes, this, but no outlines on the numbers and all numbers are all orange. This this in all maroon with orange numbers:
http://cdn1.mden.com/AD898.JPG
I know I won't win any friends for the team these jerseys represents, but I think they'd be too hot in maroon and orange.
orange and maroon may not clash enough under NCAA uniform guidelines. i know they cracked down on Oregon and some others because the numbers were just disappearing into the uniform design...but if they comply, i would like to see it, too.
As a hobby, my dad works as a stat guy and spotter for TV/Radio during Tech games (including the Spring game). It's quite difficult for him and the broadcasters to see orange numbers on maroon jerseys (or in general, color on color unless it's a big contrast of light/dark).
Obviously no decision is going to be made just because the broadcasters and their crews have trouble seeing the numbers, but it could be something they keep in the back of their minds.
These are my all time favorites. We looked like murderers.
It's because the opposing team cannot see us. The maroon makes us very stealth during the day and night.
While I wouldn't go quite that far, I remember as a kid, my only experience with VT was during bowl season when I'd see them on TV (and maybe once or twice throughout the year), and I always thought their maroon uniforms looked pretty cool.
These uniforms were badass. Come in, get shit done and leave. That's what they said to you.
I've always believed ... and still do ... that those were our best uniforms ever.
"Ohhh Yeahhh" - voice of kool-aid man
leg for you
Uniforms are made the prior year in all sports, it's pretty standard. I know we need to get away from having 5000 different helmets, but if we could just do one this year, there is a nice looking one on Ballein's desk that would be good for the military appreciation game. It's just like the standard white helmet we have, but the VT is Americanized as well as the stripe. The stripe narrows down and fades out near the back.
Edit for picture:
Saw that, thought it was cool. Hope to see it on military appreciation day.
The bookstore was selling t-shirts with an Americanized VT, so maybe it's a hint that it will happen. Would look sweet on a helmet.
My guess is that this will be the look (as debuted in the Spring Game)
ohh this right here!!! WHiT is a bad bad man!!! #Whitness
Related note, I really want #Whitness to become a thing in mainstream Hokie lingo.
Also, I really think Joe should add that as a possible tag on forum topics and blog posts.
Someone get this man a change of pants!!!! (in maroon, obviously)
This is Nike's last year of their contract with VT if i'm not mistaken. that being said, i think they will change up our football land our bball uniforms at least enough to drum up replacement sales before they may be shown the door next June. Nike may very well win the business, but i don't think Whit is going to show them any loyalty, they are going to have to WIN the business...
From Whit last night - Nike contract was extended 8 years before he came on.
WHAAAAA? how did that slip under the radar!? i sure as hell hope JW got market value! some of the new deals being announced (L'ville and ND) are off the charts compared to what we had previously...
I think the terminology "extended" speaks volumes. There was no restructuring, we just signed off on the extension.
This very well could have been Jim's last move before he stepped down.
No, No, No, No, No, NOOOOOOO!!!!!! every Nike deal we've ever signed has been announced and picked apart thoroughly in the press...how could JW sign this and keep it under wraps? If Whit said it, it must be true, but i do NOT have a good feeling about this. there is A LOT of money to be made in the apparel deal business right now!
I agree.
This kind of thing just smells like a rubber stamp from a lame duck Athletic Director who wanted to make his mark on the school one last time before he hung it up. The fact we don't know anything about it is all we need to know in terms of whether or not it was a good deal for us. Just more of the Virginia Tech Status Quo that Whit was referring to in his talk that needs to go. Just another opportunity wasted from the previous regime.
As of February 16th, when Whit was hired, they were still in the process of extending the Nike deal. Maybe they're still working out the details?
Nope - its a done deal... and is just a pure extension of the 2007 deal we signed.
Contract Summary: Nike USA Inc - VT Contract #: TG-001-08
Not sure how based upon dates that you assume that the contract is only a pure extension. There's no information whatsoever available on the contract details because these things are often kept under wraps.
If there was a renegotiation and an adjustment of the terms, it would have had to be listed as a brand new contract with both sides agreeing to the amended terms, and as such, it would include a new Effective Date and End Date. And extension of the End Date just means you've agreed to continue with the current contract as is.
