# black stuff under football players eyes

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-stuff-under-football-players-eyes/10469>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 15, 2000, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-stuff-under-football-players-eyes/10469 "2000-04-15T21:50:00Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-stuff-under-football-players-eyes/10469/1 "2000-04-15T21:50:00Z")

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what is the purpose of the black stuff that football and basesball players smear under their eyes?

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**Author:** ![Trion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ccd318/32.png) [@Trion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trion)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-stuff-under-football-players-eyes/10469/2 "2000-04-15T22:00:00Z")

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If I remember correctly it is supposed to prevent the sunlight from reflecting off the sweat from that area of the body and into the player’s eyes.

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“My mind reels with sarcastic replies!” - Snoopy

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**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-stuff-under-football-players-eyes/10469/3 "2000-04-15T22:18:00Z")

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The black stuff used to be some of lampblack, then it progressed into some sort of cosmetic marker. I think now they are just plastic strips. If you get an extreme closeup of a player, you will see that there is writing on the black strips. They also happen to be the exact same size.

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**Author:** ![Iguana\_Boy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@Iguana\_Boy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iguana_Boy)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-stuff-under-football-players-eyes/10469/4 "2000-04-15T23:16:00Z")

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I agree with Trion

I used to play football, although it was in Scotland, so bright shining sunlight wasn’t exactly a huge problem. Made us look mean tho’

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**Author:** ![Zion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b5e925/32.png) [@Zion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zion)\
**Post date:** [April 15, 2000, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-stuff-under-football-players-eyes/10469/5 "2000-04-15T23:34:00Z")

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The stuff is called **eyeblack.** And yes, it does reduce glare from the sun, and stadium lights. It can be purchased in either the tape-like strips, or in “lipstick” form, that you apply under the eye.

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Not a newbie…formerly ARG220

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**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2000, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-stuff-under-football-players-eyes/10469/6 "2000-04-16T01:40:00Z")

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I imagine it has the same effect as the common piece of kit in my rugby team. Black gumshields look mean :).

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**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2000, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/black-stuff-under-football-players-eyes/10469/7 "2000-04-16T21:11:00Z")

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Former Texas Rangers outfielder Billy Sample wrote a funny piece for Sports Illustrated upon his retirement. It was a list of things he would NOT miss about baseball.

One was “The moments when a fly ball is lost in the sun, and you realize the burnt cork on your face is really just for show!”