Following fan inquiries and Coach Scott Frost’s arrival, the UCF Knights and Nike launched a fresh uniform design for the 2016 football season. This update marks a significant step in enhancing the team’s image and appeal.
UCF Football Head Coach Scott Frost emphasized the importance of uniforms in fostering team pride and confidence. “I want our guys to feel good about what they’re coming out of the tunnel wearing on Saturdays,” Frost stated. He highlighted uniforms as a crucial element for both player morale and recruitment, noting, “Guys want to go to schools these days that are places where they can wear nice uniforms and look good on the field.” Frost’s initiative to modernize the team’s look was driven by fan feedback and the desire to align UCF with contemporary football aesthetics. He even consulted Phil Knight, acknowledging Nike’s pivotal role and Knight’s continuous support throughout his career. Frost hinted at future uniform evolutions, suggesting this initial design is just the beginning of an ongoing enhancement process, aiming for a blend of innovation and respect for UCF’s established traditions in their Nike UCF uniforms.
Senior Graphic Designer at Nike Football, Josh Iverson, elaborated on the design inspiration, drawing from UCF’s unique Orlando location and its connections to the space program and the Pegasus mascot. “The unique thing for UCF is where it is and how the school is set up. So we really rally around that, just being in Orlando, the connection to the space program, mascot and the Pegasus (university logo),” Iverson explained. The objective was to create a “very bold, very tough, high-contrast uniform that hopefully will look very tough on (the) field, but very fast.” A key feature of this Nike UCF uniform rollout is its versatility. Iverson detailed an “interchangeable system” allowing for numerous combinations, offering “almost an unlimited possibility set of uniforms.”
Image alt text: Scott Frost, UCF’s head football coach, presents the new Nike uniforms, emphasizing their importance for player confidence and recruitment.
The partnership between UCF and Nike, which began in 2010, has seen previous uniform updates, including a 2013 revision. UCF’s football uniform history since 1979 includes diverse designs and helmet variations, reflecting the program’s growth and evolving identity.
Nike’s design process commenced with an analysis of UCF’s existing uniforms, utilizing black, gold, and white, and centered around Nike’s Mach Speed uniform chassis.
Mach Speed Chassis Features:
This advanced framework incorporates:
- Four-Way Stretch Woven Fabrics: Durable, heavy-duty stretch fabric in high-impact zones and lighter stretch fabric for enhanced mobility in low-impact areas.
- Chainmaille 2.0 Mesh: Strategically placed mesh for improved ventilation and breathability.
- Laser Perforation: Laser-cut perforations in stretch-woven fabric for ventilation without compromising fabric integrity.
- Improved Fit and Range of Motion: Enhanced armhole design, underarm gussets, tailored hems, and Pro-Waist pant options for superior comfort and movement.
- Nike Pro Base Layer Integration: Optimized construction for better base layer integration and internal pad pockets for added protection.
Nike’s research for UCF’s new uniforms emphasized the university’s heritage, location, mascots (Knights and Pegasus), and program mantras like #UCFast, #UCFierce, and #RiseandConquer. Three core themes guided the design:
- Knights: Representing nobility, elite warrior status, and chivalrous values of faith, loyalty, courage, and honor.
- Pegasus: The mythical winged stallion, UCF’s emblem since 1968, symbolizing the “Knights of Pegasus,” a student-chosen name from 1970.
- Aerospace: UCF’s Orlando location, near Kennedy Space Center, and its foundational mission to support the U.S. space program.
Image alt text: Nike’s inspiration board showcasing Pegasus imagery and aerospace elements, guiding the design of UCF’s new football uniforms.
A distinctive element is UCF’s custom number font, adding a unique visual signature to the Nike UCF uniforms. While the article doesn’t explicitly mention a “winged font,” the dynamic and modern font likely aims to evoke speed and agility, potentially aligning with a stylized, contemporary interpretation of “winged” aesthetics in sports typography.
The 2016 uniform collection features:
Jerseys:
UCF’s jerseys come in black, white, anthracite, and pewter. Player names return to the jersey backs for the first time since 2004, adding a personalized touch. The “Rise & Conquer” motto is inscribed inside the back neckline, and the Pegasus logo is displayed on both sleeves.
Pants:
Complementing the jerseys are pants in black, white, anthracite, and pewter, ensuring a cohesive and versatile uniform system.
Helmets:
Four helmet options—white, gold, anthracite, and pewter—are available. A striking double-edged sword design runs down the center of each helmet.
Image alt text: UCF Knights players model the variety of uniform combinations possible with the new Nike designs, highlighting the interchangeable system.
In total, the 2016 Nike UCF uniforms, considering helmets, jerseys, and pants, offer 64 possible combinations, providing unprecedented customization for the UCF Knights. This comprehensive update reflects a commitment to modernizing the program’s image while honoring its unique identity and aspirations.