I've never been in contract negotiations so this is purely speculation, but I see no reason why a contract extension could not have modified terms. It seems that adding an addendum or amendment to the contract could be done without having to list it as a brand new contract. The contract is already existing and since it is still in effect, an extension could be done with modified terms to include a new value of services given and received.
I agree with this. You have to bet part of the "modified terms" involve paying more money. No way Nike extends the same contract paying the same fees we've been paying or vice versa. Money is never stagnant.
I have, at least with Commercial Loan agreements.
Yes, you can issue an Amendment to the original Contract, but if you're going to amend any of the terms, and especially the payment and the rates that apply, the very first thing you're going to do is to have an article on the Amendment that changes the Effective Date for this extension, so that one side cannot go back and later claim that back payments need to be made all the way to the original Effective Date on the contract. The fact that 7/1/2007 is still showing as the Effective Date on the VT website is indicative that only the End Date was changed, which is also an indication that the rates and terms did not change, either.
I guess the way I see it is that the original contract was effective 7/1/2007, but the amendment could very well have an effective date of 7/1/2015 which is when the original contract End Date was. So the contract itself is still effective 7/1/2007 and the new end date is then specified by the amendment. Reality is that we are speculating on something of which we have no information. The assumption that many have made that Jim Weaver was incompetent and would simply sign off on an extension of the old terms is rather insulting to his ability to bring money to the program. Despite the head-scratching decisions he occasionally made, he made sure we had money to run the way we needed. Knowing that we were expanding, he wouldn't have settled for less than he felt we deserved. To say he would isn't giving him enough credit. Whether you like him or not, he made sure we were in the black.
What perplexes me is that the original contract extended until 2018. Why extend now?
VT/Nike Contract from VT's Contract with Nike and other tidbits
Yup.
And generally, the Amended contract with the new terms, is an amendment and listed as such. Easy to find, easy to understand. that way there's no disagreements or misunderstanding to get in the way of future contracts.
Honestly, these maroon tops are my least favorite we've had. Something about the shoulders just makes them seem so... bleh. My favorites were the ones we wore against Maryland in '08 or the ones we had in 2007.
Agree with this. I don't hate these uniforms at all. But it's something about the shoulders that make them seem so standard and not unique. Too much like Ole Miss and LSU. I like the idea of us having consistently used kits from game to game and year to year, just, not these.
I hope so. That is a football uniform. Traditional, but sleek and powerful. Looks like you've been there before and you will be there yet again. It doesn't get better than this, IMO.
Whit's the man.
This is what I see:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2340929/How-animals-look-head-pl...
http://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/21140030.html
So, you're saying those uniforms make the boobs look big and cleavaged?
How'd you get that from a picture of a dog??
The nerve of some people....
There's a picture of a dog?
And why would I be nervous, it's just a picture.
As soon as I saw #AME during the Spring Game, I knew that was Whit's doing. Nevertheless,
Clark Ruhland posted his all maroon concept uniform earlier this week.
and the corresponding white version:
I like these a lot. Nike needs to get Clark on staff.
to bad they won't.. Nike is so high on their Oregon uniforms/retarded 3rd color VT (orange) uniforms and stuff that they wouldn't stoop (not meant in a bad way those jerseys are 10000 times better than the **** nike makes) to some unknown uniform creator. Also you would have to think if they used his idea they would have to pay him some sort of fee or something.... <--- not quite sure about that but it could be a sticky situation for Nike.
Sorry that was supposed to be an upvote... Help me out please
You can override a down vote by upvoting
You can change the vote by clicking the up arrow, for future reference
Oh thanks
These are awesome!
Personally, even though I'm against majority-orange uniforms at VT, I like them to have some on there. Even if it's just the piping from a decade ago. We have a very unique color scheme and I like to see it on the field.
Agreed 100%
We are not Texas A&M nor are we Mississippi State, so lets stop trying to demand our football team to look like them.
Orange is one of our colors, embrace it.
They're great. I'm just not a huge fan of the stripe on the top of the helmet.
I always hated that stripe
Definitely get rid of it on the maroon lid.
Make it a Hokie stone stripe (along with the TV), and you've struck gold. Gold, Jerry, gold!
In case anyone needs the visual:
...just went from 6:00 to midnight...
Want these soooo bad.
