In November of last year, I ranked some of the nicest jerseys found in the OUA’s hockey league. This year, I thought it might be fun to transition over to the OUA’s football league, providing my list of the top three jerseys that will be sported on the gridiron this season.
READ MORE: Unveiling the finest tarps the OUA has to offer
Since 1980, the OUA football division has hosted 11 teams and established itself as one of the premier collegiate football leagues in Canada. It provides a solid platform for Canadian student-athletes to further their academic and athletic development on home soil.
The OUA, particularly through its provision of university sports teams, has allowed for much expression and engagement on campuses across the province. Part of this expression is how each university has outfitted its respective football teams on the field.
So, in this edition of Aidan’s Angle, I’ll be ranking the top three football jerseys the OUA has to offer based on two categories: design and heritage.
3: Western Mustangs
While I hate to it it, the Mustangs have one of the nicer jerseys in the OUA—not that they have much to compete with.
The Mustangs have worn three different jerseys in the past two seasons: their white home jerseys, the deep Western purple away jerseys, and a nice black set they sport as alternates.
While most teams in the OUA elect to sport helmets that match their jerseys, the Mustangs have done the opposite, often wearing silver helmets with purple jerseys and vice versa. I particularly enjoy the look of their black alternate jerseys with the silver helmets. I think they give off a very clean and video game-esque look.
The addition of stripes on the shoulders of the Mustangs’ jerseys adds another level of design that most other teams neglect.
2: Windsor Lancers
The Windsor Lancers earned their spot on this list for one particular reason: their helmets.
While I would typically like to see a bit more effort invested in the jersey itself, the deep navy, illuminated with the maize decals looks very clean. The use of the Lancer logo on the helmet is one of the coolest features of any sports uniform I can think of.
The logo is a three-pronged lance, mimicking the first letter of Windsor. They’ve aligned it on the helmet, so it sweeps back, providing an almost speedy look to the Lancers’ helmets.
On the Lancers’ white jerseys, they’ve also lined the collar and the holes of their sleeves with a small amount of their classic deep navy colour—a small but nice touch that further decorates their jerseys.
1: Queen’s Gaels
Bias aside, these are easily the nicest, most creative, and cleanest-looking jerseys that you’ll find, not just in the OUA, but in the nation.
There are few colourways that can effectively compete with blue-collared work ethic.
While the Gaels could’ve likely gotten away with a basic design, the Tricolour isn’t their only attractive feature.
The Gaels contrast their bright yellow jerseys with the classic deep navy on their decals and outline their decals with red, putting their Tricolour on display in a subtle but effective way. They also created an almost V-neck effect on their collar with a deep cut of navy blue.
While most teams that opt for shoulder stripes on their jerseys choose a horizontal design, like the Mustangs, the Gaels took a different approach with vertical stripes, mirroring the pattern on their helmets. This final touch showcases the Gaels’ consistent use of the tricolour, tying the entire look together seamlessly.
Perhaps there might be some competition for the Gaels down the line. For now, our timeless Tricolour really leaves no doubt about who has the nicest football jerseys in the OUA.
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