Kirk Herbstreit believes ‘short shorts’ should be penalized and he’s not alone

Oklahoma kicker Tate Sandell’s ‘short shorts’ drew the ire of college football announcer and analyst Kirk Herbstreit during the Oklahoma vs Tennessee broadcast. Sandell’s 3-for-3 performance helped Oklahoma prevail and keep their post season hopes alive for another week. However, Sandell is not being talked about today for his kicking prowess.

The UTSA transfer is currently being discussed in college football circles for what essentially equates to a relative football ‘wardrobe malfunction’. As Sandell trotted out for each kick, his football pants seemed to get shorter and shorter.

With just a shade over a minute to play in the first half, Sandell lined up for a field goal attempt. The ESPN broadcast crew were compelled to comment on the short shorts situation. “He’s got short shorts on”, ESPN commentator Chris Fowler proclaimed. “I guess that’s no longer frowned upon in this sport.” Kirk Herbstreit was quit to respond with, “It is with me. That should be a penalty. Dressing like that should be penalty.”

According to the NCAA Football rule book released in 2024, detractors to the short shorts argument have a fair point. Per the ‘uniform and equipment’ rules subsection, a player is found to be compliant with the uniform rules if the pants cover down to the ‘entire knee covered’. Players are found to be noncompliant if a ‘part of the knee is exposed’ or the ‘full knee is exposed’.

In the case of Sandell, his entire knee and large portion of his thigh was exposed. It also states, “Players must wear pants to cover mandatory equipment. Mandatory equipment includes hip pads, knee pads and thigh pads.” Per the rules, there are two violations happening. Players aren’t wearing knee pads, which is alarming simply from a player safety/injury standpoint. As well as the legs not being covered down to the below the knee. Technically, they are wearing their pants to the lowest leg pad, while choosing not to wear knee pads.

Herbstreit is not alone regarding uniform rules

The inconvenient truth is that Sandell did not invent this trend. Many players have found a way to skirt this rule. There also does not seem like there is any enforcement urgency pertaining to this rule. Whether it’s Miami defensive back OJ Frederique, former Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins, or Florida defensive end Tyreak Sapp, the trend is growing.

A related trend surrounding the ‘short shorts’ phenomenon is the growing pushback by prominent influential people in college football. Namely coaches and media. On Saturday, Herbstreit gave life to an argument that has been waged for a while now. As recently as July of this year, Colorado Buffaloes head coach Deion Sanders had his own take on ‘biker shorts’ in college football.

Before Herbstreit, Deion Sanders was against 'short shorts' https://t.co/d3cOfRzQ8m via @YouTube

The subtle humorous irony is the coach the invented uniform swagger in his playing days is against a trend that is aesthetic in motivation. Players might argue that the knee pad restricts flexibility, but that makes about as much sense as saying a football player could see better if he didn’t have to wear a helmet.

The sad inevitability is that this feels like a silly story now, but what happens the first time a player takes a direct shot to his knee? Could an ACL/PCL/MCL injury that could potentially end or shorten a player’s career, possibly been avoided or minimized with wearing the rule required knee pads? Just how quick would interested parties call the enforcement of that rule into question?

The strict enforcement of the knee pad and pant length might not seem like an urgent matter for a sport navigating an everchanging landscape. Like every single other safety motivated issue, it’s all fun and games until someone gets hurt in a manner that could have been prevented.

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