Is it OK to wear School Singlet in a Road Race if you're an ALUM?

Curious Person wrote:

Haha

Took me a bit to get it.

Thanks, guys. I was afraid that was going to go unnoticed. However, since 99% of letsrun readers are hopeless in either physics or grammar, it seemed my joke was destined to fall flat. Thanks for making my dreams become reality.

NCAA Nike Singlet 23 wrote:

Is it OK to wear College Singlet in a Road Race if you're an ALUM? Is it proper ettiquette (e.g. Does it show disrespect to your school?) Thanks

Is this really so hard for you?

--If you no longer attend and represent the school, you no longer wear the singlet.

--If you no longer attend and represent the school, you no longer wear the singlet.[/quote]

Agreed. If you're currently unattached, it doesn't make sense to wear your old uniform. The only time I ever wear my old gear is our alumni race. Anywhere else, it looks like you're trying to let your uniform say something for you that you're running presently does not, like "I used to be fast ... see my DII singlet."

I wore the practice singlet from the school I went to at the half-marathon I did last weekend. It did not have the name of the school blasted over it, but it did have the school logo on the back. Hmm... it was my best option since I stupidly misplaced some nice singlets with logos for the running stores I worked for.

If you don't have anything better to wear, hell, just wear it. Who cares? It's running for crying out loud!

What if you graduated in 2008 and the singlet is from 1990? throwback style?

No it just makes you that dork that cant get over his past. Just wear a plain singlet and don't be that guy.

If you run in a jersey you got from somebody who sponsors you you are representing whoever gave you the jersey. Likewise, if you run in a collegiate uniform you are representing your college. As such you should at least be prepared to run well. In my case, I went to school back east where they didn't get many recruits from outside the North East.

After races when I've worn the jersey I have talked to high schoolers volunteering at the race and my college has come up. I doubt they have applied but it hasn't hurt to get the school's name outside of the northeast, which woudln't happen if I didn't wear the jersey.

Its doesn't matter how fast you are or where you went or how long ago you went there. You no longer run for them so its tacky at best to wear it. I cant figure out why on earth anyone would want to wear a singlet from their college once they are out. What possible benefit is there. Just wear a T shirt, if you are so fast you need a singlet a pro company will buy you one or if you just think you are that fast go to your local running store and buy one yourself.

First of all this post is for all the posters saying that wearing your school's vest is the same regarding you are running for them or not. NO it NOT. It is an NCAA Violation to wear your school's vest in a meet not sanctioned through the NCAA. My friend from Adams State wore his vest during the Bolder Boulder and had to pay some fines to the NCAA through volunteering services for the summer before he could become eligible for next year's XC season.

hopps wrote:

First of all this post is for all the posters saying that wearing your school's vest is the same regarding you are running for them or not. NO it NOT. It is an NCAA Violation to wear your school's vest in a meet not sanctioned through the NCAA. My friend from Adams State wore his vest during the Bolder Boulder and had to pay some fines to the NCAA through volunteering services for the summer before he could become eligible for next year's XC season.

If true this is another example of how effed up the NCAA is.

I wore my Oregon singlet while competing in Europe, while still a student at Oregon. We didn't go OTC etc. until after graduation. Wearing the singlet in Europe was like advertising for the school.

And, it got Arthur Lydiard to stroll over and say "hi."

The message/post is for the OP: PLEASE DO NOT WEAR YOUR FORMER COLLEGIATE JERSEY. You will be viewed as fatuous in the eyes of many. You are no longer attending the university nor are you representing or are affiliated with the school. Cannot stress this simple fact enough. Do listen to the other posters on here as they have all made it very clear in reinforcing this message. Thank you.

hopps wrote:

First of all this post is for all the posters saying that wearing your school's vest is the same regarding you are running for them or not. NO it NOT. It is an NCAA Violation to wear your school's vest in a meet not sanctioned through the NCAA. My friend from Adams State wore his vest during the Bolder Boulder and had to pay some fines to the NCAA through volunteering services for the summer before he could become eligible for next year's XC season.

