Did the Charlotte 49ers wear illegal uniforms in game against Appalachian State?
The Charlotte 49ers’ uniforms became one of the early stories in college football Saturday.
The Niners wore all-white uniforms with gold numbers at Appalachian State. Juxtaposed against their new white helmet designs, the uniforms looked nice — when seen up close.
The new jerseys, ordered several months ago, were late arriving this week.
“This is not unique to Charlotte,” Charlotte coach Will Healy said of the shipment this week “Every school in the country is having this issue, because of the pandemic and supply-chain interruptions. Every day the FedEx truck comes in, I’m like, ‘There it is!’ And then it’s like: two pairs of gloves.”
If you were watching on TV with the cameras pulled back, the numbers on those new jerseys were really hard to make out. The announcers on TV even asked if they were legal. App State won the game 35-20.
NCAA rules say that “each team must wear a jersey that has numbers that clearly contrast with the body of the jersey.” It says the number must “clearly contrast” even if it has an outline or border and must be clearly visible from a significant distance.
Last, the rules say that if there is any question as to whether the number and jersey contrast, the jersey can’t be worn.
The game kicked off at noon on ESPN2.
Did Charlotte fit or not fit under the rules? You decide.
This story was originally published September 12, 2020 at 1:03 PM.
