The West Virginia football team is ready to launch a new black uniform for the 2024 season. The design of this uniform pays tribute to the state's history of coal mining. The uniform is meant to honor the miners who work hard every day to provide energy to the globe.
The black uniform is a fresh addition to the blue, gold, and white uniforms. These were showcased at the Gold-Blue Spring game recently. The idea and design for the black uniform were inspired by spending a day with real miners.
The team wished to have a distinctive uniform. They wanted it to be liked by the players and meaningful to the people of West Virginia. This new uniform is designed to tell a story and build a connection with the fans. The designers paid close attention to every detail of the uniform. This was based on what they learned from their visit to a coal mine.
The jersey design has elements that symbolize bringing light into darkness. Reflective elements are important for miner safety. This helps them work safely and navigate underground. The jersey numbers are made from reflective material. The words "West Virginia" and a state outline are in white to match the reflective material.
The pattern on the jersey's sleeves and collar was inspired by a West Virginia coal mine. A photograph of a coal mine wall was digitized and colored to create this pattern. The sleeve design also has a reflective stripe. This is like the safety stripes on a miner's uniform.
The arm cuff pattern of the jersey is meant to look like a mine shearer blade. This is an important tool in mining. Reflective safety stripes from a miner's uniform are also on the side panel of the black pants. The pants also feature the coal wall pattern.
The team will wear black matte helmets to mimic the "Black Hat" worn by seasoned miners. The helmet has an outline of the state and metallic gray specks. These details look like fresh-cut coal. The center stripe of the helmet has the coal pattern from the uniform. The stripe fades from white to clear. This is to mimic the light from a miner's headlamp.
The black alternate uniforms were designed with help from retired West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Raney and Gaither Frazier from the Leer Mine in Grafton, West Virginia. Graphic designers from the athletic department visited the mine to learn about a day's work in a coal mine. With the help of the Leer Mine officials and Nike, the black alternate uniforms were created.
The WVU Brand and Trademark Licensing Office has also created the "Built on Bravery" Collection. This collection will go with the coal-themed black uniform. WVU Athletics and CLC created the collection with the West Virginia coal community. The product line is a match for the new football jersey and is a celebration of the coal industry. Fans can look forward to seeing the collection in stores later this year.
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