The 2011 Nike Pro Combat uniforms boasted a hypercool top, hyperstrong compression, a new uniform system, flywire, vapor carbon fly TD and a carbon vapor glove.
I don't know what any of that means.
What I do know is it didn't help the Oregon Ducks in their season-opening game against the LSU Tigers on Saturday.
Allegedly the new uniforms are supposed to be cooler to wear (both figuratively and literally), as well as having "stream-lined construction" to reduce weight, drag or bulk.
In the fourth quarter on Saturday, the Ducks were trailing the Tigers, 33-13, and both starting quarterback Darron Thomas and 2010 Heisman candidate LaMichael James didn't appear to be explosive...or cool, for that matter.
For a Ducks team ranked third in the nation in the AP preseason poll, they looked nothing like a top team, especially given they were going up against the Tigers' backup quarterback in Jarrett Lee as Jordan Jefferson served his suspension.
The Tigers, who are scheduled to wear the new unis on Oct. 22 against last year's national champion Auburn, must be thinking to stick with what they have.
Of course, we all knew beforehand that cool new uniforms don't mean squat in football. It's all about the product on the field. If a player honestly complains about a uniform not being cool enough, he's probably not a football player.
One thing's for sure: this probably wasn't the way Nike envisioned things turning out when teams wore its uniforms.
The 2011 Pro Combat uniforms are in danger of being labeled a curse, much like the Madden cover. Just ask the Oregon Ducks.
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