Grading the Football Jerseys.

Written Saturday August 8th at 12:45 PM

Well I was at Media Day at Rochester yesterday and what got my attention was the jersey combos and what teams will look like heading into the season. So I did my grades based on honesty and looks. Other schools didn't wear their jerseys to media day so I went by their look last season and likely look heading into this season, so here are my grades from Blue, White, and Red in that order, enjoy.

Avondale: When looking at the Yellow Jackets gear. The purple jersey and yellow pants combo looks sharp. I like the name and different font on the front but the Adidas logo is too big on the jersey. Other than that its a good jersey out there but the helmet is a huge concern, where's the bee on the helmet??? but it is purple though. GRADE: B

Berkley: The Bears wore white from Nike. They look like Northwestern when they were with Adidas with the blue and dark red stripes on the elbows with the numbers on the elbows. The V-Necks are the same color which doesn't have my vote but the stripes make up for it. They did upgrade the helmets to a dark blue which is something I like. GRADE: B

Ferndale: The Eagles jersey from Russell looks clean with the big numbers on the elbows but they have white on the shoulders which is a concern. The brown jersey looks good but if they can paint the sleeves brown then they have a good jersey. GRADE: B+

Hazel Park: The Vikings road whites look sharp although it could use some work. The HP on the front of the V-Neck is worrisome but the maroon stripes help out and make the jersey what it is. I still think it's too plain but it is what it is. GRADE: C

Groves: The Falcons perhaps have the best jersey combo in the entire league. They find a way to make the green and gold combo work with black in the jerseys. The helmet is great as well with the dark green look. Groves wears an all white combo on the road and that looks solid too. I wish they had name plates on the back of the uniforms and they would really look solid. GRADE: A-

Pontiac: The Phoenix wearing the purple home jerseys looked very sharp. I like the white stripes on the shoulders and the numbers on the elbows. I wish the V-Neck was all white but I like the all purple design that Russell gave Pontiac, looks great. GRADE: B+

Royal Oak: The Ravens may be struggling on the field but their black jerseys look sharp. I love the blue V-Neck with the name RAVENS on the jersey. If they put name plates on the jerseys then they may be the best jersey in the OAA but it's the best look I've seen, totally classic. I also liked their road jersey early when they had the black shoulders, bring them back and you have the best jerseys in the league. GRADE A+

Lathrup: The Chargers red jerseys look like an NFL team with the Captains C on them. The red jerseys look sharp with big white numbers on the shoulders. I wish the V-Neck though was all white on the jersey but the white and black trim on the jerseys make up for the V-Neck. It's a good jersey but a few minor things would make this a great jersey. GRADE: B+

Oak Park: When looking at the Knights look the red jerseys look sharp with the silver design as in their helmets on the shoulders with the numbering. The white pants are an interesting design as well but in other words Oak Park has one of the best helmet and jersey designs in the State. GRADE: A-

Harrison: The Hawks may have one of the best looks with the green and gold combination with Nike. I like the yellow stripes on the shoulders of the green jerseys and the green and gold stripes on the white jerseys with the name HAWKS on the green and HARRISON on the white Nike jerseys. Something traditional with these jerseys, it's iconic and sharp at the same time. GRADE: A

Southfield: The Blue Jays dark blue jersey could be one of the best combo in the state although the helmet is concerning the blue jersey and white and red trim looks sharp on Southfield. They wear an all white jersey and pants combo on the road. If they can bring back the Eagles helmet. This will be a great look again. GRADE: A-

Rochester: The Falcons are the Rutgers of the OAA when it comes to jerseys. They have a new gray helmet with the blue R on them along with new gray jerseys that look sharp along with the blue trim and numbering.  It will be odd when they play at Adams week eight, I like their white jerseys much better than the Highlanders look for the game.  GRADE: B+

