On April 4, two members of the Michigan State football team started a Twitter campaign. Both Jerel Worthy and Bennie Fowler tweeted: RETWEET if you think the michigan game this season should be a night game. With the spartans wearing all new uniforms!!!! @MSUAD. Later that day, Kasra Dabiran started a Facebook group called: MSU Fans in Favor of Night Game + Black Jerseys vs. Michigan, which gained over 4,400 fans.
On July 24, the athletic department announced that Michigan State will be wearing the Pro Combat Uniforms against Michigan on October 15.
On July 26, the Detroit Free Press confirmed that the Pro Combat Uniforms were a player-led request: “The student-athletes that are currently playing asked Coach D for it,” said Mark Hollis, athletic director at Michigan State University. “Coach D went to Nike. They didn’t come to us. They’ve designed a heck of a uniform that’s representative of Michigan State history. At the same time, is very futuristic looking. … It’s a stunning piece of apparel.”
On July 29, Joe Rexrode reported that the idea of Michigan State wearing the Pro Combat Uniforms came from Will Gholston, who asked head coach Mark Dantonio during the offseason if he could get them for the team. Dantonio visited Nike in February and Nike agreed to provide the Michigan State Football team with Pro Combat Uniforms for the rivalry game against Michigan.
On September 13, Nike unveiled the design of the Michigan State Pro Combat Uniforms via its Facebook page.
Photography Credits: Masthead image and images of pro combat helmet and pro combat jersey are courtesy of MSU Athletic Communications. Image of pro combat pants is courtesy of Ann Arbor News. Images of pro combat gloves and pro combat shoes are courtesy of Nike. Spartan Jerseys claims no ownership to these images.