Notre Dame fans slam new Shamrock Series jerseys with 'ugly' comparison

The University of Notre Dame pulled the covers off their new blue and grey jerseys due to be worn at the Shamrock Series on 23rd November. However, these kits have been met with a flurry of disapproval from fans of The Fighting Irish, branding them as "ugly".

Notre Dame has designed these alternate uniforms specifically for their showdown against Army in this year's 12th edition of the Shamrock Series. This year is a momentous one for Notre Dame as it commemorates the centennial of the legendary 1924 team that went undefeated on their way to securing their inaugural National Championship.

That timeless team was helmed by the famed "Four Horsemen", composed of Harry Stuhldreher taking the role of quarterback, Don Miller and Jim Crowley as halfbacks, and Elmer Layden operating as fullback. A celebrated article penned by renowned sports journalist Grantland Rice about the Four Horseman famously detailed a blue-grey sky overhead during their victory over Army , serving as the genesis for the new jersey design.

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As historic as the narrative might be that inspired the jersey design, fans couldn't resist voicing their criticisms, particularly after noticing the bright gold numbers. The kit also features gothic number font, harking back to a "Gothic in Gotham" initiative, but fans aren't exactly queuing up to purchase them.

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One disgruntled fan expressed, "The officials shouldn't even allow this on the field," adding, "Shiny gold numbers are practically impossible to read from a distance. You want to sell this in the gift shop? Fine. But this is a costume, not a uniform."

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"It's a good thing these are one-time uniforms because they look like ----," another chimed in. A fan didn't hold back, saying: "Every year they get worse. The designs are getting more basic and lazy every year. Just wish they would actually put effort into them and make them relate more to the game and match up with more detail."

Notre Dame and Under Armour aimed to honour one of the most iconic articles ever penned about The Fighting Irish. The legendary write-up from Oct. 18, 1924, famously stated: "Outlined against a blue-gray October sky the Four Horsemen rode again."

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"In dramatic lore, their names are famine, pestilence, destruction, and death. These are but aliases. Their true names are: Stuhldreher, Miller, Crowley, and Layden. They were at the heart of the South Bend cyclone which today swept the opposing Army team over the precipice at the Polo Grounds, as 55,000 onlookers gazed down upon the astonishing scene unfolding on the green expanse below."

Despite the backlash over the jerseys, Notre Dame is hoping it won't affect their game, as the squad has never lost in all 11 Shamrock Series games. Moreover, Notre Dame boasts an impressive record at Yankee Stadium, having never allowed a touchdown there.

In the Shamrock Series of 2010, Army suffered a defeat at the hands of Notre Dame with a score of 27-3 at Yankee Stadium. They also secured a victory against Syracuse in 2018 at the same venue with a score of 36-3.

Notre Dame has faced Army once more in the series, clinching a win with a score of 44-6 at The Alamodome in San Antonio, TX.