Super uniform matchup: Saints vs. Colts

The matchup is set and the Super Bowl features two teams who will make fans of traditional NFL uniform design very happy. Both teams who will be participating two Sundays from now are great examples of how uniform simplicity stands the test of time. The Saints make their first appearance in the game against recent Super Bowl champ, the Colts.

This will be the first time we get a look at the Saints on the Super Bowl stage. A team that has had a mixed history of success, it is refreshing to see the Saints make the big game, despite the fact I had hopes that my childhood favorite Vikings could make their return to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1977. When you see the Saints of today, you can still see the Saints of the past. The Saints uniform look has changed in small, subtle ways over the years, but the team continues to use the same basic look from the team's past in their current uniform set. The team's use of black and gold makes a very dynamic color combination that is fun to watch. The only thing about the current Saints uniforms that even remotely brings them down is the different shades of gold on the helmet, jersey and pants. Chalk that up to the difficulty in reproducing that gold color on such different mediums as a helmet, tackle twill and jersey materials.

On the other side of the field, you have another team that has kept their traditional look intact. The Colts of today have the same look as the Colts of the past. The team's current uniform set keeps the tradition of the old Baltimore Colts and players like Johnny Unitas alive. Modern uniform cuts have interrupted the integrity of the shoulder stripes a bit, but all in all, you get the same look today as the team had back in the 1960's.

Super Bowl XLIV should be a great game from a competition perspective, but it will be an even better game for fans of simple, traditional uniform design. We won't have any crazy color blocking, random piping or crazy pants stripes, just simple, easy on the eyes old school uniform designs.

Comments

[marc]

definitely a good uni-matchup for the SB. two of my favorites!

love that photo of unitas against the rams (in their blue and white uniforms). that must have been confusing back then to have two teams wearing only blue and white.

kudos to the city of new orleans and the saints, however, i can't help but think "and then there were four." being a clevelander, i'm sure fans from detroit, houston and jacksonville know what i'm talking about.

[Alex]

This is a great uniform match up. I really like the the Saints' road whites, though I would imagine they would opt to wear black if they had the choice, right?

[Daniel J Leonard]

Jim,

Good point regarding the different shades of gold. As you mentioned, it is difficult to get that same look with the different materials.

Colts are true 'Classics' though some of the luster is tainted by their midnight move to Indianapolis.

If not for the Peyton Manning's popularity and the recovering city of New Orleans, this matchup would be the NFL's worst ratings nightmare.

Daniel J Leonard
Tucson, Arizona