Arizona State unveils Pat Tillman-themed uniforms for Oregon game

Arizona State has Pat Tillman-centric uniforms to match its cleats for Thursday night’s game against Oregon.

The school previously unveiled the special combat boot-themed cleats it would wear against the Ducks and released the uniforms for the game Thursday morning.

The uniforms are throwbacks to the ones that Tillman wore when he played at Arizona State. The former Arizona Cardinals safety left the NFL to join the Army after the attacks on September 11, 2001. He was killed in a friendly fire incident in Afghanistan in 2004.

Adidas said the uniforms were designed in collaboration with the school and the Pat Tillman Foundation “to deliver the perfect blend of a retro look with a tribute to the military and Tillman.” The foundation gives scholarships to veterans. “Tillman” will be on the nameplate of all of the uniforms.

Tillman is also featured on the front of the undershirt and a quote of his is on the back.

We do wonder, however, if the uniforms are more of a tribute to Tillman or a way for Adidas to try to one-up Nike. Remember, Oregon is the school of Nike founder Phil Knight. Here’s the first two paragraphs from the write-up about the uniforms on Arizona State’s official site.

Given the quote from Tillman on the back, we’re not so sure he’d have wanted his image to turn into leverage for a brand ego-measuring contest. And while we’re cognizant that all special uniforms are a way for brands to gain exposure, we’re left wondering if Adidas and the school should have done a better job of hiding that fact this week.

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