No kidding. In the interest of infodumping, go here if you feel like seeing detailed images of all the new unis. From the football team to the band, to the cheer and dance to gymnastics (sorry, the unis are on mannequins).

Let’s give AD Scott Barnes some credit since it has been a seeming non-stop slam-fest on him since late-March. He put together a nice spectacle. Kept things under wraps. Really well-coordinated campaign. Made the unveiling of the full athletic department rebranding a full-on celebration of Pitt.

I’ll get this out of the way, now because I’m not trying to be negative or contrary. I just want to restate my position on the script: I don’t really care. I have nothing against it. I know a lot more people feel very passionately about the script Pitt and really wanted it back.

I hated the whole “Pittsburgh not Pitt” attempts. I had no real problem with the block “Pitt” even if it was a bit generic. What I miss, what I would prefer back is the old color scheme over anything else. I liked the royal blue and yellow. That ship has sailed except for throwbacks and retro one-offs.

The rebranding is not just about uniforms.

What might seem like a simple cosmetic change to some represents a widespread rebranding effort that the university’s athletic department hopes will launch the start of a new, successful era. “It injects a level of enthusiasm and excitement in your program that good things are happening,” Barnes said. “What I love about this mark is we’re honoring the past, but we’re looking forward to the future. I think as you walk around and talk to our student-athletes and our fans, they’re really excited. They’re excited because it’s a new beginning.” … Other facility changes include a new hydrotherapy center for the football team, work to Fitzgerald Fieldhouse, an updated locker room for the swimming and diving team, and an exterior facelift of Trees Hall. “Literally every playing venue and practice venue that we have will get a facelift with the new Pitt script and some other branding elements that attract and inspire pride with our student-athletes, recruits and coaches,” Barnes said. “That’s really the goal in everything we do.” The script was the school’s primary athletic logo from 1973-96 before the athletic department opted to be referred to as ‘Pittsburgh’ and implemented a panther logo some derisively dubbed “Dino Cat.” In 2005, the athletic department adopted the block Pitt as its primary logo. Barnes said the department and Advent, a Nashville-based branding company, will spend the next 18 months working on secondary marks, which could include a panther logo. The unveiling was the conclusion of a coordinated effort throughout the day to promote the switch. On Twitter, several athletic department accounts posted photos of former Pitt greats such as Larry Fitzgerald, Darrelle Revis and DeJuan Blair sporting various script merchandise.

The Pete is getting refitted. There will be a new floor, which does look sweet. And the “Cathedral Wall.” The Cathedral will light up after wins. Changes.

Uniforms are only the beginning. Barnes said every practice venue will get a facelift with the new logo. Perhaps the most impressive new look will be at the Pete, where the Pitt script will be splashed on center court. There were discussions about making it stretch from one 3-point line to the other with the Cathedral of Learning as a backdrop, but officials settled for a more conservative look. Yet, the Cathedral will not be ignored. The end zone closest to the Pitt bench will feature a photo of the iconic 535-foot skyscraper, surrounded by basketball greats of the past. When the men’s or women’s team wins, the building will light up. Barnes said the script lettering celebrates Pitt’s history. “Bringing this iconic logo back evokes a nostalgic feeling of the success we have had in the past,” he said. “It’s the next step in building momentum (for the future).”

Pictures (courtesy of Justin).

New addition to the Pete pic.twitter.com/AyKCqDi5kn — Justin W. (@NFLGimpy) May 18, 2016

As noted in one of the articles, a secondary logo is still in the works. That’s always been an issue for Pitt. Even the old style prowling panther or roaring face or the ill-fated panther tooth.

And perhaps that is why the script has resonated so much for so many fans. Beyond simply, “well that was the logo used when Pitt had its resurgence in the 70s and into the early 80s.” Of all the logos, primary and secondary, that script logo seemed to connect much more broadly with fans and alum.

Now some of the uniform unveilings from the show last night.

Basketball was modeled by Mike Young and Jamel Artis.

The all-white cheer uni really popped.

I’m in no rush to buy brand-new gear, but if the soccer kits are sold, that would be the exception.

Tennis

Callie and Katherine killing it in the new uniforms! #PittScript pic.twitter.com/73BtReFOkW — Pitt Tennis (@Pitt_WTEN) May 18, 2016

Track

And of course, football.

For those hoping that the throwback unis would be revealed, no such luck. That of course makes sense. That would have overshadowed everything else. That’s going to happen. Closer to the start of the season.