I really like the Hokiestone down the side, doesn't stick out like a sore thumb like the helmets did last year, but it definitely makes it a personal touch nobody else would have
There arent enough turkey legs for this entire thread!!!
SO MUCH GREEN
Turkey leg for any Django gif used at any time.
I really don't care what our uni's look like. I have found that the uglier and more obnoxious that they are...the more a 16-18 year old football recruit will like them, and that's what matters to me. We could be wearing dresses for all I care, as long as we win at least 10 games.
Have you done a mock-up of your new Hokie Stone sundress idea yet? Can't wait to see it...
With the return of "Stick It In", would be a increase in VT morale in the Red Zone.
Chants add the impression of organized, directed energy such as when muzzle loading military units used to fire volleys. It builds our team's morale and degrades the enemy mental resistance and toughness.
It is a well known fact that the offense scored more points when we had the Stick it In chant.
Correlation may not mean causation.
But I, like the majority of TKPers, don't care that correlation may not mean causation.
Correlation is good enough for me.
I believe this as well. Truth
So you're saying we should combine the two ideas and have like 6 Skippers all firing simultaneously when we're in the red zone?
Have them timed to coordinate with the hip thrusts of Stick It In
Instead of the Hokie Bird doing pushups or throwing girls in the air, we should fire Skipper as many times as we have points.
We should still throw girls in the air.
That helps morale too.
There are so many things in this post that excite me, it's hard to know where to start. Suffice it to say that I am stoked for the future of VT athletics.
Rather than look back and wonder what could-have-been if we had these changes earlier, I am going to agree with people in here and say "Whit is the tits". This guy really wants VT to be competative without sacrificing academics or morals. I hope he is able to do it; it can get ugly when you want to run with the corrupt big-boys.
Hey Joe, can the next shirt say "Whit is my Homeboy"?
I want #Whitness in a Maroon T with white letters
Too legit to Whit
That's Whitty.
Me, too :)
Clearly I have been out-clevered by you and JCtaughtMe
I like yours. I still have my Tyrod is my homeboy shirt
If we go to the NIT, are we NITWhits?
Instead of cutting players with bad attitudes, do we Whittle them down?
Nah, I think they just get Babcocked
easy there.. we don't need another sandusky case
Let's get them printed...
Black and white?!?!
No no no no no....
Maroon background. White text and body. Orange halo.
We are all Whitnesses
I started a thread in the Pictureboard and it got deleted overnight, I'm not sure If that post broke some kind of rule or something.
Here is the requested layout, doesn't look quite as good in the white, IMO
Joe has asked that people don't post their shirt ideas here because that's not the point of this site and it hurts their bottom line.
I really could care less about being downvoted, but honestly though, why do it for reiterating what Joe has stated before here? Understand what the downvote is for people.
I actually upvoted it since it gave me a reason why it was done. I completely understand.
I've only been on here a couple weeks, so had no idea there was a thread about it ever posted and even looked for a FAQ or forum rules when that post was deleted.
Yeah, in the white, it might seem kind of racist, because by first read in white, I read:
"We Are All Whiteness"
Am I the only one?
Quick and Dirty MS Paint job based on pieces of past unis from Clark's uni builder site...
This I like.
ok. That's awesome
That stripe doesn't look right with those numbers. If we're going to do that stripe, the jersey might as well be the exact one we wore in the 1999-2003 seasons.
There also needs to be a white outline for the orange sleeve numbers, or else they essentially bleed together at a distance. Do a white outline (without the maroon gap) around the orange sleeve numbers, and a orange outline on the white numbers (same ones we wore 2004-2007).
With all that said, I'd much rather allow Nike to go crazy with our design again rather than go traditional. The crazy they've designed for us in the past have been some pretty badass looks, and I kinda wish we had stayed with them.
i wouldn't mind Nike giving us a completely new look, either, but nothing TOO crazy....
as far as the stripes, Auburn (edit: and tOSU and LSU...i'm sure there are others) has split helmet stripes and no outlines on the numbers, and it looks fine. i hate number outlines (with or without the gap). we had these exact orange numbers on our jerseys' shoulders in 1995, and it was awesome!
Aesthetically, I just don't like it. Doesn't look like it all lines up right when the striping on the numbers don't match the stripes themselves.
