Spatted Up: The Art of Wearing A Football TowelAugust 8, 2012
by: The Starting QB, CJ Oates
The towel. It may be the most essential accessory of your uniform. Some may think the reason why is to keep your hands or gloves dry. Decades ago, certain skill position such as a quarterback, running back, or wide receiver would tie a towel to his waist belt. Sometimes even a center would just to get a firmer grip on the ball for those muddy or humid days. As time went on, you had players that rarely touched the ball on the defensive side wearing them. Then it got to the point where players not only wore them on grass fields but on the turf as well. This prompted the question, exactly why do players wear towels? The answer is simple. Swag.
My first encounter with “the towel” was in the late 90s when I noticed everyone who I had seen film on was rocking it a part of their attire. The first person that caught my attention was Desmond Howard. Howard’s unique way of rocking his towel was to put strips of black tape on his towel. The next player I noticed was Walter Payton. Payton did not wear his a particular way but he had his nickname “Sweetness” and his number 34 imprinted on the towel. Then there were Miami Hurricane players like Melvin Bratton and Randal Hill wearing a towel while playing good as well. After all of these great players influence, there was no question that I would have to wear a towel as well.
After you decide if you can rock the towel, the only question would be how how would you wear it and if it would personalized it. It could be worn in the back like a tail flapping in the wind as you race down the field or you could wear it in the front with a special personal meaning. If none of that appeases to you, there is the trusty side hip placement of the towel.
No matter how you decide to rock your towel just make sure you are backing it up with your play.
Former Miami RB, Graig Cooper, with the “tiger towel”
Reggie Bush’s towel game has always been on point
Deion Sanders with the Double Towel
Jerry Rice with the “beach towel”
Chris Rainey with the personalized Rainman towel
