Posted: 02/14/07

Ranking the purple and gold
Which St. Michael's College sport has the best uniform?

Justin Veiga | managing editor
jveiga@smcvt.edu

When you think of a traditional team uniform, certain color combinations immediately come to mind. Typically, they are simple blends of two or three of the more visually friendly pigments. Black and white always look great together. As do red, white and blue. And you can never go wrong with white and just one other hue — how snazzy do the Toronto Maple Leafs or Boston Celtics look by keeping their styles unpretentious?

Before I came to St. Michael's, purple and gold only came together on easter eggs or candy wrappers. I always liked gold by itself, or even gold with green. I'm convinced that those old school Minnesota North Stars uniforms are the only reason the franchise stayed in the land of 10,000 lakes for as long as it did. But purple, I'll be honest, had just one dismal selling point: its scented marker smelt of grape Big League Chew bubble gum.

The merging of purple and gold on anything, let alone a uniform, can be as explosive as baking soda and vinegar. Both colors command the eye's attention, so somehow managing to weave the two in a sporty spectrum is a challenging task. With the spring sport season on the horizon, I figured it would be a good time to check out each of St. Michael's varsity uniforms. Expecting some pretty hideous concoctions, I was pleasantly surprised. Sure there's some black or white thrown into the mix on a few uniforms, but overall, those purple and gold jerseys aren't too shabby.

But who takes the cake? Which team has that classic feature that puts it ahead of the rest?

I've developed an error-proof point formula that equates to a G.P.A. ranking in order to answer this conundrum of mine. Points are given (or taken away) based on the following criteria: originality, logo use or placement, other color substitutions (black or white), and boldness.

And here they are. The top five St. Michael's uniforms based on my brilliant system:

No. 5 Men's Lacrosse

3.0

Using black on the shoulder portion of the jersey could have really done some damage on the point scale, but emphasizing its overall use with the black shorts kept this uniform in the top five (sorry volleyball, you almost slipped in). The purple prominence backed with gold highlights boosts the originality of the uni. The logo on the helmet's a must and those purple and gold combo gloves, well they just tie it all in. I love the thick numbers on the front and back; good choice going with white instead of gold for those. Look for a big season out of these guys. A number five ranking guarantees at least eight wins: Yeah, my formula is that good.


No. 4 Men's and Women's Basketball

3.1

There's just something about a white basketball uniform against the contrast of the parque. Aside from baseball, basketball is the only sport in which whites should be worn at home, and the St. Michael's men and women's teams are no exception to the rule. The purple down the sides of the jersey and shorts adds just enough color without taking over the sharp, sleak look that the white provides. At 3.1 on the ranking scale, these two teams have got the threads that turn heads.


No. 3 Men's and Women's Tennis

3.3

Besides a handful of beautiful European women, what's tennis all about? Class, class, and more class — and that's exactly what these uniforms exemplify. No need for flashy boldness here, just keep it easy on the eyes. All that's needed is the one logo on the shirts to uphold the St. Michael's tie. I know what you're thinking, "Back to back white uniforms? What happened to that success of mixing purple and gold?" But don't worry my friends, I'll make it up to you with the next two.


No. 2 Ski Team

3.6

My oh my, the boldness points for this uni! This is certainly my flashy pick of the litter. When you're on a mountain covered with that fluffy white stuff, you ought to stand out, and purple and gold are two colors that are certainly capable of attaining such a goal. It may be tough to tell in the image to the left, but those aren't just random gold markings — they're snowflakes. And this uniform even finds a way to fit in a St. Michael's logo. Now I'm no ski or snowboard outfit expert, but I'm digging these funky masterpieces much more than the pinstripes Shaun White and the U.S. team sported in Turino, Italy in 2004. When it comes to the mountain, go bold or go home.


No. 1 Men's Hockey

3.8

It's a beautiful thing when it all comes together in one package. No need for black or white additions in these uniforms; the men's hockey team keeps it to purple and gold with an uncomplicated style. It's got a professional look to it, as the St. Michael's Purple Knight logo (rather than words) adorns the front of the sweater. The tie at the neck is an old school throwback that has recently reemerged in rinks across the nation. The gold stripes on the socks and arms of the sweater add just enough additional color so that the players stay away from looking like skating plums. The team captain may be named Silver, but this squad certainly knows how to use St. Michael's purple and gold.