FORT COLLINS — Public response was the one aspect neither side could control.

Through his years as Under Armour’s senior design director for apparel in the team sports division, Adam Clement has learned not to dive too deeply into immediate reactions from bloggers or fans with Twitter accounts. Colorado State athletic director Joe Parker has learned the same lesson.

Clement loved the concept, and so too did Parker. Before the ink was even dry on the five-year extension between to two organizations in 2016, one that would bring upgraded uniforms to Ram athletes, they had discussed the basis of CSU’s first step into the alternate uniform realm.

Parker was at ease on the eve of the unveiling, but he was also curious before fan reaction came fast on Sept. 21 when the school and Under Armour unveiled the “State Pride” uniform via social media.

“It was tough because you never know what the public response is going to be,” Parker said. “When you’re in these roles, you’re going to be looked at, fingers are going to point in a certain direction, and you’ve got to be willing to take that risk.”

Clement had been through it before twice. First was the uniform designed for Maryland back in 2011. Two years later, his team did another state pride design for Texas Tech, a process Parker took part in as the school’s deputy athletic director at the time.

For Colorado State, allowing the Colorado state flag design take over the uniform became a hit. For the most part, the fans loved it, more so than the CSU marketing team could have fathomed.

“It was very gratifying to see that the initial response and then even the response through the day was successful,” Parker said. “I wouldn’t say nothing but positive, and the criticisms were things we knew we’d be open to; we’d self-identified those concerns.”

Parker understands traditions, and he keeps those values. Departing from the green and gold and the Rams horns on the helmet wasn’t easy, but he felt it was a strong design, and considering the uniforms will be worn only once — at home against Boise State — it was worth the risk.

Clement did too, as his team made that decision long ago.

When they completed the Maryland uniforms, he said the reaction was one of disdain outside of the state, but inside the borders, it was overwhelmingly positive. At least in that project, the state flag matched the school colors. With Texas Tech, there had to be the inclusion of royal blue into the scheme based off the Texas state flag.

When it came time at Colorado State, there was no consideration for the altering of anything, because Clement found the pride theme is communicated best that way, where no explanation is needed.

“I have a soft spot for Colorado because my parents live out there,” Clement said. “The flag is super, super unique. The colors are vibrant and primary and it really stands out. In the sea of the flags of our 50 states, it is one of the most unique and one of the most remarkable. When you have a design that is as good as that, you really don’t need to do much interpretation.”

This will be the first of three alternate uniforms Under Armour will provide the football team, with the others coming in the next three years. No one is saying when the second will arrive, but the timing for the first was easy.

Parker didn’t want to introduce one the final season at Hughes Stadium as enough was going on to celebrate the program’s history there. Besides, it is an 18-month process from concept to production, so it was out of the question anyway.

Blending the first with the opening of the new on-campus stadium was a fit, and making it a state pride theme was natural, as well.

“I think we were originally challenged from the school to come up with an alternate uniform to help celebrate the opening of their new football stadium,” said Nick Billiris, the design director for the team sports design group at Under Armour. “Knowing that the football stadium was almost an homage to the state of Colorado, that was one of the first concepts that we landed on. From that point on, when school officials started to see some of the concepts, I think it immediately resonated with them knowing some of the parameters we had to work with.”

This is Colorado State’s first foray into the game, one that is already changing around them. Clement and Billiris have seen the hot topic go from the uniforms themselves to one shifting more specifically toward helmets. To navigate the ever-changing marketplace, their team has developed guidelines to lead them.

“Our design motto is No Art for Art’s Sake,” Clement said. “In our shop, those words are emblazoned on the wall, and every designer that comes to our team understands we create things with a meaning or a purpose.”

Billiris’ desk sits right under the motto, giving him a constant reminder

They avoid trendy colors, because those change, so a few years down the road, the uniform has lost meaning. To them, a chrome helmet isn’t a good idea because another team has one, it has to fit the project. The focus is on story telling and merging designs.

“It was almost an arms race to come out with the flashiest or the brightest uniforms each week. At some point that trend has hit its heyday and has started to trend down to more traditional looks,” Billiris said. “With that, any time we have a chance to step out of the regular box of call it the standard uniforms, it lets our creative go in a different way and tell more unique or special stories as it relates to the schools. Any time we get to rethink and re-purpose some of the ideas that we have for a specific school into a unique uniform, we always welcome it.”

CSU coach Mike Bobo isn’t so sure about the new uniform rage, especially playing at a school like Georgia, which stuck with traditional roots. But as a coach, he knows it is important to the players, because the first thing he sees them do on a visit is try on an alternate uniform. Those are the photos they post on Twitter and Instagram.

What he is most thrilled with is the new helmets.

“My initial reaction was we’re getting a new helmet. We only have one set of helmets, and you could see we couldn’t practice when they were in Hawaii, so we had borrow helmets,” he said. “I was glad because we were getting a new set of helmets and then afterward, we can change that design and have another design on the helmet. I was excited we were going to upgrade our helmets. That’s what I was excited about.”

Clement and Billiris said there are already working concepts being developed, some that can include the new white helmet. Parker said the school suggested one for Under Armour, though he added they’ll leave the concept work to the experts.

That much the university knew going in, let Under Armour work its magic. The rest has been a learning process.

CSU senior associate athletics director of sales, marketing and communications Chris Ferris knew he was entering an unknown, but he and his staff made some estimations based on facts. For one, the outlets the university controls, the bookstore and the RamZone, sell about 30 jerseys per year, he said. When they ordered 96 alternate jerseys, he felt he was being optimistic.

They sold out before product could be displayed.

“Every new opportunity presents a chance for us to learn. This was certainly one of those,” Ferris said. “It’s certainly has been fun going through the process. We wanted to make sure we did our part to work hard and prepare so that when we make an announcement we have product in the market place so fans can purchase it.”

Under Armour produced 10,000 units of merchandise for CSU and their retail partners, ranging from T-shirts, polos, pullovers and hats, Ferris said, and sales have been brisk across the board.

While he acknowledged it is wonderful for the school and the expanding of the CSU brand, the real target of the whole project will be on the field Saturday. The partnership with Under Armour, Ferris said, is centered around the athlete experience.

Colorado State hit the mark there, as fan reaction was outmatched by that of the players.

“I think it’s cool we get an alternate uniform,” said senior linebacker Evan Colorito, who was one of the models for the unveiling. “This is our own thing, and it’s especially cool for the guys who are from the state of Colorado. The people and the fans are obviously going to like it, because I’m guessing most of our fan base is from here. I think it’s a good opportunity to represent this state right and wear some cool uniforms.”

Mike Brohard: 970-635-3633, mbrohard@reporter-herald.com or twitter.com/mbrohard