Picture of Gophers red, white and blue "M" helmet decal for Saturday's game

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As others have stated, I too am getting really tired of all the over-the-top flag and military crap. The American Flag on a football helmet is disrespectful. Sports are a game-the military is not.

Raise the flag, play the National Anthem and make the TV networks televise it.....then play the GAME. We've dropped the coverage of the National Anthem and replaced it with exploitation.


"The flag should not be used as part of a costume or athletic uniform, except that a flag patch may be used on the uniform of military personnel, fireman, policeman and members of patriotic organizations. "

http://www.usa-flag-site.org/etiquette.shtml
(read up on flag etiquette)


If you keep changing uniforms do you really have a uniform?
 

All this stuff is clearly exploitative pandering if you ask me. Pink, every week some sort of military thing. It's nothing against supporting those causes, it that what these leagues/teams/corporations do shows little concern or thought about actually doing good. It's all bout the league/team/corporation looking good.

For example, how does this helmet sticker tangibly show appreciation for our military? Is it coupled with a donation to the wounded warrior project? Money or other support to families suffering financial distress while family members serve? etc.? etc.?

Maybe it is. But as this stuff proliferates it sure feels like doing good is secondary to looking good.
 

BarnBoy said:
If Jerry Kill twerks, I'm bailing on this team... However, I am confident that he won't.
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Thank you for that terrifying image I can't seem to get out of my head. The horror...
 

BarnBoy said:
I'm going to get torn a new one for saying this, but I think teams are going a little overboard with this stuff (e.g. pink, military).

There are a MILLION other ways in which you can appreciate something or raise awareness for something.

And please don't say something like I hate or don't support (fill in the blank) because I don't like stickers/gloves/etc.

It's like the stupid debate over presidential candidates wearing American Flag pins. "So-and-so's American Flag pin was 1/2 inch bigger so he is more patriotic".
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I agree.
 

it's become "Damned if you do, but Really damned if you don't..... Sucks!
 


Maverick said:
it's become "Damned if you do, but Really damned if you don't..... Sucks!
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Yep, I am not that old in the grand scheme of things but I feel like an old fuddy duddy wishing teams would go back to the days where their uniform was their uniform as opposed to the constant changing of looks that takes place these days. Anymore the uniform adjustments for causes become far more about the uniform than what it is supposed to represent.
 

Sports_Realist said:
The worst offenders by far are the Vikings (they actually had guys take the oath of induction to either the army or marines on the field before a game once or twice which seemed very out of place) although the Twins are catching up.
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This made me smile. The Twins did this back in the 1960s - see the book "The Twins Platoon," which is a very good read.

http://www.amazon.com/The-Twins-Platoon-Marines-Vietnam/dp/B001PIHU5E

I didn't know the Vikes had done this, but if they did, they might have gotten the idea from the Twinkies.
 

thailleagle said:
Recruits like change-ups... its nice to have different selection of uniforms to keep the looks fresh...
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Yep. Couldn't agree with this more.

I love the idea of the american flag within the 'M'. Gives it a different look. I really like it!
 

Just wait until they unveil the all black unis next year just imagine the uproar.
 



Johnnyboy18 said:
Just wait until they unveil the all black unis next year just imagine the uproar.
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Johnnyboy,

For the 10-20 percent of the men in the country who have some form of Red Green Colorblindness, when the Gophers go to their all maroon look? They are already all black.
 

Beat Penn State. Leave a little red on their all whites.
 





Obviously, Hacksaw Jim Duggan approves of this and wonders why so many people are Anti-American here. Maybe you should all move to Siberia!

Joking aside, I've been someone who has openly been against the whole pink movement. It's gone too far and is way over marketed. With that said, I don't have a problem with what the Gophers have done this year. They wore some pink for cancer, purple for epilepsy, and now this for Veterans day. All three have been pretty subtle if you ask me. They didn't go overboard like Northwestern is doing or like the NFL does with pink (lasting all month).
 

Sports_Realist said:
I want our uniform to be "our uniform". I'm not a fan at all of this helmet logo. It's possible to appreciate the military without doing this. I'll also add, no disrespect meant to military members past and present, but the way the local teams have embraced this gimmick at some point in the past decade crossed the line from appreciation to exploitation. The worst offenders by far are the Vikings (they actually had guys take the oath of induction to either the army or marines on the field before a game once or twice which seemed very out of place) although the Twins are catching up. The Gophers aren't as bad, but this helmet logo still gives me feelings that likely aren't what the program intended.
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In my experience, the military is usually the ones that request that. We've had it at our ballpark before for both the National Guard and Navy, and it was requested by the local recruiters each time. The oath that was done at our ballpark was not the official one. The real one took place in Des Moines sometime later. One of the recruiters told me they really like to do these things because it allows family to be there when it happens. Most of the time the official one takes place during the middle of the day during the week and many times can be a ways away (Des Moines is about 2 1/2 hours away from here).

I don't know for sure, but I'm assuming it's the same thing at other sporting events like the Vikings.
 

Enough with all this military stuff. There are other ways to support the troops. It has nothing to do with football. I have never understood why they play the national anthem at sporting events.



