And then I wrote...
by Dick Schilling, "Editor Emeritus"
... that the University of Iowa football team wore vastly different uniforms for the game against highly ranked Ohio State, and the Iowa team looked like an entirely different team than the one we had watched earlier in the year.
The science fiction like black uniforms may not have been the reason for the different play of the team, but just to be safe, I think they should wear them again for their last home game against Purdue. They can’t do so against teams on away fields.
It couldn’t hurt to bring them out again. The lopsided victory over Ohio State made the team bowl eligible, but another win or two in the three remaining games would mean a better bowl and possibly more income for the athletic department.
More about that later.
Can a change of uniform have a difference?
I think there is something mental to be noted.
I have worn a number of different military uniforms.
Because the U of I is a land grant school, it had to require ROTC programs for liberal arts students. I chose Air Force, and for four semesters, wore Air Force blue at least once a week. I did not like the idea, and in fact put off the final semester until the second semester of my senior year, when I was informed I had to complete the course before I could accept a degree. The uniform stayed in my locker at the fieldhouse when I was not wearing it.
My first uniform at the Navy’s officer candidate school was the enlisted Navy uniform: white hat, blue jersey-type top and bell bottom pants for “dress” and blue jean type pants for work detail. I had two of the bell-bottoms, and one was the old fashioned “U” shaped front with 13 buttons. Historic, I suppose, but hysterical sometimes when nature called in a hurry!
As an officer in the air branch of the Navy, the standard dress uniform and work uniform were tan.
Every unit issued a U.O.D., uniform of the day, notice.
That sometimes put us into dress blues, which were fine, except it was noted that dress blues picked up everything but girls! Constant brushing was required.
In the tropics, and on occasions in warm seasons, and for some special events, the U.O.D. was dress whites, and that was my favorite. White shoes, white socks, white pants, high-necked white shirt-jacket, white cap cover, and, of course, the government approved white jockey shorts!
I think the only military uniform to top that was the Marine Corps officer’s dress uniform.
So, yes, a feel about a uniform can make a difference.