I'd much prefer something like either of these:
Apologies for the crude MSPaint editing
Looks fine but I still like the one above more.
THEONEONTHERIGHT
YAIS. The maroon sleeves are cash money in the bank.
Nike did a top notch job with the FSU unis. As long as we ride them on what THE UNIVERSITY wants versus what NIKE wants you will wind up with something like the reboot FSU got to their unis. Alternatively, if you let them go all "Nike" on it, you'll end up with something akin to what Syracuse got; glitzy redesign with complete loss of brand identity.
Disagree. I think it looks great as it is.
i like it
So does Whit have a TKP account yet? Or is he just a lurker?
I was just about to say something along these lines...
he's definitely lurking... I know you can see this Whit. ...and I love you.
not...not in a weird way.
DEAR WHIT,
IF YOU KEEP THIS UP I WILL BE THE MOTHER OF YOUR BABIES. I WILL GET A SEX CHANGE SO I CAN BE THE MOTHER OF YOUR BABIES. I LOVE YOU THAT MUCH.
-ROCKIDR4
Whit, please note that we're not all insane. Thank you.
That's right, some of us are just partially insane.
Which parts?
The parts that matter.
The part that tells me to wear pants has been broken for years. Or maybe the opposite of broken. I mean, honestly, that's the main reason I come to this site.
Hey Alum07, are you in Raleigh? I'll be moving down next Thursday and I gotta find that Hokie chapter ASAP!
Born and raised and came back after college.
Hit me up if you have any questions about the area.
beardface07@gmail.com
Saw the email, this is all I can think of:
What other traditions would we want to have brought back?
One thing Ive always hoped for was the playing of Dixie again by the HT's. Instantly recognizable and a neat counterpoint to Stick it In.
After doing my own research I found that we voluntarily stopped playing it to deescalate a potential conflict in 1972/73. A nod of approval from the AD, combined with a new director after next year, might finally bring it back.
We actually have the record fro playing Dixie the MOST CONSECUTIVE TIMES at 62, at the Charleston Exhibition in 1902!
i think the last thing we need to do is bring back dixie.
Did anyone else like the helmets that we had on against Rutgers in the Russell Athletic Bowl? I liked them and wish they'd bring them back.
I agree with you. Unfortunately the gobbler logo had officially been retired.
Loved them but unfortunately we will never see them again.
I was looking at the old TKP thread from when they decided to retire those logos and one idea stuck out to me, especially with our new focus on fund-raising. They should really be trying to bring back the vintage logos from a money-making standpoint. Now that we've had a year or two without them, the demand for them, which I thought was pretty big when they were in stores originally, should be pretty high...
i think it just needs to be controlled more. pick ONE company to license them to (Mitchell & Ness?) and put limits on how much they can be used. the over saturation of the old marks over the past 5 years or so created brand confusion. Don't use the old logos on anything official within the athletics dept, but allow them to be licensed within reason to supply the demand that exists for them. just my $.02
I thought it was stupid to retire them. I mean I couldn't be the one still buying the
"old" logos. I still have the T within the V and the gobbler on my car. I personally love
the Gobbler one. Represents the history of VT.
This! I would love to have the Fighting Gobbler logo back.
Yep I prefer them actually. Just made a pair of corn hole boards, each features one of the "old" logos. I still wear my burnt orange "TV" hat more than any other.
The Kickin' Chicken is the shit! Silly of them to retire it.
Probably my favorite helmets that we've had
Where are you guys buying these helmets from?
We pooled all our money together and bought a few helmets and a Benny's Pizza
Wait, you have a Benny's pizza too?
If I had to guess, I would say the #ALLMAROONEVERYTHING game would be october 27th vs Miami considering it is the SGA Maroon Effect game.
Considering it is Thursday night and Miami, it is the obvious historically-appropriate choice for Whit to make his mark on the game day experience, ushering in a return to the glory of the years we all remember well.
The funny thing is, I picture the stands filled with people jumping up and down, with cuts to the football team, cut to Whit standing in the Superman pose, cuts to the crowd, cuts to Whit, and he nods his approval. All as some opening sequence on ESPN on the re-emergence of the Hokies as the crowd/team to behold at the end of the season.