Go Gophers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

maroonfive said:
Enough with all this military stuff. There are other ways to support the troops. It has nothing to do with football. I have never understood why they play the national anthem at sporting events.



Go Gophers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Nm. I would end up getting myself banned.
 


As a veteran this whole "honor the military" crap is definitely exploitative and an excuse for schools to go "look at us". I don't feel honored at all when teams wear this stuff and find it insulting that teams basically use camo on their apparel as fashion statements. With that said, I actually don't mind the look of the helmet, it's not too much but I could go without it.
 

Perhaps something a little less ostentatious is the correct answer, I really don’t know.
You can't go by me, I get choked up singing the national anthem. It is hard to forget those that didn’t come back and those who are wounded permanently. Anyway it isn’t necessary for me, although it might be for others that are still giving all they can for our country.
I just want to say, it is humbling to be remembered/honored by the band, the announcer and the great Gopher Fans at halftime in November.
Thank you!
 

BarnBoy said:
I'm going to get torn a new one for saying this, but I think teams are going a little overboard with this stuff (e.g. pink, military).

There are a MILLION other ways in which you can appreciate something or raise awareness for something.

And please don't say something like I hate or don't support (fill in the blank) because I don't like stickers/gloves/etc.

It's like the stupid debate over presidential candidates wearing American Flag pins. "So-and-so's American Flag pin was 1/2 inch bigger so he is more patriotic".
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Totally agree. Feels like pandering for the military vote. How about honoring cops, firefighters, social workers, teachers, nurses, EMTS, the list goes on. Our military for the most part serves a political purpose and these people are volunteers after all.
 

Flatfoot said:
Perhaps something a little less ostentatious is the correct answer, I really don’t know.
You can't go by me, I get choked up singing the national anthem. It is hard to forget those that didn’t come back and those who are wounded permanently. Anyway it isn’t necessary for me, although it might be for others that are still giving all they can for our country.
I just want to say, it is humbling to be remembered/honored by the band, the announcer and the great Gopher Fans at halftime in November.
Thank you!
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All kinds of people get wounded in their work. Construction workers for ex. How about all the children who are sexually abused every year. Let's honor them. Plus, this decal is UGLY. I was going to attend but now I'm staying home.
 

General George S Patton once designed a gold tank helmet in the shape of a football helmet. The Army rejected it. So why should we allow the military on our football helmets? Absolute BS.
 

BarnBoy said:
If Jerry Kill twerks, I'm bailing on this team... However, I am confident that he won't.
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I haven't laughed this hard in a month. Could barely read this aloud to my wife. Funny stuff!
 

maroonfive said:
Enough with all this military stuff. There are other ways to support the troops. It has nothing to do with football. I have never understood why they play the national anthem at sporting events.



Go Gophers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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The song gained popularity throughout the 19th century and bands played it during public events, such as July 4th celebrations. On July 27, 1889, Secretary of the Navy Benjamin F. Tracy signed General Order #374, making “The Star-Spangled Banner” the official tune to be played at the raising of the flag. Baseball was first to incorporate it (see history here: http://espn.go.com/espn/story/_/id/6957582/the-history-national-anthem-sports-espn-magazine). Other sports followed.

I look at it this way:
1. CFB is a public event,
2. Our Nation's Flag is raised prior to its start, and
3. The University Band plays it.
 

Isn't it a joy to be talking(complaining) about stuff like this than poor team effort or play?

I'm happy that these are our complaints.

Now to kill that injury bug...
 

BarnBoy said:
I'm going to get torn a new one for saying this, but I think teams are going a little overboard with this stuff (e.g. pink, military).

There are a MILLION other ways in which you can appreciate something or raise awareness for something.

And please don't say something like I hate or don't support (fill in the blank) because I don't like stickers/gloves/etc.

It's like the stupid debate over presidential candidates wearing American Flag pins. "So-and-so's American Flag pin was 1/2 inch bigger so he is more patriotic".
Click to expand...

Just shut up...geez.
 

ruppertflywheel said:
General George S Patton once designed a gold tank helmet in the shape of a football helmet. The Army rejected it. So why should we allow the military on our football helmets? Absolute BS.
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I hope you're not being serious, and if you are. Hang yourself with some extension cord.
 

I'm shocked and appalled that there are so many classless Gopher fans on here. I was really hoping that a winning football team
would cause all the whiney a$$ cry babies that call themselves gopher fans to check their pissing and moaning at the door, but to piss and
moan about the Gophers using an American Flag pattern on their helmets for ONE game as a show of honor to our troops makes me embarrassed
of you all. I'm not calling any of you un-american, i'm just simply calling you all d*bags for wasting yours and everyone's time to complain
(of all things) about this. Tell you what, don't like it, cheer for the Nittany Lions this weekend, or become Vadger fans. No one wants you around
anymore.

Completely humiliating.

And before some geek wants to bring it up, I am a combat veteran of 3 tours of duty, I don't need things like this to feel honor, I don't
need people to walk up to me and thank me for my service, I know what i've done for my country....but it never feels bad when someone
acknowledges what i've done for this nation. This is one of those small things that makes you feel good.
 

It's November and the biggest complaint on this board is about a helmet decal. If that isn't a sign of the times changing, I don't know what is.
 

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