Trent Miles is beginning a new era in Georgia State football. As he continues to make changes to the program, Miles recently released a new helmet the team will sport for the upcoming 2013-2014 season.
The lustrous, charcoal-colored helmet features the words “Panthers” written across the side in white cursive and outlined in blue.
Head coach Trent Miles presented the helmet to the team after the April 5 practice.
“This is just a tweak that the players love and recruits seem to like. We just wanted to get them excited,” said Trent Miles, according to the Georgia State Athletics website.
“I like that it says Panthers. I think it brings a lot more style to the game,” wide receiver Avery Sweeting said. “Last year [everything was] more traditional, more old school. This year we’re trying to bring a new flavor to the game.”
More changes to the rest of the team’s uniform are expected to be released later this season, according to Georgia State Athletics.
While those changes have not been officially announced, there has been speculation that the pants may match helmets in color.
Black is not a school color, however, of Georgia State. Blue and white are the university’s predominate colors. Therefore, one of those two colors will likely be chosen for the new jersey.
“There will be some subtle changes in the uniform, but we will be respectful to the Georgia State brand,” Miles said.
Georgia State’s football uniform in the has featured the colors blue and white the past three seasons.
Typically, the team has worn blue jerseys with white pants for home games and white jerseys with white pants on the road.
The helmets have been blue with the initials “GSU” on each side.
Soon after the announcement, news of the new helmet spread around campus, and a majority of the reactions were positive, though reactions varied online.
“I like the black. I think it looks really sleek,” student and color guard member Lily Tyre said.
Tyre also expressed hope for the jerseys to have players’ names on the back if they are to change. She believes names help “build the pride in the team.”
“[Because] it says Panthers on there, it gives recognition to our mascot and we’re not mistaken with Georgia Southern with GSU on there,” student Kaleigh King said.
King brings up a good point.
Georgia Southern just recently announced their plans to join the Sun Belt Conference, as well, and the helmet change potentially can help the public distinguish between the two “GSUs” in future games against the Eagles.
Georgia State football has its foundations, and now it will try to progress at the hands of Trent Miles
Coach Miles turned a downtrodden Indiana State team into contenders in just a few seasons, and will attempt to do the same with Georgia State.
His first order of business? Paint the helmets black.
*Story idea submitted by Cody Marthaler, a freshman business major.
