Purple Aces

[TrueBlueJay]

Should the Aces bring their sleeves back? I say yes. Merfield was wrong for ditching them in the first place.

[Ace Happy]

No....it hurts recruiting because today's players do not like wearing sleeves. Getting talent that can compete in the today's Valley (and that can do the classwork, and represent the university) trumps tradition.

[Bigcityp]

Should the Aces bring their sleeves back? I say yes. Merfield was wrong for ditching them in the first place.

After tonight, You tell us what you think we should do!!

[Maggie]

I say bring the sleeves back. They seem to have been unique to EU and I was sad to see them go. Besides, EU has some pretty good teams when they had the sleeves.

[Bigcityp]

I say bring the sleeves back. They seem to have been unique to EU and I was sad to see them go. Besides, EU has some pretty good teams when they had the sleeves.

Just wondering when (EU) Elon University played in Sleeves?? and when Elon had some pretty good teams???

[XjimmyfunkX]

Trust me, if you want to drive UE deeper into the abyss of mediocrity... bring back the sleeves. We already have an uphill battle attracting top recruits... we don't need more hurdles.

[DoubleJayAlum]

In football, Oregon has gone to some god-awful uni's and from what I've read in SI and other places, it has actually helped recruiting. Maybe the "unique-ness" of shirtsleeves would actually help UE...

I say bring 'em back.

[MoValley John]

Love the sleeves!

[Ace95]

If they don't bring them back full time, they should at least consider them as an alternate jersey for selected home games.

As to sleeves hurting recruiting? If someone wants to turn down a $25,000+ per year education because he doesn't like the basketball uniforms, I personally don't want someone that petty on the team. There are more deserving individuals who would be grateful for that generous offer, I'm sure.

[Ace95]

http://www.hoosiergazette.com/images/UEuniform.jpg
You can't tell me that's not a sharp looking uniform. (I will concede that the '01-'02 season's version left a lot to be desired, though.)

[bcrawf]

I absolutely LOVE the sleeves. COME BACK JIM CREWS!!!

[MoValley John]

I remember a few times when Evansville made Sportscenter simply because of the sleeves.

[jt45]

The sleeves were the bomb!! Bring back the sleeves!!
:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

[Bigcityp]

Does anyone other than Aces fans know how the sleeves came about at Evansville?? If your an Aces fan you should know!!!

[3ontheway]

Wasn't it to honor the plane crash tragedy?

[AceGargantua]

I think we should come up with something new...like a cape.

[AceGargantua]

Actually, I think it was in tribute to Arad McCutchen--the coach who won all the national championships during the college division days.

[Ace95]

Actually, I think it was in tribute to Arad McCutchen--the coach who won all the national championships during the college division days.

That was why Jim Crews brought back the sleeves. (He went a step further after McCutchan died and brought back the orange uniforms. During the '93-'94 season, the Aces actually wore orange at home. The visitors wore white.)

McCutchan started having the team wear sleeves because he believed that since the team wore t-shirts in practice, it was only natural that they should wear them in a game situation. He also said it helped the players keep warm in some of the drafty gyms in which they played.

The road gyms were also dim at times. That's where the orange road uniforms came in. It was easier to see a teammate wearing bright orange that one wearing deep purple.

McCutchan also had his team wear boxing robes for warm ups and on the bench. He said it cut down on time getting substitutes into the game since they didn't have to fumble around taking warm up pants off.

[Hail Red & White]

I can't speak for the majority of Evansville's players, but many on other teams wear t-shirts under their sleeveless jerseys that it makes you wonder why those schools don't just use them too. Other than UE, the only team I can remember in Division 1 that wore sleeved jerseys was New Mexico State during Lou Henson's first stint in Las Cruces. The Aggies switched to the sleeveless look around 1973 and have been that way ever since.

[MVC Fan]

http://www.hoosiergazette.com/images/UEuniform.jpg
You can't tell me that's not a sharp looking uniform. (I will concede that the '01-'02 season's version left a lot to be desired, though.)

Those were great uniforms, absolutely classic.

[MSNSaluki]

Quite frankly, Creighton looked as if its road jerseys had sleeves Saturday at Drake because almost everybody had a blue tee-shirt on underneath.

I say bring 'em back, Evansville.

[Ferocious Cat]

Bring back the sleeves!

Under Armour or Nike Dry-fit...sleeves to the shoulder...I'd buy one!
Maybe with the mock turtle neck look!

[XjimmyfunkX]

If they don't bring them back full time, they should at least consider them as an alternate jersey for selected home games.

As to sleeves hurting recruiting? If someone wants to turn down a $25,000+ per year education because he doesn't like the basketball uniforms, I personally don't want someone that petty on the team. There are more deserving individuals who would be grateful for that generous offer, I'm sure.

I think it's worth noting that it wasn't Merfeld's decision to ditch the sleeves. He allowed the team the opportunity to decide, because the time was good for a change... and the decision was unanimous... does this mean that these players were "petty" and undeserving of a UE education? No, I think their decision was indicitive of the type of response you would get from recruits when asked if they wanted to play with those uniforms.

[XjimmyfunkX]

....but I do support the idea of a random "throwback" night with the sleeves every once in awhile... but only if occasion warrants it (i.e. an important anniversary, homecoming..etc.)... then you're appeasing the history gods and not affecting recruiting

[ACES..ACES]

That was why Jim Crews brought back the sleeves. (He went a step further after McCutchan died and brought back the orange uniforms. During the '93-'94 season, the Aces actually wore orange at home. The visitors wore white.)

