MORGANTOWN, WV – West Virginia football was designed to pay homage to the state's rich coal heritage and honor the miners who work underground every day to power the world. , will debut a black alternate uniform for the 2024 season.
After the new blue, gold, and white uniforms were unveiled at the annual Gold-Blue Spring Game, the black alternate uniforms serve as an additional set of uniforms for the Mountaineers to show off on specific occasions. The idea and design for the black alternative uniform came from a day spent with real miners.
“Last week, our staff did a great job designing and rolling out traditional uniforms. However, we have prepared alternate uniforms that our student-athletes will enjoy and connect with the people of West Virginia.” I wanted to,” the WVU vice president and director of athletics said. Wren Baker said. “If our football team was going to wear a black alternate uniform, we wanted it to tell a story and mean something to our fans. Every design element of the uniform was based on what the designers observed. “Coal mining in West Virginia has a deep history, and our football team is committed to honoring the rich tradition and history of coal mining in West Virginia.” looking forward to it. We would like to thank everyone in the industry and all the staff who contributed to the design and implementation of these uniforms. ”
This jersey focuses on elements that bring light to the darkness. Of paramount importance to miner safety are reflectors throughout the mine, which play an important role in underground operations, safety, and navigation. The black jersey number is reflective twill, and the wordmark “West Virginia” and state outline are illuminated in white to complement the reflective twill.
The patterns adorning the jersey's sleeves and collar were sourced from the underground coal mines of West Virginia. A photo of a sheared mine wall was vectorized before appropriate palette colors were applied to bring the coal pattern to life. The sleeve design shares space with a reflective stripe that mimics the safety stripes on a miner's uniform. His other key element of the jersey is the pattern on the arm cuffs, designed to replicate the blades of a mine shearer. Known as the backbone tool of mining operations, this tool actively cuts and is one of his keys to a successful work shift.
The reflective safety stripes of the miners' uniforms are also incorporated into the side panels of the black pants, along with the same coal shear wall pattern found on the sleeves of the jersey. A white state outline adorns the upper right leg panel.
The finishing touch to a miner's uniform and ultimate safety is the helmet. The mine's “black hats” are experienced miners, and the mountaineers wear black matte helmets when donning this uniform. The helmet on the field includes an outline of the state and flecks of metallic gray in the paint, resembling the glow of freshly cut coal. The central stripe features the coal pattern used on the uniform, but with a gradient of white to clear, mimicking the light of a miner's headlamp, improving visibility and safety underground. provide sex.
With the help of retired West Virginia Coal Association President Bill Rainey and Gaither Frazier of the Rhea Mine in Grafton, West Virginia, athletic department graphic designers Kristin Coldsnow and Phil Lynch visited the Rhea Mine and inspected the coal mine. I immersed myself in the day's work. Through the generosity of Lear Mine employees and the cooperation of Nike, WVU's black replacement uniform became a reality and served as a tribute to the work ethic and courage of West Virginia's coal miners.
To support the coal-themed black uniforms, the WVU Brand and Trademark Licensing Office developed the “Built on Bravery” collection. This collection was created in collaboration with his WVU Athletics and his CLC, who worked with members of West Virginia's coal community to create a product line that complements the new football jersey and celebrates the coal industry. it was done. Fans can look for the collection in stores later this summer and into fall.
