Tradition, Spirit, Horrible: Bronco Makes a Change to BYU Jerseys

Twitter: @BYUcougars

BYU Football was entering a 2013 season with much anticipation, but little distraction.  Well the distraction part didn’t last long as BYU Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall shocked everyone with a drastic change to the jerseys this season.  All jerseys will have tradition, spirit, and honor on the back nameplate.  No more last names will grace the football jerseys.

Today was the team’s annual picture day.  A day where the players get to pose in their new jerseys for the season.  Players were all stunned by the change to the jerseys.

Here’s what Kyle Van Noy said to Salt Lake Tribune beat writer, Jay Drew:

When a player like Kyle Van Noy is against the move, you shouldn’t be doing this.  If this was something that was voted on by players, so be it.  As a spectator, I don’t need to see names on the back of the jerseys.  BYU had no names on the back of the jerseys in 2004, there was no backlash by players.  But to strip the names and opt for something that just asks for scrutiny and ridicule, not a good decision.

Bronco needs to let go of his pride and call an audible on this one.  Allow these kids to represent their families, and their heritage. Who knew Van Noy was adopted.  Has to mean the world to him representing his family name.

In the spirit of tradition, last names have always been on the back.  Keep it going.  But from the sounds of it, Bronco isn’t going to be changing his mind anytime soon.

Bronco has always been someone that admires programs like Army, Navy, and Air Force.  Those schools have removed names on the back for different words or phases on the nameplate in the past.  When academy schools do that, it is representing America.  So you don’t see much backlash from that move.  What Bronco has done with the BYU jerseys will be interpreted as selfish, better than everyone else, and typical BYU living in its own bubble.  Why add more fuel to the fire for a program that gets harassed non-stop to begin with?  This was finally a year where there was no drama, no slogans, no BCS talk, just a motivated team to get better as a football program.

How does a move like this impact recruiting?  Many schools make changes to uniforms to enhance their appeal to high school recruits.  Can you imagine a 17 year-old kid being excited to don “Honor” on the back of their jersey?  I just don’t see it.  LDS or Non-LDS, kids don’t want to wear that. Current BYU Defensive Lineman, Eathyn Manumaleuna voiced his opinion stating that current Polynesian players are not excited about the change.

This was simply an unnecessary distraction created by Bronco.  It didn’t need to happen.  The hard work put in by players so far in Fall Camp is being overshadowed by this jersey non-sense.  Swallow the pride Bronco and put the names back on the uniforms.