Arizona State unveils “Brotherhood” adidas football unis honoring the late Pat Tillman and US vets
A week before Veterans Day, the Arizona State football team will take the field on November 4th against Colorado wearing a special edition adidas “Brotherhood” uniform created with the Pat Tillman Foundation as part of ASU’s Salute to Service initiative.
Twenty years earlier, Tillman led the undefeated 1997 Sun Devils to the Rose Bowl. Since leaving his football career and enlisting with the Army in 2002 following 9/11, and his untimely death serving in Afghanistan in 2004, Tillman’s legacy, unfortunately, has become a political ping pong ball still today.
Just last month, in the heat of the Trump-NFL war of tweets and knees, Tillman’s widow expressed her point of view, telling CNN after a POTUS retweet invoking her husband and with the hashtags #StandForOurAnthem and #BoycottNFL:
“As a football player and soldier, Pat inspired countless Americans to unify. It is my hope that his memory should always remind people that we must come together. Pat’s service, along with that of every man and woman’s service, should never be politicized in a way that divides us. We are too great of a country for that. Those that serve fight for the American ideals of freedom, justice and democracy. They and their families know the cost of that fight. I know the very personal costs in a way I feel acutely every day.”
According to adidas, the “Brotherhood” uniforms is “centered around the tan colors of Army fatigues and accented with the Sun Devils’ iconic maroon and gold color, and its typography are meant to “recreate the look that the 1996–1997 team wore during their Rose Bowl season.”
Additional design details include the phrase “Give ’em Hell,” a line from the ASU fight song which Pat famously uttered to his teammates prior to beating defending National Champion Nebraska 19–0 in 1996. The phrase is tonally knitted into the side of the jerseys using Primeknit technology and also located inside of neck liner for players to see as they don their jerseys and get ready to take the field. The nod to the military continues onto the TEHCFIT baselayer. Utilizing an overspray design found on military vehicles, equipment, etc., the PT-42 logo is prominently placed on the chest and left sleeve, while the U.S. flag is featured on the right sleeve.
Further paying homage to Tillman and the U.S. Military, a tan camouflage helmet is highlighted with the word “Brotherhood” on the back of the helmet. Underneath are the names of any ASU player or coach, past or present, who has served or is serving in the U.S. Military. Additionally, the PT-42 badge is highlighted directly above the Arizona State moniker at the crest of the jersey collar. To complete the theme, an overspray graphic of the PT-42 logo is featured on the inside of the adizero 5-Star cleats and adizero 5-Star gloves.
The apparel will be available at university bookstores and www.adidas.com with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Pat Tillman Foundation.
According to the Pat Tillman Foundation website, it was founded in 2004 and “invests in military veterans and their spouses through academic scholarships.” To date, it says it’s given $15 million in scholarships and support and helped 520 scholars. Learn more at pattillmanfoundation.org.
