UPDATE 10:30pm:  That picture is a HOAX. Scott Wolf, who covers the USC beat for the Daily News, took them from what appears to be a very dubious source and ran with them. Local NBC & CBS affiliates reported that these were the unis. Fans, alumni and others blogged and tweeted and by and large, were in an outrage about these uniforms.  But it is a HOAX. And Scott Wolf should be ashamed of himself for once again reporting inaccurate and unverified information. There are many devoted USC writers, bloggers, fans and alumni who could do a better job at covering USC for the Daily News.

I’ve been told by someone close to the USC Football program that YES, these pictures are not real. But there is an alternate uniform. It has not been revealed yet. He promised I would love it. Which made me rethink things: I am a big fan of Nike and very impressed with their R&D and technology. They put real thought into the uniforms and shoes they create. They would not (I hope!) mess with a school with the devotion to tradition that USC has.  Oregon allows them to create a vast wardrobe of bizzarre uni combos because, let’s face it, they allow Nike to. Nike also makes Florida’s uniforms. They did a Pro Combat version of Florida’s uni that was very very close to their regular unis. The most subtle of changes I believe nearly all USC alumni, fans and boosters can support. Especially if it utilizes the insane technology Nike has developed for football uniforms.

Original Post:

According to KNBC Los Angeles, Nike approached USC about doing a special Rivalry uniform for this year’s game versus UCLA at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.  Look, I get it from Nike’s standpoint, it’s $$$.  But, as my good friend Randall said: “You Don’t Mess With a Classic!”

USC has always been monstrously protective of its brand, and these uniforms dilute that brand.  Reportedly, Oregon lures key recruits away because of the wide variety of uniform choices at the University of Nike.  Why USC feels the need to change it up is beyond me. After all, OUR PLAYERS GET DRAFTED IN THE NFL. Nine this year. We hold the all time record. How many Oregon players got drafted this year?

ONE.

Casey Matthews.

Don’t do it USC. I suspect this is Lane Kiffin’s doing, as he pulled a similar stunt at Tennessee vs South Carolina.

USC wears gold pants. Not cardinal. Our helmets are cardinal. Not black.

Of course ASU recently debuted their black uniforms. USC does not need to compete with ASU or Oregon in a fashion walk off. We are SC. We have tradition on our side. And you just don’t mess with that.