AMES, Iowa - Iowa State’s football team will have a new look beginning this fall with the return of gold pants for both its home and road uniforms.  First-year coach Gene Chizik wanted a return to ISU’s traditional colors - cardinal and gold - on the squad’s game-day uniforms.

“My former boss at Texas, Mack Brown, was an assistant coach at Iowa State (1979-81),” Chizik said. “In looking back at those teams, I noticed there was a lot more gold in the uniforms. It is one of our school colors, and should be used more prominently in our game-day dress.”

Chizik and Director of Athletics Jamie Pollard said the color change for the pants is the first step in the re-design and that the Athletics Department is enlisting the help of Cyclone fans to create concepts for new uniforms.

“It was too late in the production process to make any changes beyond the color of the pants for 2007,” Pollard said.

However, the athletics program anticipates the football team wearing completely new designed uniforms and helmets for the 2008 season.

“It’s quite natural for new coaching eras to coincide with a new look,” Pollard said. “Developing that new look will include input from many areas, including our students, alums and fans. Building pride for and branding a new era starts with the team’s identity, which is tied to its uniform.”

Chizik met with Pollard this spring to discuss options. Seeking input from the students, alums and fan base, as well as working with the experts from Iowa State’s College of Human Sciences, which works with the campus textiles and clothing department, seemed appropriate.

“We want feedback as we consider what direction we’ll take going forward,” Pollard said. “We feel the connection with students and faculty - through the expertise of the College of Human Sciences - and the fan base provides a great opportunity to tap into some very creative minds.”

“We are honored to be asked to participate in this exciting venture,” said Cheryl Achterberg, Dean of the College of Human Sciences. “Our faculty experts in functional clothing design and eager to participate in this team project and we have lots of experience to add to the mix.”

The Athletics Department is asking fans to mail their ideas to: Uniform Designs, Athletics Marketing Office, Iowa State University, Jacobson Athletic Building, Ames, Iowa 50010. Designs are due by May 14 and can also be dropped off in person at the Jacobson Building. There is a downloadable (PDF) release form on cyclones.com that must accompany all submissions.

Once concepts are collected, athletics department officials will review suggestions in consultation with their apparel partner, Nike. Later this summer, Iowa State fans will vote for their favorite design in an online poll at cyclones.com. Voting will run through the middle of August. Final decisions for the design will rest with ISU staff, but the voice of Cyclone fans through the online vote, will carry significant weight.

“All options are on the table,” Chizik said. “Our football team represents the institution, especially the students, our alums and fans. Asking for input from those key constituents seemed like an obvious first step and we’re excited to see some of the ideas that are generated.”