Schiano Issues New Dress-Code Edict
August 12th, 2012
The various sizes, colors and quaility of sport coats on hangers across the Bucs’ locker room Friday night made the place look more like a Men’s Warehouse clearance sale than a postgame hangout.
It was yet another new detail on display under the New Schiano Order. When you travel on the road, you look like you’re on a serious business trip. Coaches, players, everyone.
For years, Bucs icon Ronde Barber arguably was the sharpest dressed Buccaneer. And Barber now appreciates that he’ll have more company when it comes to off-field style and professionalism.
“Coach Schiano wants us to present ourselves in a first-class manner,” Barber said. “This is it. A lot of guys have done it already, but it’s nice to have solidarity across the team doing it.
“We’re coming to every away game dressing [professionally]. It’s to really come on a mission. So it’s more a business trip than anything else.”
As for home games, Barber said, “I haven’t heard our policy on that yet.”
Davin Joseph laughed when Joe asked him about the fancy threads. This kind of rule wasn’t in place under Raheem Morris.
“It’s a good change,” Joseph said. “It’s a positive change for the entire team. It’s every time we travel. Every time, all the time [we’re out],” Joseph said. “
Do you have to wear the shiny black shoes, Davin?
“No. You can pick your color. Nobody’s gone too extravagant yet, but I’m sure it’s to come,” Joseph said.
A veteran Buccaneer, who requested his name not be published, told Joe he suspects there will be more uniformity to the Bucs’ dress code when the final roster is in place: “It wouldn’t have been fair to tell guys struggling to get their first NFL paycheck to go out and buy a suit, but that’s probably going to change for the regular season.”
August 12th, 2012 at 9:54 am
Schiano is lapping Raheem and sealing his fate to never become a HC again in the NFL. Should be an interesting year and I love what Schiano is doing. I see a solid season on the horizon. I hope knuckleheads like Preston Parker are made an example of because after watching the game Mike Smith add way more value as a returner. Stroughter can return punts.
August 12th, 2012 at 10:16 am
Does Penn have to get 8 suits so they will fit as he get fat again??? or can he just rent them from men’s warehouse???
August 12th, 2012 at 10:39 am
Kind of off topic, but that Michael Smith guy is flat out dangerous!
It has been a long time since Tampa had a guy that was a danger to take it to the house any time he touches the ball like that.
August 12th, 2012 at 10:59 am
Why do people who have never been in business think that we all dress in monkey suits when traveling? That’s ridiculous.
My grand father wore monkey suits even on his day off. If alive, he would be 120 years old.
It would be more fun dressing up like the Village People. It would make as much sense.
August 12th, 2012 at 11:15 am
i dont know about this rule ~ i was hoping to see someone outdo durant and westbrook during post game interviews…
August 12th, 2012 at 11:30 am
“Ties on the line!!”
August 12th, 2012 at 11:50 am
This is old school to the point of being seriously unnecessary. Business casual would be more than sufficient. Suits are passé — appropriate for sales people and executives. That’s about it.
If he just made a rule saying no pants hanging off the ass, and no sideways-turned caps, I think that would be good enough to present a positive image.
I always think it’s comical when these guys talk about a “business trip”… Gimme a break. It’s a game; they are there to kick some ass on the field.
August 12th, 2012 at 12:35 pm
Just a note-
Why didnt we draft Vontaze Burfict in the 7th round!!?
I told you all that he would be fine.
Imagine Mason, Vontaze, and Lavonte!
That wouldve been a sick trio of young LB’s!
Now we have “Drake Dunsmore.” woohoo.
August 12th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Its just a game? Millions of dollars on the line! I would consider it a business trip. If they weren’t playing for any money at all I would agree. Obviously this isn’t just a game. They need to act like professionals and this is just a small step towards creating a professional atmosphere.
August 12th, 2012 at 12:54 pm
Exactly this isnt just a game. This is an oppertunity for some of them to make millions of dollars or go home and be a cashier at a local convenient store. It is there lively hood and they should take it very seriously. Dam some of you bitch just to bitch… must have some pathetic lives.
August 12th, 2012 at 12:56 pm
I thought rahah’s dress code was: underwear hanging out of your sweat pants, shirt untucked and mandatory huge headphones – Ronde was grandfathered out of that dress code due to his status.
Schiano is trying to accelerate the rough transition time from sandlot organization to pro football franchise. Once he ingrains professionalism by forcing lack of discipline out of these players that were nearly ruined by Joe’s coach of the year (LMAO), he will ease up some.
You saw the residuals of no-discipline rah Friday night with missed tackles and dumb penalties – also no pressure which has a relationship to conditioning which Schiano is trying to fix.
August 12th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Suits are rediculous…the Buccaneer organization should provide casual ..comfortable traveling attire….
