burgundy Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 12 minutes ago, HOOVER said: I have a theory that custom number fonts are one way that the manufacturers tried to deter bootleg jersey sales. Easy to get China jersey online for $25 with accurate numbers when it’s full block; harder when those bootleggers don’t have a custom number font file to copy. That may have been the original intent, but it doesn't really work. Sure, bootleggers may not have the number font when the jerseys are first revealed, but once those jerseys are out in the world it's pretty damn easy to make a copycat font. It also doesn't work because people that buy counterfeit jerseys don't care if the number font is accurate, or even if the color and striping are accurate. I have seen some absolute abominations in Detroit, and the people wearing them don't care. The main reason for CNFCNS(Custom Numbers For Custom Numbers Sake TM) is that it's just another way for the designer/manufacturer to experiment and put their stamp on teams. The Texans didn't need a new number font. Their outgoing numbers were already a clean, modern font with tasteful design elements that evoked the bull horns of the logo. It would have worked well with the new horn stripes. But they were a Reebok design, and Nike didn't want them on their jersey. So they designed a new font that looks like the old font is glitching out. It's still using the same ideas as the old font, but they shuffled elements around just to make it different. 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver_Star Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 10 hours ago, Pigskin12 said: This would've been a homerun. So unique and brilliant color balance, which is a foreign concept to Nike. BETTER!!! 2 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Discrim Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 5 hours ago, Ted Cunningham said: Custom number fonts, especially of late, are an excellent encapsulation of "just because we can doesn't mean we should". Since it used to be that suppliers (at least to a degree) dictated what number styles were available, there was more uniformity, at least in concept, among number sets. And differences in generally similar styles led to interesting (but tame) quirks and differences (like the "Champion" numbers essentially being "block" but with the curved 7, etc.). Because of certain teams sticking with styles over time, even after changing suppliers, we ended up with some teams with contextually unique numbers. (Two examples that stick out there are the Bears, and to a lesser degree, the Red Sox.) But somewhere around the mid-to-late 90s (I suppose starting with the Ravens, Eagles, and then Broncos), that changed. Those number sets were, at least, somewhat coherent in their designs though. Now, with numbers like the Texans, Dolphins, Seahawks, Titans, etc., it just seems like numbers are designed first and foremost to not look like other numbers, and then Nike et al back into some brand-speak, brand-related explanation for why they look like they do. You forgot the Patriots Quote A strong mind gets high off success, a weak mind gets high off bull Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CATLogo1 Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 On 3/19/2024 at 10:39 AM, PurpleHayes said: When I made that post, I didn't think the unis would leak within 72 hours! That escalated quickly... So is it March 23 or April 23 that the Houston Texans are scheduled to unveil their new uniform designs to the public? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dont care Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 4 hours ago, CATLogo1 said: So is it March 23 or April 23 that the Houston Texans are scheduled to unveil their new uniform designs to the public? April, I don’t know why this deserved a laughing reaction though… 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ted Cunningham Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 5 hours ago, Discrim said: You forgot the Patriots Ha. I was wondering if anyone would notice. I intentionally left them out because, while it was a unique look to the NFL, that set of numbers looked like they belonged in the NHL. (Probably because around that time the Lightning and Flames had both featured italicized numbers briefly, and the NHL was the only placed I'd seen italicized numbers. So that's how I classified that look in my head. In other words, the general style of that set of numbers didn't look entirely new to me, even if they were unique, unlike the Ravens, Eagles, et al. which felt like entirely new designs.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BBTV Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 10 hours ago, Sec19Row53 said: orry (not sorry) I've upset the Vet. LOL what? Try harder. 10 hours ago, Sec19Row53 said: Any time (almost) that someone claims that nobody uses them, or that nobody sees them in the stands, I'll point out that they are, in fact, used and seen. I didn't say any of those things. 1 Quote "The views expressed here are mine and do not reflect the official opinion of my employer or the organization through which the Internet was accessed." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DCarp1231 Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 Imagine looking for tiny numbers on a jersey when you can simply look at the giant numbers provided on the front and back of said jersey 9 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tBBP Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 10 hours ago, burgundy said: The main reason for CNFCNS(Custom Numbers For Custom Numbers Sake TM) is that it's just another way for the designer/manufacturer to experiment and put their stamp on teams. The Texans didn't need a new number font. Their outgoing numbers were already a clean, modern font with tasteful design elements that evoked the bull horns of the logo. It would have worked well with the new horn stripes. But they were a Reebok design, and Nike didn't want them on their jersey. So they designed a new font that looks like the old font is glitching out. It's still using the same ideas as the old font, but they shuffled elements around just to make it different. Minor point of correction: those Texans numbers—along with the rest of the Texans brand identity, as well as the refreshed brand identities of the Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals, and Seattle Seahawks circa '02—were actually the work of Mark Verlander. Those were the last independently-designed brand identities prior to the league-wide contract model, in this case by Reebok, for that 2002 season. 