So are we sure that the kids remember what "Stick it In" is all about and how to do it? I always worry about old traditions coming back, because I'm not sure the noobs know whats up.
we know that this isn't a VT only tradition, right? i mean, this was something done at my HS in NJ in the 90's, i'm sure it was done all over the place. the kids will know it, or, if not, they will pick it up quickly.
I agree, if it contains sexual innuendo, the kids will pick it up right away.
The band still knows it. The will model it correctly. Students will get it.
Maybe im the only one after reading this thread but I would like to see us wear the black nike unis we wore in the opener a few years back I thought they looked amazing wish I could track one down to get it one day.
That is one of my favorite uin combos from the school. There is a Twitter campaign to wear the all-black unis against #LOLUVA for the Black Friday game.
@HokieBlackUni, #BlackOutBlackFriday
I made this concept for them a while back. It's basically a hybrid of the 2010 and 2009 Pro Combats mashed together.
I did not like the allblack Pro Combats from FedEx field a few years back.
Not enough VT color in them and the numbers were too hard to read.
the one above is better but needs even more color.
I was informed by a media guy that dual color numbers are no longer allowed anyway. It's too hard for the announcers (well, the spotters actually) and statisticians to see them during the game. It was just something I was playing with. I did, however, find it interesting that they only allow single color number font yet do no require TV numbers on jerseys, which I would think would have more of an impact than color change.
Oh, well.
Then I take it you would prefer something like this?
I'm all for the black uniforms for the black friday game but I would love to see a lot
of maroon mixed in and no orange (bc its one of UVA's colors).
Orange is one of OUR colors, too
I'm so sick of the attitude that we need to avoid the color orange like the plague because UVa wears it as well. Who gives a crap. We wear it and we wear it better. We win more games in it than they do. Our colors are orange and maroon... Take pride in that and don't be embarrassed or scared because they share a similar color.
Should we avoid white as a color, too? I mean, every other school we play wears white, so by this standard, white should be our mortal enemy. And if we ever play Texas A&M again, I take it that we should only wear orange and white uniforms, right?
Dude I am fully aware of our team COLORS. I am also aware of other teams colors.
I was only talking about one specific game. I proudly wear both colors so chill out.
Well then answer the question. If and when we play Texas A&M again, do you want VT to go all orange and white with NO maroon, because that is one of their colors? How about doing that in games against BC or FSU, as their burgundy is close enough to our maroon?
I do not have to answer anything to you. It was a simply thought...that is all.
First, Alum07, this was a great report. Thanks. Second, don't be a douche man.
She is saying she wants to be something visibly different than LOLUVA because well.... it's phucking LOLUVA. She IS NOT saying that she is suggesting to change colors for every team that has similar colors. It's a valid opinion and frankly a good idea. I would love to see a a black uniform for black Friday. I personally don't mind there is orange on it but I can understand the reasoning. Plus it's just her opinion. You have yours and she has hers.
...touche
All maroon with the Black Matte helmets...
If we'd wear the true Virginia Tech orange (BURNT), there would be no issue. It's always been a bit of a peeve of mine that we use Clemson-style orange.
I would prefer to use predominately maroon when playing teams that feature orange but I don't like nixing it from the uniforms altogether, personally. It's still our color, we should own it. Especially on our own campus.
Not sure I care about the uniforms with regards to the teams playing, but I think fans should wear the opposing colors, if possible. I'm not going to wear Hokie Orange to a UVA game or Clemson game because I in NO WAY want to be mistaken as a UVA/Clemson fan. It's much easier to wear Maroon myself so people see me and know I'm a Hokie Fan without having to read my shirt.
The opposite would be true, too. If we face an opponent that is predominantly maroon such as TAMU, I would wear, and think fans should wear Hokie Orange. Then there is NO WAY anyone watching the game can get confused about who's supporting which team.
I would wish our team to wear whatever color they feel makes them more badass (of course within our color scheme). If they felt awesome in the combat black, and would go out and win every time in combat black, send them out in combat black!
I can agree to the fan aspect. I don't have much experience with it since I spent the majority of my Hokie Fandom wearing an MV's uniform, but the last couple years I've just worn my maroon #34 jersey. It's got enough orange on it that I can't really be mistaken.
MV = LEG!
Count me among those who are absolutely THRILLED that there will be no more "wacky helmets"!!!
I hope to God we ditch the "throwbacks" too.