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June 9, 2009

Zac Boyer
Rivals.com College Football Editor

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. ? Desi Cullen expressed his displeasure that a runway had not been set up in the club level of Rentschler Field.

No matter. The gregarious senior punter strutted his stuff anyway, displaying moves that won't help him on a football field but did wonders in displaying UConn's new uniforms.

The Huskies unveiled a new blue-and-white ensemble on Tuesday afternoon, one designed by Nike in conjunction with the UConn athletic department to make the players look and feel more sleek.

"We wanted to get a new look with our uniform, and Nike had an interest in doing the same thing," UConn coach Randy Edsall said. "Nowadays, with the new fabrics that are out there and how they fit, and also in terms of the breathability with the new fabrics, we wanted to be able to kind of create a new look and kind of go back to some of the roots of UConn football."

The new uniforms are reminiscent of the style used by UConn since the school's transition to the Football Bowl Subdivision, yet they incorporate a design reminiscent of the recent uniforms adapted by the basketball programs.

Gone from the front of the jersey is the word "Connecticut," replaced by the simple block C logo that graces the team's helmets. The numbers are similar to the previous uniform, though they're larger and clearer, and both the jerseys and pants feature a streamlined piping down the side that, on the top, ends alongside the bottom of the number.

Two things that haven't changed are the main features of what Edsall described as the team identity: the lack of names on the back of the jersey, continuing the recent motto of team before the individual, and the helmet.

"If you go all the way back to 1924 with Red O'Neill here at the university, the block C was really the brand of UConn football," Edsall said. "One of the things that we wanted to do was get some of that tradition back into our uniform."

Also eliminated from the wardrobe were the silver pants, typically worn at home with the blue jersey. The Huskies will have the option of choosing between any combination of blue jerseys and pants and white jerseys and pants, though a decision as to which pants will join the blue top as part of the home uniform has not yet been made.

Much of the appeal of the uniform comes from the type of fabric used. Dan Golinski, the school's director of equipment, said the jersey and pants are made of a Cordura stretch fabric designed to tightly fit the body and allow perspiration to escape.

"Basically, these uniforms you see here are the most form-fitting and comfortable jerseys that Nike can make for our athletes," Golinski said. "What it allows the athlete to do is use the body naturally and not be weighed down by the fabrics of the jersey."

"It's way more lighter than the jersey we had last year," said cornerback Robert McClain, who, along with Cullen, joined fellow captains Scott Lutrus and Anthony Sherman in modeling the uniforms. "We'll be faster on the field with these jerseys, and they should help us win more games."

Golinski did not know the cost of the uniforms to the athletic department, though he said a large percentage of the uniforms are replaced at the end of each season.

The physical level of comfort was appealing to all four captains ? especially Cullen, who said the snug fit of the fabric feels more comfortable when he tries to punt.

"These are form-fitting ? almost like kicking naked," Cullen said. "It feels excellent."

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