Old Dominion Monarchs Unveil “Carol Hudson Blue” Football Uniforms

The Old Dominion football program unveiled new light blue uniforms during Saturday’s spring scrimmage at S.B. Ballard Stadium.

https://twitter.com/ODUFootball/status/1378378808345178122

The light blue Under Armour uniforms follow the same general design as the Monarchs’ slate blue home and road white sets, with an Old Dominion wordmark above a custom number font. The only difference is the TV numbers being on the sleeves rather than on the shoulders, as well as a contrasting collar and cuffs.

The light blue pants also have a traditional striping pattern, whereas the slate blue and white pants worn interchangeably at home and on the road are stripeless.

This marks the first time since Old Dominion revived its football program in 2009 that the Monarchs will wear light blue, though it has been a fixture for the men’s and women’s basketball teams in the past, as well as an alternate look for the baseball, lacrosse and field hockey teams in recent years.

“I didn’t really have to say yes to this. I pushed for it. I wanted it,” said Ricky Rahne, who is entering his first season as head coach after Old Dominion opted out of the 2020 season due to the coronavirus pandemic. “I think they are awesome and think they are a great look. Every time I watch our (Olympic sports) teams wear it, it just looks so good. I think that’s a great look for us.”

The color is actually Carolina Blue, but Old Dominion is calling it “Carol Hudson Blue” as a nod to its former sports information director in order to differentiate from the North Carolina Tar Heels, who play just three hours away from the Monarchs’ Norfolk, Virginia, campus.

Hudson worked at the university for more than four decades before he retired in 2015.

Old Dominion will wear the new uniforms twice in 2021, with their first appearance set for a matchup with Buffalo on Sept. 25. It’s unclear when they’ll be worn a second time, though.

“Anything that gets our fans going gets our players going and gives us a little bit of an edge, and I think the ‘Carol Hudson Blue’ jerseys will give us an edge,” Rahne said. “I think our fans are going to love them.”