AAFL uniforms

[4th and goal]

Anyone seen any prototypes of any AAFL uniforms?
And is it true AAFL teams will not have nicknames?

[SignGuyDino]

No word on uniforms, however, it is widely believed there will be no team nicknames, just "Team Florida," "Team Michigan," etc.

[4th and goal]

Don't you think that they will unveil the uniforms at the draft? or maybe even this week before the draft?
and what is your gut feeling as to whether they will be a tradition uniform like Alabama, Arkansas, or Michigan, or a some new fangled uniform like some of the NFL teams are going to.

[TheHulk]

If the no-nickname thing is any indication these uniforms will be just as bland as the teams names. My guess is that they will use the colors of the college teams they are supposedly representing. (i.e. Team Michigan will be maize and blue, Team Alabama will be crimson and white, etc.)

[Sam Hill]

You can see the helmets and jerseys from time to time on the online coverage of the draft (http://event.playonsports.tv/aafl/?eventId=3477).

[Paul S]

The NBA D League tried no logos its first couple of years. They had nicknames but no logos. I've never heard of a league with out nicknames. In fact other than Team Hawaii of the NASL I've never heard of a team without a nickname.

[patmc16]

You can see the helmets and jerseys from time to time on the online coverage of the draft (http://event.playonsports.tv/aafl/?eventId=3477).

It looks like each team has a logo that is basically the outline of the state. I guess the helmets are better than the 2 letter postal abbreviation that I had heard they were going to use, but not by much. I actually kind of like the Texas helmet althought it seems familiar from somewhere. The rest, not so much. The jerseys range from bland to horrible. The way the names are printed on the front reminds me of the crappy "NFL" jerseys that Sears or JP Penney used to sell in the 70's. I think the worst belongs to Michigan (black, gold & red, I guess). What color would you call the sleeves on the Texas jerseys? Yuk!

[tops804]

In fact other than Team Hawaii of the NASL I've never heard of a team without a nickname.

CFL's Baltimore franchise was basically without a nickname one season. They
tried going by Baltimore CFL Colts, but were sued by the NFL. They became
known as the Baltimore Football Club, but media (including ESPN) would simply
refer to them as Baltimore and use question marks in the team name spot.

NASL also had "Team America" in the 80's. I know there are current MLS
teams that may be considered to not have a nickname.

Chivas USA, FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake, Toronto FC.

It would seem that if the AAFL wants to get a marketing gimmick in the future.
They would have to come up with logos and merchandise for the teams. Maybe
they want to draw more interest first and then give fans a chance to see
their teams evolve into something with more personality.

[logoguru]

Chivas USA, FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake, Toronto FC.

Off track....Chivas is the nickname of Club Guadalajara.

[heavesrock]

I haven't actually seen the uniforms, but from what I've read, some fans (at least the ones in Birmingham) are rather annoyed at the fact that the colors tend to be for college team in the state (alabama) hence distancing the Auburn or Troy fans.

[rams80]

CFL's Baltimore franchise was basically without a nickname one season. They
tried going by Baltimore CFL Colts, but were sued by the NFL. They became
known as the Baltimore Football Club, but media (including ESPN) would simply
refer to them as Baltimore and use question marks in the team name spot.

NASL also had "Team America" in the 80's. I know there are current MLS
teams that may be considered to not have a nickname.

Chivas USA, FC Dallas, Real Salt Lake, Toronto FC.

It would seem that if the AAFL wants to get a marketing gimmick in the future.
They would have to come up with logos and merchandise for the teams. Maybe
they want to draw more interest first and then give fans a chance to see
their teams evolve into something with more personality.

This seems to be predicated on the assumption that the league will last long enough for this tradition to set in...which strikes me as rather foolish in today's minor league world.

[tops804]

This seems to be predicated on the assumption that the league will last long enough for this tradition to set in...which strikes me as rather foolish in today's minor league world.

With one exception that I can think of (Red/White & Blue ball, CEO whose first
name rhymes with Schmoe...), I don't think any minor league goes into business
with the blueprint of planning to fail itself, owners, or fanbase.

As I've tried to think the logic in these team names, I see no connection, for
now, between a franchise and its fan base. Did the AAFL plan ahead in
thinking of folding, merging, moving teams. Giving those a generic reason to
say the fans couldn't connect. While at the same time, any city that begins
to show interest in its team would have more interest drawn. Not to mention
the current fans looking forward to:
1) A name the team contest
2) Pick color schemes
3) See a logo designed
4) BUY MERCHANDISE of the newly named franchise

heavesrock made a good point about the color schemes...As a fan of the
Michigan Wolverines, I liked the idea of maize and blue for my team. If
I was a Michigan State fan, I may feel a disconnection to the idea that its my
team...Hence the reason I am for franchises being named after a city, rather
than state or region in the first place. This league seems to have a different
plan in that regard anyway...

Another team that could have been considered "nameless": 1974-75 WFL's Hawaiians.

[patmc16]

As a fan of the Michigan Wolverines, I liked the idea of maize and blue for my team. If I was a Michigan State fan, I may feel a disconnection to the idea that its my team.

I agree but Michigan is a bad example. The jersey doesn't look like UofM at all. In the draft broadcast, they hold one up at about the 1 hour 44 minute mark. Unless the color is off on my monitor, it looks like it is mainly black with gold shoulders and red trim on the neck and sleeves. Granted it is closer to the UofM than MSU, But I don't think a fan of either school will feel any more connection than the other. The strange thing is the logo on the podium is gold on what looks like a blue background. The helmet, which can be seen throughout the broadcast (including right before the jersey shot at the 1:43:30 mark) sitting on the stage looks like gold on black. ?????

[tops804]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080127/SPORTS01/801270572/1049/SPORTS

In part:
AAFL's Team Michigan picks former UCLA QB David Koral
January 27, 2008

The fledgling, six-team All American Football League had its inaugural draft Saturday, and former UCLA quarterback David Koral was Team Michigan's first pick.

Team Michigan, which will play its home games at Ford Field, also announced its color scheme: dark blue and gold.

Argument I've heard is that it's "close" to Michigans colors...

[rams80]

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080127/SPORTS01/801270572/1049/SPORTS

In part:


Argument I've heard is that it's "close" to Michigans colors...

Probably as close as they could get because Michigan most likely wouldn't let them have the actual ones.

[Fez]

MG's helmet site did a nice mock up of the 6 helmets based on photos.
http://www.mghelmets.com/aafl.html

Here's an example:
http://www.mghelmets.com/AAFL/FLORIDA.gif

Here's an image from the AAFL site:
http://www.allamericanfootballleague.com/Arkansas/images/coachesandplayersARKANSAS.jpg

[feverfresh]

MG's helmet site did a nice mock up of the 6 helmets
http://www.mghelmets.com/aafl.html


Nice work.

http://www.mghelmets.com/AAFL/MICHIGAN.gif

Not bad overall, (not dynamite either) but Michigan has some pretty sharp divisions between the Wolverines and the Spartans. A splash of green could have been employed (Seattle Seahawks anyone?).

[firewolff]

A splash of green could have been employed (Seattle Seahawks anyone?).

I totally agree. How hard would it be to cater to both programs? And not just in Michigan but for the other teams like Florida as well (unless they plan on an additional team in Florida in the future?).