Adams: The Highlanders will have four different jerseys this season with brown, white, gray, and a special jersey that somehow doesn't make sense. I like their gray Russell's, they have the Highlanders kilt look on the shoulders but I saw on their Twitter account @R_AdamsFootball showed their look to what they will wear against Rochester in Week Eight even though that will be a special jersey that honors the United States but too much cameo. GRADE: B

Seaholm: The Maples Nike Maple jersey looks sharp with the collar look on the sleeves being white. Seaholm does have an interesting V-Neck combo to what other college teams wear. I like the jersey with white pants and the Maple helmet but wish their was numbering on the shoulders or sleeves which would had made the jersey a great combo. GRADE: A-

Farmington: The Falcons look a lot like Penn State when it comes to the jerseys but they did change the helmet last season which is something I didn't like. Farmington has the classic look and apparel to be sharp on the field each week. GRADE: A

North Farmington: The Raiders Nike brown uniforms look interesting, it's odd having a white stripe to a yellow triangle and line going across the jersey. The V-Neck is yellow which I like along with the yellow numbers along the elbows but the colors after the numbering and with the white and yellow in the front on the brown jerseys along with the white helmet is a big red flag here. GRADE: C-

Oxford: The Wildcats home jerseys look sharp with the numbers big and the yellow and white stripes on the blue jerseys with the nameplates on the back. The yellow pants look good on the jersey for Oxford. The road uniform however is too plain with no name plates which is a concern to me. GRADE: B

Clarkston: The Wolves went to a gold jersey with blue pants look created by Nike. Interesting combination for a program that looks like Michigan with their helmets. I don't like the Wolves logo on the back of their jerseys but I do like the blue stripes and WOLVES name on the jersey but the white numbering is a question mark. Clarkston's road jerseys don't make any sense with it's all white combo kind of wish they wore either yellow or blue pants on the road. The name plates on the back of the jerseys would be great returning from a 2004 tradition and back to blue and yellow look would be the best sense here for the Wolves. GRADE: B-

Orion: The Dragons now went to the all green look eliminating the white elbows all together for the season. After certain mistakes from Nike, Orion finally has the green uniform that fans know within the program. I do like the different font numbers though. The white jerseys however need work as I feel they are too plain. I like the new font on the green jerseys but wish the V-Neck was white and nameplates will soon be added onto the jerseys. GRADE: B+

Troy: The Colts black jerseys, pants, and helmets are very sharp with the white, gray and red trim. I like the name plates on the back of the jerseys but the road jerseys need the name plates in the worse way possible but I do like the numbering on the shoulders and the logo on the road jerseys. Good look but put name plates on the road jerseys please. GRADE: B

Troy Athens: The Red Hawks are going to an Under Armor look this fall. I didn't like that they took the name plates off the jerseys last season or them going to an all Nebraska or Wisconsin look or that they went to the gray pants and the font size on the shoulders. At least they weren't Waterford Mott's baby blue helmet and jersey look a few seasons ago, to me that is still the worst jersey I have ever seen. If the Red Hawks stay to tradition they should bring back the gold helmet and gold pants. Red is also not a bad option as well but last season's look was beyond disappointing. GRADE: D-

Stoney Creek: The Cougars have one of the best looks in the OAA except for one thing, nameplates. Stoney Creek has a gold V-Neck and collars along with the white numbering on the navy blue jerseys but adding the players names make the best case here. Jersey does look great along with the gold helmets but just stay away from the white pants at home and you got a great jersey. GRADE: A-

Bloomfield Hills: The Blackhawks jersey is interesting with their black jerseys, pants, and helmets. I like the purple and white combo on the elbows. The numbers on the elbows are also great on them as well but the B and H on the Blackhawks name is a little too much on otherwise what is a great jersey combo. I wish they put name plates on the back otherwise this is a perfect jersey. GRADE: A-

West Bloomfield: The Lakers in the Nike look looks sharp. I like the opposite stripes on the shoulders of the green jerseys to go along with the white pants but the V-Neck part isn't all the way white though. The helmet is concerning for me as it's white and not green. I wish they would add name plates to the back of the jerseys. It would make them much sharper. GRADE: B-