In 1920, the Staleys introduced the official team uniforms of red jerseys with brown stripes. This design of vertical stripes was a popular trend for football jerseys of the 1920s; stripes were made up of strips of canvas that helped players grip the football, which was necessary because the standard football then in use was slightly fatter, rounder, and more difficult to handle than a modern football. The players' jersey number was displayed only on the back. After moving to Chicago and becoming the Bears, the team switched to blue jerseys in 1923. The color scheme was switched to navy blue and orange in honor of George Halas' alma mater, the University of Illinois.