ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- Coming this fall to an NFL stadium near you: fashion-forward referees. Gone are the traditional vertical black-and-white stripes that have been a staple of the league seemingly since its inception and which live on in Foot Locker stores and DJ booths around the country. In their place is a flashier look that features wide white stripes and thin black stripes that flare around the shoulders and upper arms. In addition to giving their annual lecture on rules changes for the upcoming NFL season, several referees debuted the new threads this week at New York Giants training camp. Not everyone was enamored of the new look. "They should be riding on a horse at Saratoga," one spectator cracked Thursday while watching the officials oversee a practice session. Making a fashion statement was not the primary motivation behind the decision to make the change, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. First was the desire for a lightweight, more efficient fabric that would be cooler in hot weather and warmer in cold weather. "The material of our shirts was very heavy, so everybody wanted a different material," said Walt Coleman, an NFL referee with 18 years' experience. "Everybody loves the material, and the shirts are really comfortable. I think everybody's just not totally sold on the style. My son said to me, 'I can't believe you're changing your shirts!"' The second aim was to make the uniforms more easily accommodate the gear referees need to carry, Aiello said, which includes more layers of clothing in colder weather. "The biggest reason we changed was to upgrade the performance quality of the uniform," he said. "The third reason was to give the uniforms a more modern, updated, distinctly NFL look." Referees will wear the new Reebok-designed shirts and the traditional white knickers for most games, and will switch in cold weather to black full-length pants that will allow more room for additional layers. Aiello wasn't sure when the league switched to the vertical stripes, but noted that NFL referees in the 1930s wore "solid white dress shirts with bow ties and beanies." When asked his opinion of the new uniforms and whether he would have an easier time locating referees during games for a little spirited exchange of ideas, Giants coach Tom Coughlin replied, "Are you kidding? I'm just glad to have them out there. And I've usually been able to find them pretty well." This is disgusting.
Eh I dont care what they wear, i barely notice them during the game. So what they wear means squat to me.
that's hideous! why change the one constant this league has had for as long as it has had? it was the perfect uniform... and now we can no longer call them zebras as their new and "improved" stripes now are not the same size.... Screw the refs... thy suck now a days anyways
Oh Joy! Now all they need are knee high socks and they can be soccer referees! What's next? No more use of the hands?What has the NFL come to? Thank God college referees still look like football referees.
They're referees. The mere idea of a chubby, middle-aged man running as fast as he can in a black and white striped uniform is comedy unto itself. I don't think this will make them look any more ridiculous than they already do.
I don't really mind the change either, other than that it is breaking a long-standing traditional uniform, but hell, I can get past that. What I can't stand is the "reason(s)" for the change. They say it is because they wanted a different material or whatever...... WHY THE HELL CAN'T YOU MAKE THE OLD PATTERN OUT OF THIS NEW MATERIAL!?!?!?!?! Also, it's just another way for Reebok to get their name out there and to make more money, just like their minute changes to the teams uniforms they make just to get people to buy them.
I just thought of a sweet ass idea!! Cheerleaders for the refs. The fans are so hard on them they could use a pick me up, plus the fans would appreciate looking at more half naked ladies in skimpy outfits
I can't believe that people are actually using words like "hideous" to describe these new uniforms. They really don't look that different to me.
who cares what they look like anyway??? I didn't realize we had a bunch of fashion police on this board. They're designed to help the refs be more comfortable while reffing the games.
