The announcement the Texas A&M-South Carolina game will kick off at 11 a.m. came as a bit of a disappointment for those hoping to see the full effect of  A&M’s Halloween-tailored all-black uniforms. The uniforms were designed by Adidas and include helmets featuring a Lone Star logo that is visible only when hit by a burst of light, such as a camera flash.
Jason Cook, Texas A&M’s senior associate athletics director for External Affairs, said the university has the capability of requesting start times, but ultimately the time slot is decided by the TV partners.
Cook said while a night game would be ideal to showcase the themed uniforms, the uniforms will still look impressive no matter the kick-off time.
“Our preference would have been a night game, but the uniforms and the game time were never connected,” Cook said in an email. “The black uniforms and helmets look great, day or night.”
Cook compared the uniform to the Aggies’ all-white jerseys that were worn against Mississippi State in 2014.
“The #AggieNights theme is about wearing black, or night-colored uniforms, as black is commonly seen on Halloween,” Cook said in the same email. “This theme is no different than wearing #IcedDown uniforms at Mississippi State last year when the temperatures were above freezing.”
Many students, however, have not had such positive reactions regarding the early start time.
“I’m definitely not a big fan of the 11 a.m. kickoff,” finance sophomore Daren Redfearn said. “In my opinion, two top-SEC schools deserve a more favorable start time.”
Accounting sophomore Jett Johnson said the uniforms lose their effect with a morning kickoff.
“The marketing was clearly made to be for a night game by the name alone and was sure to impress recruits with our flashy jerseys,” Johnson said. “As a student, I feel snubbed that we didn’t get a night game and am very surprised we didn’t have an agreement put in place to ensure a night game on Halloween.”
Johnson said it would be a good idea for A&M to not wear the new uniforms for the South Carolina game, and save them for a night game down the road.
“I just find it disappointing that Adidas and Texas A&M have been hyping up these blackout uniforms ever since the summer without us ever even being guaranteed a night game,” said Kyle Heiner, accounting sophomore.
Cook said fans are encouraged to wear black to the South Carolina game in an attempt to “black out” Kyle Field.