Imagine having a feeling of complete self-control, only for things to go completely haywire.
Such was the experience of the Kansas State Wildcats when they traveled to Provo back in September for a Big 12 matchup with BYU.
The stakes were high despite the game being scheduled for early in the season. The winner would have a step ahead in the conference before the bulk of the season really started.
This game was special for BYU due to several reasons. First, and perhaps most obvious, was how the game turned out. Also, the uniforms that the throwback white Cougars wore that night were part of the story.
With two minutes to go in the first half, Kansas State seemed poised to take a 6-3 lead into halftime.
But things went south very quickly. A third-and-2 fumble led to a BYU scoop and score. On the next series, The Cougars snatched a poor throw and scored another touchdown just a few plays later. The halftime score was now 17-6 instead of 6-3.
But that wasn’t all. Another Kansas State interception led to easy BYU points, and then a wild punt return for a touchdown was all but the nail in the coffin.
That made it 31-6, BYU. The Wildcats were shellshocked, no doubt about it. Just a few minutes of game time gone, and their hopes of winning were dashed just as quick. You wouldn’t have guessed the Wildcats ended up out-rushing the Cougars 228 yards to 92.
That sequence of events was likely the most improbable for BYU this season. What was it like on the field that night? Taylor Noblit, a senior from Pennsylvania, has worked on the grounds crew for four seasons.
“The barrage of turnovers and special teams plays turned LaVell Edwards into a house of horrors that night,” Noblit said. “Seeing everything up close from the field level is a really neat experience, to know you have a hand in something that is watched on TV all across the country on Saturdays.”
It wasn’t the first time BYU and Kansas State played, but it had been several years. The all time series is a close 5-4 margin in favor of BYU. Fans may remember the last time the two teams squared off; in the Cotton Bowl to conclude the 1996 season. BYU won 19-15, sporting some blue jerseys with special lettering. Foreshadowing, perhaps?
BYU wore white instead of blue in its 38-9 win over the Wildcats back in September, but the style of the jerseys was a clear callback. LaVell Edwards Stadium announced a whiteout for the fans to commemorate the occasion. The jerseys gave a nostalgic feel to an otherwise crazy game.
There’s no doubt that team uniforms are anticipated by players and fans alike. New combos can be fun and exciting as a mix-up of the usual routine. BYU’s signature uniforms are donned in royal blue as a more modern taste, though it has worn navy historically.
“Back in the 60’s, the navy uniforms weren’t a thing,” said Russell and Sharlene Barber, BYU alums who reside in Knoxville, Tennessee. “We’ve loved seeing BYU and Utah playing in solid-color uniforms when playing each other.”
BYU has done its fair share of past experimentation. For example, did you know that in 1940, BYU’s football jerseys had orange accents? Or that the student newspaper had an almost purple shade of blue way back in 1905?
“It’s difficult to determine the exact color used in the early uniforms because there are little or no color photos or actual uniforms in our archives until about 1961,” said Duff Tittle, BYU’s associate athletic director of communications. “Having said that, I think it’s safe to say that navy or a darker blue was the BYU football uniform color until about 1969 when the Cougars donned a lighter shade of blue.”
BYU’s jersey remained a lighter blue in 1970-71, and when LaVell Edwards took over the program in 1972, the royal blue became the official color. Royal remained the jersey color until ’99, when Nike introduced new BYU uniforms that made an official switched to navy uniforms and helmets.
The royal jersey was reintroduced in the Utah game in 2009 to honor the 25th Anniversary of the 1984 national championship team. BYU won that game 26-23. The royal jersey was also worn in the Las Vegas bowl against Oregon State that same year, which saw a 44-20 Cougar victory.
BYU has continued to sport its royal blue jersey against notable opponents into the present season. Some examples include 2017 against LSU in New Orleans, 2022 against Baylor, and others.
“My favorite combination is just the classic white helmet, blue jersey, white pants look,” Noblit adds. “When I think of BYU football tradition, that’s what comes to mind. I’m also a fan of the Navy jerseys, as most recently seen against Houston.”
For those interested, the specific hex code for the Cougar’s royal blue is #0062B8.
Brandon Eddy, a recent graduate in BYU’s communication studies program, shared his thoughts on BYU’s uniforms.
“I love the royal blue jerseys,” he said. “I like the navy too, but I don’t think it pops as much as the royal [ones]. …I think we should stick to navy as an alternative a few games a year.”
Speaking of alternate uniforms, BYU sported black jerseys in Las Vegas against Notre Dame two years ago.
ICYMI: BYU has announced a BRAND NEW uniform combination featuring black jerseys and pants along with a gradient helmet for this week's primetime matchup with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish!!
— BYU Uniform Tracker (@BYUTracker) October 3, 2022
Groundbreaking stuff from BYU right here! ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/2EAg53ioOq
Jack Whitehead, a business major from Virginia, said that those are his personal favorite.
“I think the black uniforms with blue accents look the coolest because of how well they compliment each other,” said the sophomore.
So, what’s in a jersey? Memories of wild wins, gut-wrenching losses, and so much more. Appreciating the history behind uniforms can serve as a special experience for fans, and BYU offers its own part of that.