Penn State Football: Nittany Lions to debut throwback jerseys this fall

Penn State football will be honoring “Generations of Greatness” by donning special throwback jerseys on Sept. 30 against Indiana.

The Nittany Lions have been one of the few major college football dynasties to avoid embarrassing the sport’s recent alternative uniform craze.

Penn State has long championed the legacy of their blue jerseys, white pants and black shoes, and much like Alabama, have forgone the “combat” jerseys made famous by schools like Oregon, Notre Dame and Big Ten rivals Ohio State.

Well, at least until this season.

On June 15, Penn State’s Twitter account officially debuted the first throwback jersey in program history. While it isn’t a major departure from the traditional Lions look, it does feature some subtle changes and additional flourishes that should be refreshing for longtime Lions fans.

Some fans who are averse to change may disapprove of the team’s decision to throw it back, siting their reverence for a jersey and its traditions that have largely remained unchanged for almost 60 years, but the team’s decision to debut the one-off jersey in a game designated to honor Penn State greats of the past should for the most part quell any overarching displeasure among older fans.

While this jersey is subtle compared to some of the uniforms donned by teams like Maryland in recent years, it does mark a major change for the program.

Head coach James Franklin has previously expressed a desire to bring the excitement of the SEC to Happy Valley upon his arrival at Penn State, and introducing a throwback jersey is a subtle way of pushing that agenda forward.

The jersey could also help to inspire future Nittany Lion recruits, some of which may be hesitant to commit to a school that they feel is too old fashion or set in its ways.

Next: Comparing Saquon Barkley to recent 1st-round RBs

While a throwback uniform isn’t a deal breaker by any means, showing recruits that Penn State is committed to remaining relevant both on and off the field could help to instill confidence in the next generation of Nittany Lions.