Northwestern unveiled football uniforms on Monday that the team will wear Saturday to honor veterans and service members that upon first look to have blood splattered across an American flag design.
However, Under Armour -- the company that designed the jerseys -- and Northwestern are both denying that the design features blood stains, and instead is an "authentic distressed pattern which depicts a flag that has flown proudly over a long period of time," according to an Under Armour statement. Northwestern does not plan to change the design of the uniforms despite blow back from the release of the jerseys.
Under Armour has received mixed reviews on the uniforms the company has designed since it unveiled what was known as the Maryland pride uniforms two years ago. However, this design might be receiving the most outrage as many service members and veterans have taken to social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter to say the jerseys are over the top.
Ten percent of the proceeds from the jerseys will go to the Wounded Warrior Project. The university is also auctioning the game worn jerseys following the game Saturday against Michigan with all proceeds going to the foundation.
This isn't the first time Under Armour has designed college football jerseys to honor troops and partner with the Wounded Warrior Project. The company designed jerseys with camouflage patterns for Maryland, Texas Tech and South Carolina's football teams.
This year, Under Armour also designed what the company is calling the "Lone Survivor" uniforms to honor Purple Heart recipients and those who took part in Operation Red Wings.
The jerseys feature red wings on the helmets and shoulder pads. Operation Red Wings was the battle in Afghanistan in which Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell was the lone survivor among 20 other service members.
Proceeds from the Lone Survivor uniforms will go to the Lone Survivors Foundation -- an organization founded by Luttrell.
