Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Answering email: names on uniforms

I try to answer all the emails sent to me. Sometimes the topic merits opening the discussion up to the larger BC fanbase. Here is an email from David H. and my response.
Question for ya -- do you think that player names should go back on the football jerseys? I believe that Spaz took them off, and Addazio has just kept the status quo.

I really wish they would put the player names back on. Makes it a lot easier to follow the team during the game and get excited about individual players. Not easy to remember all the numbers out there. I also think that the players and maybe even families might feel more proud with their family name on the uniform.

Wondering if there's any sort of movement or vocal group that feels the same way?


I would welcome a return of names on the back of the jerseys. Let’s be practical about the whole thing. It is not like we are preserving some history or tradition. The names have been coming on and off BC jerseys for five decades now. Sometimes we have them on the road but not home. Some coaches have mixed it up (TOB had it both ways). Even if you use the names (or lack thereof) as a motivational tool and a form of team unity, does that really make a difference?

Addazio is a big believer in motivational tools, so I don’t expect any change in the policy any time soon. Maybe if he hears enough negative feedback from recruits, he might change things.

The other factor that might help get names back is Under Armour. They are always looking to tweak the look and jerseys so adding the names back could be an upcoming recommendation. At least we no longer have the italics numbers, which made identifying players strictly by number very confusing.

My prediction is that names will return to home jerseys within two years. Addazio or Under Armour will make the change for sake of change.

20 comments:

Lenny Sienko said...

I would be in favor of returning player's names to their uniforms. It makes following what's going on so much easier, especially on TV. It would certainly be a boon to the "casual" fan who hasn't committed the roster to memory.


The best BC teams of the modern era, with Doug Flutie et.al., had their names on their jerseys.

Hoib said...

I agree w Lennie. I get the no I in team thing, but from the fans perspective, and I'm not casual, it takes along time to figure out who's who.

Kash86 said...

Didn't someone on EO (Swigerts uncle ?) say BC was getting new uniforms this season ??

eagleboston said...

I agree. I'm tired of going to the BC website to look up the roster after a player makes a great play. Flutie had his name on the jersey so everyone else should too. By the way, since it is he slow offseason, I'm curious who people think are the best BC players in history. I think you have to rank Flutie #1. He is after all, the player who put BC on the map and is the school's sole Heisman Trophy winner. I'm old enough to remember watching him play and he was such an exciting playmaker. So, who is #2? #3?

Hoib said...

He didn't play a glamor position, but I think Raji is as good as anyone we've had after faultless Flutie.

Herzylax22 said...

I hope you're right. I find it much more enjoyable to be able to see the players name without having to go look it up. I get tired of trying to remember who is who, especially in the non-glamour positions.

Napolean Bonaparte said...

I think they should put a different name on their jersey's every week just to mess up the opposition. "Hey - who's this new guy they put in named Weisenberg?"

Hoib said...

Eagle

Some other names. Scoodalari, Romo, DiOssie, Luke & Herzy, Ruth. Pete Mitchell Brenan & Phelan, Espo, Green, Knight, Cloud Foley & Ryan A whole page for OLs Even w/ this long list Flutie stands alone by a mile.

3xEagle said...

Art Donovan and Mike Holovak were pretty good football players for BC.

Hoib said...

3xEagle

So was Concanon supposedly, but I only put down guys I saw.

twballgame9 said...

99% positive Daz is the one that took them off in the first place, so I will take that bet.

twballgame9 said...

http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/colleges/post/_/id/3454/bc-players-talk-about-nameless-jerseys

twballgame9 said...

Oh, and Will Green.

BarraCuda said...

I've been a BC fan since I matriculated there in 1987. I remember seeing Flutie play on TV but I wasn't a fan yet. I'm not sure who the best BC player I've seen is, but the most dominating was Mike Mamula. And my favorite was Eric Shorter, but that's another qyestion for another day.

Hoib said...

Barra

How could I forget Mamula. T.C. wasn't there long, but he had allot of the players that come to mind. Stephen Boyd another.

mod34b said...

Hoib, Scooter was a great player in his day, but not in the Keeks or Herzy category. Same for DeOssie -- in fact, DeOssie should not be any list of BC greats. Phelan, nsame.

BC greats > 1. Flutie 2. Ryan 3. Keeks 4. Raji 5. Cherilus 6. Castonzo. 7. Kiwi 8. Williams 9. Herzy 10. Donovan 11. Tony Thurman 12. Snee 13. Silva

twballgame9 said...

Shocked you didn't have Amidon top 10

TobaccoRoadEagle said...

Ryan Ohliger

Hoib said...

Tobacco

He was probably better than last years disaater. We've had a few good one's over the years, Freeze, Steinfort, and there will always be a soft spot in my heart for David Gordan, but more often than not we've has inept place kickers. Throw in lousy snappers and much of my gray hair can be attributted to that.

TobaccoRoadEagle said...

if you're going to have a soft spot in your heart for someone, you should probably learn to spell their name correctly.

just sayin'