Why Beltless Pants?

[bob jenkins]

Originally Posted by ref18

Now, don't get me wrong, I think belted pants look horrible, and have been wearing beltless pants since I started officiating, but I was just wondering what's the origin of the beltless pant, why do we as officials wear it.

And to further that, why are pleats preferred to flat-fronts?

All officials used to wear belts. Then college officials stopepd. So, others thought it looked "cool" or would make them look like they did college. So, all umpires were wearing beltless, plain-front pants.

Then, college officials started wearing pleats. ....

Then, college officials started wearing grey shirts. .... (but that was stopped, for most).

Then, college officials started wearing the wide black stripe on the side. ...

Then some college officials started wearing some white on the shoes. ...