All Charlie Strong could do was laugh. Texas' head coach was asked at Big 12 Media Days if the Longhorns are any closer to adding an alternate uniform with the short answer being a resounding no.
“With me, I'm all about tradition,” Strong said. “Let me say this: the way this place is, if I walk out with a black uniform on, how would it be? Tell me what would happen?”
Strong chuckled during the remainder of his response, agreeing with the media members on hand that the backlash of a non-traditional jersey combination potentially being severe. While traditional powers Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Oklahoma have each gone to some form of an alternate uniform, Strong gave said Texas isn't going to go down the road any time soon.
“If I walk out there with a gray uniform on, [the reaction would be] 'What is he doing?' No, it's way too dangerous,” Strong said. “We have a uniform, so let's stick to our uniform.”
Alternate uniforms are commonplace in the Big 12. The Longhorns and Kansas State Wildcats are the only programs in the league who've yet to use a different uniform combination than the traditional home and road gear. Be it a black uniform, a shade of gray or something off the beaten path, Strong laughed out loud when it was suggested he should be the coach to switch it up.
During Strong's last season at Louisville, Adidas produced a black alternate uniform, but the Cardinals stuck with traditional red and white uniforms under Strong's leadership. For the time being, count on Texas continuing to follow suit with Alabama and Penn State as traditional powers who've managed to maintain a traditional look.
