2002 Michigan State Spartans

2002

Michigan State Spartans

B1G

 

Helmet:  A-

Home Jersey: B-

Away Jersey: B-

Pants: A

Final Verdict:

Good Riddance

This is an odd little number from recent MSU history. While this may not be the worst uniform the Spartans have ever had, it is the most unusual and bland. I get that they were trying to do something unique, but its rather uninspiring. The helmet is fine, other than the "S". It has always been my understanding that the "S" was the academic logo and the spartan helmet was the athletic logo. The numbers are fine, but they should be on the sleeves. They obviously left out the numbers for this strange piping. I know I have seen that design before, not on a football uniform, but I don't recall where. It just doesn't look right, kinda makes the arms look puffy. In addition, the "State" on the uniform is kinda lackluster. Tons of schools have "State", this should be unique. Not much to say about the pants, they are fine as is. All in all, Michigan State has one of the best uniform histories, but this is not one of the high points. Thankfully this uniform only stayed for one season then left like Bobby Williams.

2001 San Jose State Spartans

2001

San Jose State Spartans

WAC

Helmet:  A-

Home Jersey: F

Away Jersey: B-

Pants: F (black), A (white)

Final Verdict:

Good Riddance

Welcome to my first "Retro Review". This is where I take a specific uniform set from the past and do a review of it. Since the uniform is typically no longer around, the gradeing scale is now: "Good Riddance" or "Should have left well enough alone". Basically the former meaning I am glad they got rid of it and the latter being they should have kept it.

I really feel bad for San Jose State sometimes. Not only are they the only FBS team in California with no respect, but they play in an area dominated by the Raider, 49ers, Golden Bears, and Cardinal, and continue to get buried each year. I just want to see these guys be competitive for once. Or at the very least, have good uniforms. This should be filed under the "what were they thinking" category. I think this is an early example of BFBS before it became popular. Not only does black consume the uniform as the symbiote consumed Peter Parker, but it makes the team look bush league. Lets start from the top. The helmet logo is great and a year before these uniforms they had their best helmet, with a yellow facemask. Here, however, its black and it really darkens the color of the helmet. The yellow numbers are OK, but what is that stripe they have? I can see it better on the away uniforms, but I can't tell what it is suppose to look like. At least the white uniform had an absents of black and looks rather decent. And whats up with the "S" and the "E" spelling both "San Jose" and "State"? I mean I like that they have it written there, and yes I understand that "San Jose State" can be a bit wordy for a uniform, but its just so weird, hard to focus your eyes kinda. I'll grant its unique, just not very good. Black pants? Nope. And really adding the blue and yellow stripes did not help. The only good thing about this uniform is that the away uniform looked good. Granted the strip on the side made no sense, but it look descent. I don't know what compelled SJSU to do this, but I am glad it didn't last long. But ever since this, it seems SJSU is still struggling to find a descent uniform. Its one thing to be a bad team or have a bad uniform, but both is just a crime.