PHOTO | TROY HULL

Johnson C. Smith publicly unveiled its new football uniform combinations for the 2021 season. The Under Armour outfits were designed by the players themselves.

Antonio Wallace is a believer in looking sharp on the football field.

The Johnson C. Smith quarterback helped debut four new uniform combinations Saturday as the Golden Bulls wrapped up their first week of preseason drills. The outfits, which were designed by players, completes the school’s transition to Under Armour, the CIAA’s apparel supplier.

JCSU is one of the last conference schools to make the switch, and the transition was delayed a year because the CIAA opted out of competition last year due to the pandemic.

“You look good, you feel good,” said Wallace, a senior quarterback and three-year starter. “You feel good, you play good. I feel like it wasn’t a one deciding thing. We came collectively and did it, so it brought together good team camaraderie and it got our chemistry a lot higher.”

The reveal at Brayboy Gym brought closure to a year-long mystery: what would the new uniforms look like.

The navy blue jersey features yellow gold numerals and lettering with white trim with  interlocking white “UA” logo on the left shoulder and CIAA logo in gradient script on the right. The white jersey has blue numerals and lettering with gold outline and white decorations on the sleeves. The “UA” mark is blue.

The blue trousers include designs between the knee and thigh on both legs while the yellow gold pants are without adornment.

A white Under Armour logo appears on the right hip for both sets. The bull logo, absent in 2019 because of a late shipment, returns to the helmet.

Gold jerseys and white pants, which were part of the uniform lineup under former apparel partner Russell Athletic are sidelined, at least for now.

“I’d seen them, but I hadn’t seen them on our players,” coach Kermit Blount said. “I was kind of wanting to wait and do it all at the same time, because none of the coaches except coach [Marshall] Banks had seen them and of course he showed them to me when he came in. Certainly, I want our players to enjoy the moment. It was for them. It’s going to bring the chemistry together.”

Tight end Ivoree Atkins agrees.

“These combinations are something we’ve been looking forward to for a long time,” he said. “It brings a lot of excitement, a lot of joy to the team and it’s getting us more prepared and more ready for the season.”

In an era when team apparel is as much about marketing and fashion as it is function, the Golden Bulls choice of uniforms is an opportunity to build enthusiasm heading into the regular season, which starts Sept. 11 against SIAC foe Allen (S.C.).

“I think the uniform is one of the best in the CIAA,” said free safety Tywann Jackson. “The blue and gold really hits.”

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