(Please excuse the unsteady camera and missing the beginning. I started out taking notes and realized that this needed to be preserved.)
I have to admit, when I first saw the press release announcing this year’s “throwback” uniform, I was worried. I had visions of camo pants and and a jersey made out of the American flag. After hearing Charles Csuri, former member of the 1942 National Championship Ohio State team, my thoughts quickly changed.
You see, not only is Csuri a Buckeye veteran, he is a veteran of the Battle of the Bulge and the recipient of the Bronze Star. Unlike Michael Irvin, who spoke just before Csuri and talked about “The U” and how they are “Money” and that we’d see “The U” as they went running past, Csuri talked about the real meaning of “Combat.” In a moving speech, Csuuri went off script saying that when he hear’s terms like “boom,” and “combat” he feels it’s important to point out the realities of true combat. “We were in the war,” Csuri said. “I was in the Battle of the Bulge. There were more than 400,000 Americans killed in Word War II.” And at that moment, the Ohio State Uniform took on a new meaning. Yes, it’s lightweight and all but the boys who played on that 1942 national championship team saw something different.Csuri said that after that season, they all went off to war. When they returned three years later, they were different. Things had changed.
A contrast that says it all
As I sit in the Nike Studios writing this, Micheal Irvin is just a few steps away highlighting the benefits of the lightweight technology. During his speech, he bragged with all the bravado we’ve come to expect from “The U” as he referred to it. Not once did Csuri talk about the color of the shoes or how it made the players butts look good (yes, Irvin kept bringing that up.)
For Csuri, it was about honor and tradition. An honor that went well beyond the boundaries of a football uniform. After giving his moving speech, instead of holding up the gloves so that the media gathered could see the vanity logos on the palms of the hands, the Ohio State model was asked to turn around. As a surprise to Csuir and in honor to him, a replica of the Bronze Star is proudly displayed on the back of the helmets.
So while the debate may go on as to the need for Ohio State to wear the uniform, Nike put Ohio State fans in a tough position to argue this one.
![IMG_0321[1] Ohio State Pro Combat Throwback Uniform](http://www.thebuckeyeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/IMG_03211-e1283356001125-225x300.jpg)
![IMG_0322[1] Ohio State Throwback helmet](http://www.thebuckeyeblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/IMG_03221-e1283355634811-225x300.jpg)



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Like.
And congrats on getting to go to NY on Nike’s nickel.
Anything reasonable that brings positive attention to the program as one of the elites is all good. The WWII emphasis makes it classy.
I am not a fan of throwback or special uniforms, but after this, I can’t wait for our players to wear them.
I agree Cyama. While other school uniforms featured lizard scales and other nonsense (not all of them), Ohio State’s was impressive.
Big 10 splits OSU/Michigan.
http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1120761
I think I’m OK with this as long as they maintain the tOSU/meatchicken game as the last game of the regular season.
Bringing in Wisky is interesting.
GO BUCKS!
War 1942 national champs. Does a M15 or a rocket launcher con with the uniform.
Why all of the hoopla about a uniform change???? The Oregon Ducks change their uniform more often than most people change their skivies. And ….. If my recollection is correct ….. many OSU fans made fun of the Ducks wardrobe. Well, I am very happy that Uncle Phil paid your school a visit. The uniforms look great …… and as a Marine Corps vet myself ….. I like the tribute to the guys that served in WWII. Please send Uncle Phil back home as soon as possible.
I was trying to explain that difference last year before the Rose Bowl.
I met Steve Preece yesterday. Shared a ride to the airport with him and his wife. Boy, did he have some choice comments about Oregon. Sounded a little like a Buckeye fan talking about Mich1AAgan.
I stuck up for you guys though. I told him that the Oregon fans were by far the best to ever visit this blog. I’m afraid he had a much different impression.
Annapolis …. The Oregon State Beavers are like our little bastard step sibling. Nobody in the state of Oregon (except for a few alumni) cares about their program. OSU is an agricultural college filled with a bunch of farm boys. Anytime you see an OSU student walking around in tall rubber irrigation boots …… you know he is up to no good…..make sure the sheep are locked up and secure. They are jealous of “Uncle Phil” and the success that the Ducks have had. The “Civil War” game between our to schools is always intense and unpredictable. They may have the worst record in the PAC10 going into the game ….. and the Ducks may have the best …. it doesn’t matter. It is always an ugly dog fight. That being said …… the Beavs have a pretty good shot at winning the Pac10 this year. Oregon banished their senior QB (Masoli) from the team and replaced him with a red shirt sophmore making his first start on Saturday. Until he has a few games under his belt ….. the jury is out. Meanwhile the Beavs have a QB with experience and they are returning quite a few players. Last years “civil war” game decided who would go to the rose bowl. This may finally be their year……. They must first get past #6 TCU on Friday though. Good game last night against Marshall. Much better showing then the USC condoms vs Hawaii. Cheers
Yeah, Masoli came up in the discussion also. Sounds like he’s not doing so well at his transfer school either.
Good to hear from another rivalry. Around here, we tend to think there is only one rivalry in college football.
Masoli is a thug ….. had problems since he was a kid. Oregon gave him a chance to rehabilitate himself …. did not happen. Glad to see his tranfer get blocked. I feel sorry for whatever community he decides to plant roots in. Lock your doors and don’t leave any valuables out. He let a full ride scholorship slip through his hands. Can you say …. complete idiot. Lets see how well the “Thug Life” treats him in the future. He is a perfect example of a kid that really needs to join the military.
TIB-Glad to see you still in here. Ducks look like they haven’t missed a step winning big when the should have (unlike Ole Miss against a Div. 1AA team). Didn’t Masoli graduate from Oregon in the spring? I thought that was the only reason he was able to transfer without any penalty?
Keep winning Ducks. Maybe we’ll see you in the desert…
We know that story although it doesn’t happen often at tOSU…M. Clarett just got a gig with the Omah Nitehawks. In what I thought was a very classy move, Tressel helped him get back into school this summer when he was released from jail.
Works for me… I look for the heart of a Buckeye on the inside more than the uniform on the outside. GO BUCKS!!
When I first heard the new uniforms would feature camo and an American flag, I was expecting something pretty ridiculous. These look really nice though, very traditional with some nice modern touches.
These ones, unlike last years, I really would have been OK with any other game. Not this game though. I hope Nike losses money for doing this on the Michigan game again and I’ll follow that up by not buying Nike gear until next year.