If Spike Lee got one look at the Sac State athletic program, he?d be screaming in disbelief, “It?s gotta be the shoes!”

In an era of sports where stick marks and grass stains define the heart of a team, the Hornets have chosen a more clean and uniform look without losing a beat – beginning from the ground up with the cleats and shoes.

“All the sports teams are like that,” said Clyde Jones, equipment manager for the Hornet football team. “They want everyone to wear the same thing.”

It was once believed that looks breed success and confidence, and those within the football, basketball and soccer programs have stuck tight to that adage. Each program provides their players with a pair of team shoes.

Since the fall of 1993 the football squad has contracted the services of Reebok, citing financial reasons as a major influence on their decision.

“There are four major brands of cleats. Reebok is a little cheaper than Nike,” Jones said. “I guess they gave the coach a better deal.”

Therein lies the problem. While the Hornets may have purchased a cheaper cleat, they sacrificed a degree of quality. The table in the training is proof enough.

“It?s definitely a problem that we?re going to have to address. A lot of guys are starting to complain,” Jones said. “Each year they change the cleat, which makes it hard to tell if the cleat will be good.”

“Some of the players don?t like the shoe. They say it hurts their feet,” Jones said. “They (the skill position players) say that it?s too heavy.”

As a result, many of the players have taken it upon themselves to purchase their own cleats. The very same trend can be found at Hornet Field where the men?s soccer team practices and plays.

Head coach Michael Linenberger allows each of his players to wear the cleat of their choice, realizing that footwear is an essential part of a soccer player?s game.

“Many of the players like the ?Copa Mundial? because it stretches to their feet,” Linenberger said of the Adidas-style of cleat. “But, footwear is very personal and individualistic. It?s the most important piece of equipment for a soccer player. We buy each player a pair of cleats that they want.”

Sophomore transfer Rob Skaggs did just that. Instead of wearing the team cleat, Skaggs has opted for a pair of Puma “Kings.” However, his teammate Nick Whittaker has found a new love for the team shoe “Diadora?s.”

“I really like the leather on this shoe,” said the sophomore transfer from Ohlone Junior College. “They?ve helped me to be the best player possible.”

The issue of feet and shoes has taken center stage recently. At the Olympics in Australia, an Australian swimmer named Ian Thorpe took gold medal after gold medal. It turns out that he was aided by his size 17 feet that served as propellers. So in this particular case, maybe shoes were not the answer, but the point is that feet are important in athletics. The right pair of shoes can make all the difference. Whether your underpinnings are guarded by a pair of Reeboks, Nikes or Puma Kings; having the right shoes is important.