The LSU football team is ditching the usual purple and gold threads Saturday night for a modern uniform with a traditional twist.
The University and Nike officially unveiled an LSU version of the Nike Pro Combat uniform Monday afternoon in front of the PMAC.
The Tigers will wear the uniforms when LSU battles Arkansas for the Golden Boot on Saturday at 6 p.m. in Tiger Stadium.
The uniforms were given the slogan "Cochon de Lait," commonly known as a pig roast.
The state-of-the-art jerseys are paired with throwback helmets from the 1940s.
The uniforms feature a white jersey with purple numbers trimmed in gold with a stripe on the sleeve, while the pants are white with a purple "L" on the hip and a purple and gold stripe along the sides.
The gold helmet matches the color of LSU's helmets from the 1940s and includes the typical LSU helmet logo and tiger.
LSU's gloves are personalized to form the "Eye of the Tiger" logo.
Lauren Hoppis, marketing executive for Nike, said the Nike Pro Combat uniforms were designed to be lighter and cooler than traditional jerseys.
"These are the lightest uniforms in the history of football," Hoppis said. "It's all about speed."
The Tigers will also wear new Nike Zoom Vapor Fly cleats. The cleats are white and gold with a purple Nike swoosh. They weigh only 10 ounces.
Hoppis said Nike chose LSU because of the company's relationship with the athletic program, LSU's success on the field and the Tigers' style of play.
LSU senior running back Charles Scott and junior running back Richard Murphy modeled the new uniforms for the crowd.
"They have a lot of swag to them," Scott said. "They make you feel good."
LSU is one of 10 colleges to wear the new Nike uniforms. Florida is the only other Southeastern Conference school to wear them.
Two former Tigers, wide receiver Eddie Kennison and defensive lineman Anthony McFarland, were also at the pep rally.
Kennison said he wished he could have worn the Pro Combat uniforms in 1995.
"I can run all day in pants like that," Kennison said to the crowd. "Make sure y'all are roasting pig this week."
Students had different opinions about the new uniforms at the unveiling.
"It's good that it's only for one game," said Colin O'Rourke, business freshman. "It's cool that they are doing a throwback with the helmet. The gloves are my favorite part."
Maggie Placer, animal science senior, said she understood why LSU was wearing the new uniforms this week.
"They did it at a good time," Placer said. "It's a holiday game, so it makes sense. It gives fans something to get excited about for an important game."
Saturday will mark the first time LSU has worn an alternative jersey since the Tulane game in 2007.
The Tigers wore purple jerseys and white helmets to help raise money and awareness for Hurricane Katrina relief.
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Contact Michael Lambert at mlambert@lsureveille.com
Football: New Nike uniforms revealed
Published: Monday, November 23, 2009
Updated: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 00:11
 "Photo: BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille")
BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille
LSU senior running back Charles Scott, left, and junior running back Richard Murphy, right, model the new Nike Pro Combat uniforms Monday afternoon in front of the PMAC. The Tigers will wear the uniforms Saturday during LSU’s game against Arkansas at 6 p.m. in Tiger Stadium.
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15 comments
White on white? Purple L's?
However, I do like the throwback helmets and the gloves. Pair those with our real jeresys.