Breaking Down New Arkansas Football Nike Uniforms

With a new head coach and various other changes happening prior to the 2012 season, the Arkansas Razorbacks have decided to go all the way with brand new uniforms. 

In what has become a yearly tradition for every team in every sport, you have to sport new threads to drum up interest in the product. 

Fortunately, Nike does such a great job with the quality and look of these jerseys that it is hard to complain about all the changes. 

Here is an in-depth look at the Razorbacks' brand new Nike uniforms. 

Wow Factor: 7 out of 10

There are no real significant changes to the look and design of the jersey. Considering how much fans and schools love their tradition and are not likely to react well to drastic changes, that was a smart move by Nike. 

It does not exactly reach out and smack you in the face, which is a good thing, because then you start hitting Oregon territory. Keeping things simple and subtle is the best way to go for a new uniform. 

Of course, I do love the new black alternate uniform. It is a strong upgrade for a team that has just gone with the traditional red and white look for the longest time. If we knew the Razorbacks would wear those a lot more than once or twice each season, the grade would be higher.

Design: 7.5 out of 10

As much as I enjoy the sleeker look of these uniforms compared to the old ones, there are some flaws in the design that are too much to overcome. 

The biggest problem I have with the design is the fact that the stitching on the lettering is so obvious to see. We all know that letters and numbers get stitched on jerseys, but this looks a little more pronounced than you will usually see. 

Other than that, the sharp look, SEC patch on the right side and Razorbacks logo on the collar give it a lot of pop. 

Overall Swag Grade: 8.5 out of 10

While I am grading the overall jerseys significantly higher than I did the wow factor and design, I think it is more than justified. 

Arkansas is not the kind of school, or state, that is going to concern itself with the way its football team looks walking out on the field. The fans want to see the players in the traditional colors, without a lot of flash. 

Tweaking a look rather than trying to completely reinvent the wheel is a bold strategy to take. Arkansas' changes should be an example for the rest of the teams in college football that are getting a new look. 

*All photos courtesy of Arkansas Razorbacks and Nike.

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