I can’t find any evidence of this, but I remember watching a documentary of Vince Lombardi, and it said that when he took over the Packers, the team was to wear suits in public. He did it to create a culture of unity and professionalism.

Bill Snyder did that too. There are other things he did as well. The team got new uniforms, they got new practice gear, and they got a new logo. Snyder couldn’t control how talented his first team was, but he could control how his team conducted itself in all areas outside of the white lines. Sometimes, that’s where you begin to change what happens on the field too. Making symbolic changes like requiring your players to look like professional men during a media day might seem insignificant to a reporter, but this is all a part of what the textbooks like to call ‘transformational leadership’. Changing the culture of a football program isn’t going from A to B. It’s going from A to Z and all points in between.

I have no issues with Tim Griffin, but I do have issues with that remark. Individuality doesn’t come with wearing a hat or a Nike polo shirt. It doesn’t come with earrings, dreadlocks, or anything of that sort. As someone that works in the corporate world, where a suit and tie is required attire at a great many functions, I can say, with 100% certainty, that you can display originality while wearing a blazer and a tie, and it generally comes with the content of your character.

Bill Snyder cares about details. All details. Some folks may think it’s eccentricity or totalitarian behavior, but I don’t seem to find anything odd about it. I find it odd that grown professionals look down on wearing a suit and tie. Just like I find it odd that I go to weddings or other functions nowadays, and I have to tie a tie for a family member or acquaintance who should know how to do it and do it right.

I’m glad that our players represented themselves like this. I’m not trying to be a fuddyduddy, but as a 28 year-old-man, with five years of corporate life beneath my belt, one thing I notice about way too many college graduates today is a horrible lack of professionalism. One thing that Snyder has always prided himself on was teaching these guys to be successful off of the field as well, and I’m glad our players now understand how men conduct themselves.

I’m sorry about the rant, but one of my greatest pet peeves is listening to people bitch about wearing a suit and tie. I don’t want to get all Barney Stinson about it, but no one should ever be looked down upon for wearing a suit. That’s just ridiculous.