EAST LANSING - Michigan State unveiled its new look as the start of the Mark Dantonio era begins. The Spartans will sport new helmets and new uniforms in both colors, the road white and the home green.
The highlight of the new uniforms is the new fabric, a form-fitting "Cordura" material that is said to be more light weight and produces a tight "shrink-wrapped" fit making it more difficult for opponents to grab hold of and hang onto the uniform.
Produced by Nike, the uniforms are also said to improve weight reduction, increase ventilation and improve moisture management.
The jersey are a bit of a throwback to the outfits the great Spartan teams of the 50s and 60s wore. They still sport the tag "MICHIGAN STATE" across the chest, but the lettering is the same used back in the glory days. The players names will return to the upper back below a Spartan helmet logo patch.
The pants will sport the patch on the front left hip.
The helmets will feature the Spartan helmet logo instead of the block "S" and a white stripe has been added down the center.
“This is a clean, classic uniform design,” MSU athletic equipment coordinator Bob Knickerbocker said. “The new uniform really embraces Michigan State’s football heritage.
Several old elements have been added to the uniform and those are things that our ex-players and alumni can relate to. They can say, ‘hey, that’s how the jersey and helmet looked when I played there or that’s how the uniforms looked when I went to school there.’”
Pictured in the uniforms are fifth-year senior Kaleb Thornhill and junior quarterback Brian Hoyer, both are expected to be starters for the Spartans this fall.