“Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Names. All Game.”

Recently our football program has announced that we are going ‘old-school’.  Our team will be wearing the classic black shoes and nameless jerseys, home and away.

What’s the reason behind nameless jerseys?  Because “We are..” a team.  The football team isn’t individuals fighting for the spotlight, its exactly what we call it, a team.  It requires partnership, understanding, and equality.  Nameless jerseys provide a way for the players to be just players and work together.

Understanding what this means to the people, coach James Franklin says “…I do think it’s another step in the healing process for us.”  Franklin continues to explain that we have honored those players that have stayed, respectfully.  Yet, this is now and “it is time for us to get back to our traditions and put everything behind us.”

The most ecstatic in the Penn State community seem to be former players, lettermen, and the more mature alumni.  Assistant coach Terry Smith says that you don’t realize the history of something as much, until you’ve left the program and you’re older as well as a little more mature.

This exciting news leads to our 2015 Football season’s mantra: “Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Names. All Game.”  A mantra is important in any activity.  It’s known but not specifically brought to attention, that a mantra creates an emotional or pathos appeal to those involved. As for our football program, this decision appeals to our emotional side for school pride, and supporting its history.  This decision was made in hope to connect and unite the people, if not only in football, but in pride.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/13266392/penn-state-nittany-lions-going-back-no-names-jerseys

3 thoughts on ““Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Names. All Game.”

  1. Yes! This is so great because it really talks about the values of the team! Very easily relates to all of us too!

  2. This was a great article and I love the video!! For me, it makes me extremely excited for football season. So in that sense it triggers pathos. Adding Franklin’s quote is very credible also. Good work!!

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