August 12th, 2012 at 1:26 pm
Noting wrong with raising the bar, these guys make more than most business owners and much more than the most of the fans that pay to see them. Maybe some of the youngsters that model themselves after these guys will improve there image as well ,no bad can come of this ……now lets rejoin the program in progress
August 12th, 2012 at 1:29 pm
Dress with class, play with class. Coach just keeps getting better and better. Hop aboard now, because it’s going to get crowded
August 12th, 2012 at 1:33 pm
Some of Coach Schianno’s eccentricities seem to have a purpose that is later revealed, so perhaps this is him trying to strengthen team unity and image with a dress code? Plus if players start putting on too much weight during the season they’ll notice it as soon as that expensive custom tailored suit starts feeling too snug around the waist. Whatever the reason I’m optimistic about the groundwork Coach is laying down for the team to hopefully return to being a respected franchise on and off the field.
August 12th, 2012 at 1:42 pm
Going on the road pounding the opponent is the business they’re in; so technically it is a business trip. Good move by Coach Schiano
August 12th, 2012 at 1:48 pm
If you have ever been part of a successful team, walking in heads high, dressed to the 9’s, proud and knowing you are a notch above the competition……you would know why he is doing this. It’s about pride, it’s about team building, professionalism, success…….the list goes on.
If you have a problem with it, you’re either too young to understand or just a moron.
August 12th, 2012 at 1:52 pm
Robert: you just called RahRah a moron!
Thomas, please don’t spread or imply falsehoods about Joe. It’s such a simple rule. Joe never claimed Raheem Morris was a great hire. –Joe
August 12th, 2012 at 2:09 pm
@T 2.2, Exactly who here is still saying Morris was a great hire? Whoever it is, needs something similar to a lobotomy.
August 12th, 2012 at 2:12 pm
Can’t wait to see what Peter King has to say about this. No, wait…….. who really cares?
August 12th, 2012 at 2:19 pm
Why is it that the same ones bitch no matter the topic? Any knowledgeable person knows that people perform better when they dress professionably. Go Bucs!
August 12th, 2012 at 2:49 pm
It’s people who wouldn’t know professional dress if it jumped up and bit them in their cargo shorts….
August 12th, 2012 at 3:09 pm
LOL!
August 12th, 2012 at 4:34 pm
” Any knowledgeable person knows that people perform better when they dress professionably.”
That is going far. You should try working with creative types, television crews, artists etc. No quicker way to diminish their output than putting them in suits and ties. When they are comfortable, their creativity flows, when they are stuffed up in a suit, so is their creative output.
I really don’t think what you wear makes much of a difference, and if it does, you are probably not a very motivated person to begin with.
August 12th, 2012 at 4:43 pm
@ aj…applause !!!!!!
of course the team should walk into and out of home and away games in a unified respectful of the NFL demeanor…..but business suits….please !
August 12th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Robert is right, if you’ve ever been apart of something like this, it does a lot for the mindset. Another great move.
August 12th, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Schiano is a military guy and this is no different from a dress uniform. These guys are not unique snowflakes when they are deploying, in his view. This leaves no room for interpretation- we’re on the clock and you will wear the prescribed uniform. Give me a 1/2 million bucks minimum and I will wear a ridiculous suit anywhere.
August 12th, 2012 at 8:25 pm
who cares,, a lot of coaches impose this rule in other sports. when you wear your sweat pants 1/2 off your ass and your over sized shirt is untucked you look like your not taking ANYTHING serious. these are professional athletes and should look professional. i think he’s bringing a more mature attitude than the last joker Rah-Rah. BUC IT IM OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
August 12th, 2012 at 10:35 pm
Great long term professional move. You do not just wear the suit & tie professional image to the games. You also must wear them back home, win or lose. Wins feel good in a suit & tie, losses give you close personal contact of being professional in what you are doing.
August 12th, 2012 at 10:53 pm
@ ohaubucs, 1/2 milion..? I’d wear a suit & tie and a clean pressed shirt anyplace for 25,000.00.
@ all you Hawaii bucs fans, if you ever get to barking sands or princeville. area of Kauai share a fat one & drink a cold one for me. I wonder the changes since 89.
August 13th, 2012 at 2:01 am
@RustyRhino: I was in Princeville a few years ago and it’s probably changed quite a bit since then.
August 13th, 2012 at 8:40 am
Kauai….my favorite island. Never got to golf Princeville but what a beautiful place. Stayed at the Cliffs there and loved snorkling at Poipou (sp?) because it never rained there. Beautiful place.
August 13th, 2012 at 9:18 am
Dillards at International Mall had a few Bucs present for this reason.
August 13th, 2012 at 11:31 am
If you think monkey suits breeds success, check out Goldman Sachs. Given the right to steal and create money out of nothing, they still lose $4 billion per quarter and you scmucks bail them out.
If you demand a uniform protocol, then you must provide them. I’m sure the Glazers would be perfectly will to spend $800 four times for the preseason for all 145 employees. Then they will spend $800 a game for all sixteen games for about 80 employees. Playoffs!!! You guys are talking playoffs???? We can’t afford suits for the playoffs!!
How do you expect a rookie like Ernest Graham, who was homeless with a wife and child as a rookie, to pop for a monkey suit and for what? I think the Little General is getting a little full of himself and has forgotten what it’s like for the people NOT earning $5 million a year.
That suit he’s wearing is starting to strain at the button. Too much training camp food.
August 13th, 2012 at 11:32 am
perfectly willing
August 13th, 2012 at 10:22 pm
did someone say share a fatty???