Just curious how do all the college guys that wear their stuff in Europe and at USATF nats get away with it? How does the NCAA have the right to tell you you can't wear a singlet that says the word Oregon for example.

This is ludicrous. I think it shows great pride to continue wearing the school vest after graduation- so long as you represent the school well (and by that I don't mean run fast- I mean you acquit yourself like a gentleman who has had some higher education and is a polite member of society). I wouldn't look down on anybody doing it- so long as 1) they ran for the team 2) the singlet was not stolen and 3) the runner in question isn't being a jerk or acting like an idiot.

these are three conditions under which i would say you could wear the singlet.

1.) it is not the current edition the team is using - this also would avoid the ncaa rules

2.) you are only wearing the singlet and not the matching shorts - then you'd look like a douche

3.) you are in shape and ready to run hard and fast - otherwise you are embaressing your university.

one of the runners in my town won a local half-marathon wearing his old michigan jersy (in a legit time) it looked very badass

Forest, those are good qualifications. I would also add, personally, that I won't wear my college singlet in a road race until the point at which it's clear that I'm way out of college. For instance, I don't see anything wrong with a master-aged dude sporting a retro singlet. Seems like an act of homage to me.

Prescott Dandelion wrote:

Forest, those are good qualifications. I would also add, personally, that I won't wear my college singlet in a road race until the point at which it's clear that I'm way out of college. For instance, I don't see anything wrong with a master-aged dude sporting a retro singlet. Seems like an act of homage to me.

I agree with Prescott Dandelion and the previous poster, even though the 3 rules he mentioned are not "official" rules. I think it is more of a "social" situation that you need to know how to read and decide what is appropriate. Is there a legitimate reason why you should feel awkward wearing the jersey? Are you at a race where a lot of people from that school are going to see you run? Will there be other D-2 coaches around that will get confused as to if you are an NCAA runner? If you are at a road race most likely not. I like the "rule" about not wearing your team's current singlet. I don't think it's "living in the past" if you want to rock your team's old singlet from whe you were a collegiate runner. Anyone who is/was a runner knows that you keep those four years in your heart no matter how long ago they were or how old you are or WHAT shape you are in. There is NOTHING wrong with paying a little "homage." I graduated high school about 6 years ago and recently ran a pretty big road race wearing my high school's old singlet. I did so because my coach of 3 years was recently killed in a tragic accident and it was a way for me to remember him and represent the school without making a huge deal. No one questioned me or had a problem with it. I've also worn an old school jersey from my collegiate years in a road race that no one questioned either. While I did win the race I don't think that needs to play a factor in whether or not you wear the singlet. If it means something to YOU as a runner, do it. Who cares what others think? I enjoy everyone's input on these message boards but some of you can be extremely vain about the smallest issues...

some guy , maybe named walt wrote:

Ray wrote:

Why not? Assuming you actually went and competed there. In addition, you must have been given or bought the singlet. If you stole it, give it back. Don't wear it.

i agree with ray, but really no one should care.

shoot me an email ray if you will. thanks.

Hey, I did and it came back....

Prescott Dandelion wrote:

Forest, those are good qualifications. I would also add, personally, that I won't wear my college singlet in a road race until the point at which it's clear that I'm way out of college. For instance, I don't see anything wrong with a master-aged dude sporting a retro singlet. Seems like an act of homage to me.

Makes sense to me.

Haji wrote:

I wish colleges made their running uniforms more accessible to anyone and everyone that wanted to wear them. Kinda like the big money sports do. I didn't run in college but it would be cool to wear my favorite college teams singlet just to show support. I would pay decent money for a Brooks Hanson singlet. No different than people walking around wearing NBA, NFL or college ball jerseys.

We want our sport to grow and then we do our best to keep it small and hidden.

+1

And you CAN get a Hansons singlet at the Brooks online store.