8 hours ago, Discrim said: You forgot the Patriots Ah, yes...good ol' Apex One. (That is still my second-favorite major pro sports uniform of all-time.) And to @Ted Cunningham's point...I hadn't thought about it, but I believe that was indeed the first instance of italicized jersey numbers in the NFL. Shoot—it may have been one of the first instances of italicized jersey numbers period...the only other ones I can think of right off the top of my head prior to those were the Tampa Bay Lightning circa '95 or '96, which is when those Patriots uniforms hit the field. (I half-remember an NBA All-Star uniform using italicized numbers, too...I think it was the Phoenix one.) 2 hours ago, DCarp1231 said: Imagine looking for tiny numbers on a jersey when you can simply look at the giant numbers provided on the front and back of said jersey Except when you can't see the giant numbers provided on the front and back of said jersey... ...Or when they're partially obscured. Not as big an issue when watching live because one can see the players before they get tackled or tied up, but the point remains...TV numbers would have helped in each of these instances. But they're also no longer a requirement, so it is what it is... 9 Quote *Disclaimer: I am not an authoritative expert on stuff...I just do a lot of reading and research and keep in close connect with a bunch of people who are authoritative experts on stuff. || dribbble || Behance || Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brave-Bird 08 Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 I personally don't think I have ever functionally felt like TV numbers were necessary. Usually my brain is looking towards the torso and just waiting for the player to position themselves in a way where I can finally see what number it is. However I am sure that also subconsciously my brain aggregates visuals from the TV numbers and the torso to piece together the number...idk...getting a bit too specific here. But the point I want to make is I've never consciously felt like TV numbers are necessary. Tracking player statistics from a press box was part of my day-to-day work for years, and many of the teams did not wear TV numbers (mostly high school teams), and it never made a difference to me. I can't imagine in the day of HD cameras and zoomed in, multi-camera angle productions that they are more necessary now. With all of that said, uniforms without TV numbers feel naked to me. They just add that extra piece of color and contrast. Use them whenever possible, but if they ever functionally get in the way of a greater design concept then I think they should never be considered necessary. In the Texans case, for example, it lets the horn breathe. In the Panthers case, there's literally no reason to try to squeeze them onto the shoulder like they have. The Rams "bone" jerseys that have an entire shoulder of room for numbers, yet they squeeze skewed numbers into an already busy sleeve cap-- I continue to be completely astonished that those went to production. But like, in the Chargers case, I kind of wish they had them because there's plenty of room. I know a lot of people really like their uniforms, but with the bolt on the sleeve cap and nothing on the shoulders they look kind of incomplete. 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McCall Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 I think the white Texans jersey NEEDS tv numbers on the shoulders. There's too much empty space. I don't think a logo would look good there, especially the primary, which would look very redundant against the logo on the helmet and the sleeve horns. They may not be necessary anymore, from a practical standpoint, but, in this case, tv numbers are necessary as the best option to fill overly-vacant jersey real estate. 2 Quote https://dribbble.com/MakaioCall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SFGiants58 Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 15 hours ago, The Impaler said: Brady doubling down on the Broncos board with the white helmets and city connect for the Broncos. What the hell does city connect have to do with white helmets? So, how legit is this source? Quote MLB: Project 32 (Complete), MLB: The Defunct Saga (Complete) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fouhy12 Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 As someone who frequently goes through All-22 film for both college and the NFL, the shoulder and/or helmet numbers are very helpful. Players spend a lot of their time either horizontal to the camera or on the ground surrounded by bodies. Unless a player has distinctive gear, it can be hard to make out a specific player. For line play especially, the more identifying markers a player has, the easier it is. I would much rather have shoulder numbers than a sleeve logo or something. 4 Quote fouhy12's NFL Concepts 2020 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaydre1019 Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 Everyone here has valid thoughts re: TV numbers, but also sometimes you gotta know when it's time for them to go. No one's reading these numbers from row 53. 7 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaydre1019 Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 19 hours ago, MCM0313 said: What examples have we ever even had? 1996-2008 49ers, or does metallic gold even count as dark? Cardinals’ black alt maybe? Honestly I mean almost generally speaking a colored facemask doesn't look good on a dark/black helmet. I think these would both look better with black facemasks. 1 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCM0313 Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 10 minutes ago, shaydre1019 said: Honestly I mean almost generally speaking a colored facemask doesn't look good on a dark/black helmet. I think these would both look better with black facemasks. Ooh, I really like that chrome gold facemask on the Colorado helmet. (Although I believe they got their uniforms right in the ‘90s and shouldn’t have changed much since then.) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dynasty Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 2 hours ago, SFGiants58 said: So, how legit is this source? I keep hearing the "white helmet" assertion being mentioned with the Broncos new uniforms and it's not just annoying, but I almost feel closer to believing it, even without actual clear evidence. Also, five changing uniforms? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carolingian Steamroller Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 7 minutes ago, Dynasty said: I keep hearing the "white helmet" assertion being mentioned with the Broncos new uniforms and it's not just annoying, but I almost feel closer to believing it, even without actual clear evidence. Also, five changing uniforms? Packers finally going with metallic gold. 1 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
damnyoutuesday Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 45 minutes ago, shaydre1019 said: Honestly I mean almost generally speaking a colored facemask doesn't look good on a dark/black helmet. I think these would both look better with black facemasks. It's a case-by-case for me. Depends on the rest of the uniform in both cases 2 Quote Sorry, I'm on an iPad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timjameskohler Posted March 21 Share Posted March 21 36 minutes ago, Dynasty said: I keep hearing the "white helmet" assertion being mentioned with the Broncos new uniforms and it's not just annoying, but I almost feel closer to believing it, even without actual clear evidence. Also, five changing uniforms? Unless an entire fifth organization has been able to keep a secret, there are only four teams getting new uniforms. That's why I don't trust this guy. I think his sources are straight up bad. The Broncos looked to the fans for guidance on the new uniforms, and the fans preferred WHITE helmets OVER royal blue? I'm not buying it. I think the color scheme remains largely the same with a 68-96 throwback. This white helmet nonsense is this year's Cardinals getting a maroon and orange makeover. If it ends up being true, I'll be shocked (and bummed out). 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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