Notre Dame to Break Out the Green Jerseys in ’11.
by Dave on July 28, 2011
Earlier this week the Notre Dame equipment manager posted a picture on Twitter of a green jersey with the caption “check out what came in yesterday”. I was relieved that it wasn’t the horrible bright green and yellow ones circa 1977, but the dark green and gold like they wore last year against Army. The bright ones bring back horrible memories of the 38-0 stomping the Trojans gave the Irish in 2007. In 2005 the Irish nearly toppled mighty USC in the emerald green and gold uniform, but a miraculous fourth down pass and a “Bush Push” propelled the Trojans to victory.
When I first saw the green jersey posted online I immediately thought the Irish would wear them in the primetime matchup against ‘SC this year. It is going to be the first true night game in twenty years in Notre Dame Stadium, and it is sure to be a memorable game. Although my first reaction was the USC game, when I thought about it a little more I realized it might not be as obvious as it seems. Notre Dame’s schedule is set up with a “home game” at a neutral site every year, and last year the Irish rolled into Yankee Stadium in the greens against the Golden Knights of Army. This year despite playing the Maryland Terrapins in Landover, Maryland, it is considered a Notre Dame home game. Brian Kelly may make a tradition out of wearing the green jerseys in this annual neutral site home game.
The Irish have proved they can pound on Army wearing the green threads, but I haven’t seen them win a game that was significant wearing them. The closest thing to a significant win wearing alternate uniforms I have seen was the 1992 Sugar Bowl against Florida. The underdog Irish had white jerseys with green numbers, and Jerome Bettis ran all over the Superdome as the Irish upset the “old ball coach”, Steve Spurrier and the Gators 39-28. The Irish better to play well in the alternate uniforms this year as they play Michigan in away green numbered throwbacks, and a home game in the emerald green.