McCutchan started having the team wear sleeves because he believed that since the team wore t-shirts in practice, it was only natural that they should wear them in a game situation. He also said it helped the players keep warm in some of the drafty gyms in which they played.

The road gyms were also dim at times. That's where the orange road uniforms came in. It was easier to see a teammate wearing bright orange that one wearing deep purple.

McCutchan also had his team wear boxing robes for warm ups and on the bench. He said it cut down on time getting substitutes into the game since they didn't have to fumble around taking warm up pants off.

Great post Ace 95, you are right on.........little Jimmy funk should keep in mind that when recruiting a player, the recruit should respect a University's stand on TRADITION and LOYALTY and are much more important attributes to have than worrying if the player is going to be happy standing in front of the mirror looking at himself.

Do you think that mattered to Smallwood, Briley, Humes, Sloan, Watkins, Leaf, Bullock, Johnson, Elkins, Jackson, or Wilson when they decided to play at UE? :no:

[tampabluej]

Sleeves, definitely.

Good enough for Parish Casebier, good enough for today's athlete...

[Bigcityp]

McCutchan started having the team wear sleeves because he believed that since the team wore t-shirts in practice, it was only natural that they should wear them in a game situation. He also said it helped the players keep warm in some of the drafty gyms in which they played.

Did McCutchan also have them wear the sleeves at Roberts because of how drafty and cold it was there when it was first built?? He wanted the Aces to be n get warm and stay warm and the visiting team to stay cold in the old drafty Roberts Stadium. Little home court advantage!!!

[Ace95]

Did McCutchan also have them wear the sleeves at Roberts because of how drafty and cold it was there when it was first built?? He wanted the Aces to be n get warm and stay warm and the visiting team to stay cold in the old drafty Roberts Stadium. Little home court advantage!!!

That's very interesting. I hadn't heard the home court advantage story, but it makes sense. I have only followed UE since the late 80s, when I was trying to determine what college I wanted to attend. I'll defer to your knowledge of pre-renovation Roberts Stadium.

[XjimmyfunkX]

Great post Ace 95, you are right on.........little Jimmy funk should keep in mind that when recruiting a player, the recruit should respect a University's stand on TRADITION and LOYALTY and are much more important attributes to have than worrying if the player is going to be happy standing in front of the mirror looking at himself.

Do you think that mattered to Smallwood, Briley, Humes, Sloan, Watkins, Leaf, Bullock, Johnson, Elkins, Jackson, or Wilson when they decided to play at UE? :no:

There are plenty of ways to honor "Tradition and Loyalty". Wearing the same uniform for decades is not one of them. When UE made the decision to stay a D1 program a few years back... it has to continue to make decisions that will allow it to remain competitive. Like I said previousely... a "Throwback Night" once or twice a year is a great way to honor the tradition of McCuthan and the past players... but it makes no sense to sacrifice the program's future to celebrate the past every game.
While I don't appreciate your condescending tone, my youth and experience with the program affords me one luxury... relevant perspective. It's not surprising that some of the more traditional fans would want to keep the sleeves, and some of the younger fans see them as a thing of the past. I agree that UE needs to honor tradition, but a balance between Loyalty and Reality is important here. College basketball isn't what it used to be.... recruiting isn't what it used to be... love it or hate it, the small things matter. And if tradition was all that mattered... no one would have been calling for Crew's head when his teams started plummeting to the bottom of the Valley.

[SalukiSpike]

When was Evansville going to leave D1? Was that recent?

[AceGargantua]

When was Evansville going to leave D1? Was that recent?


The administration at UE explored the idea around the same time that Crews left. They talked about going D3. We couldn't believe it. Many of us started arming ourselves until they decided to rededicate to D1, but we're still not over it.

[AcePurple]

I definitely have to agree w/ the position that we do NOT want to bring the sleeves back full-time. The novelty of being the "team with the sleeves" wore out a long time before the sleeves went away.

[creightonfever]

they're so ugly id love to bring em back!

[UofL17]

^^^^^ If only Kyle Runyan, Marcus Wilson, Kurt Begle, Kwame James, Craig Snow, and Chris Hollander return with the sleeves and Crews.

[indymoon]

http://www.hoosiergazette.com/images/UEuniform.jpg
You can't tell me that's not a sharp looking uniform. (I will concede that the '01-'02 season's version left a lot to be desired, though.)

What was the problem with the 01-02 version? I don't recall a difference.

I liked the sleeves but agree that UE doesn't need any more hurdles when trying to recruit today's players. They could wear those muscle shirts (like Creighton's road unis) and split the difference. :aces:

[Ace95]

What was the problem with the 01-02 version? I don't recall a difference.



I'm surfing desperately to find a picture of them. They weren't the same as the ones pictured above. They were much baggier and players looked like they were swimming in them. Also, the lettering was screen printed, not stitched on like the example I posted.

On a side note, I compiled UE's all-time record with and without sleeves.

Without Sleeves: 400-407 -- .496 (1919-1947, 1977-1986, 2002-present)
With Sleeves: 793-489 -- .619 (1947-1977, 1986-2002)

[Ace95]

This is the best I could find from '01-'02. It's courtesy of the Illinois State Daily Vidette.

http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper420/stills/5i5j8417.gif

The road uniforms were purple with an orange, purple, and white pattern up the sides. I wish I could find a better picture showing just how baggy they actually were.