Texas A&M University, an institution deeply rooted in tradition, is known for its steadfast adherence to its maroon and white colors, especially when it comes to the football team’s game day attire. For over eight decades, these colors have been synonymous with Aggie football. However, in a bold departure from the norm, the Aggies recently sported specially designed, all-black uniforms for their game against Mississippi State, marking a historic first for the university.
This groundbreaking decision was made possible when Mississippi State received special permission to wear their white uniforms at home. Adidas approached Texas A&M with the unique opportunity to create something “exciting and distinctive” for this particular game, as stated by Texas A&M Head Football Coach Kevin Sumlin. He emphasized that this venture wouldn’t stray too far from the team’s traditional aesthetic. The anticipation among players was palpable, and Coach Sumlin also highlighted the potential appeal of these new uniforms to prospective recruits.
Adidas engineered these striking black uniforms utilizing the same cutting-edge TECHfit technology found in Texas A&M’s standard home and away uniforms. The design features a sleek black jersey and pants accented with maroon trim. Complementing this look are matching adizero Smoke gloves and adidas TEAM Speed socks. The helmet, a collaborative effort between Riddell and Hydro Graphics Inc., showcases a captivating black-to-maroon fade. A prominent element of the helmet design is the Lone Star logo, a fusion of the school’s iconic “TAM” emblem integrated within the outline of the state of Texas. This logo was initially introduced as part of the base adidas uniform design earlier in July.
This game marked the first instance since the late 1920s that the Aggies have worn uniforms deviating from their signature maroon or white. Interestingly, prior to the late 1920s, red and white were Texas A&M’s official school colors. The transition to maroon and white was a serendipitous event. A jersey order placed during that era for red and white uniforms was mistakenly fulfilled with maroon and white jerseys. An astute athletic department official recognized the abundance of schools already sporting red and decided to embrace the unique maroon color. Consequently, maroon and white became the official colors of the Aggies.
For those interested in exploring more details and visuals of these special uniforms, the original article directed readers to the official website, www.aggieathletics.com. The uniform reveal also sparked conversation on Twitter under the hashtags #12thMan and #teamadidas.
