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One Final Observation to Close Out the Year

flag1.jpg

What’s that red hankie with the handwritten note? It’s Packers coach Mike McCarthy’s challenge flag, which is apparently inscribed with a personal note from his wife (or let’s hope that’s who it’s from). Green Bay Press-Gazette photographer Corey Wilson got a few shots of the red flag and then blogged about it — great stuff. As you may recall, McCarthy is also in the habit of wearing a Sharpie clipped to his cap, so let’s close out 2009 by naming him the Uni Watch Coach of the Year. (Special thanks to Brennan Feldhausen for bringing this one to my attention.)

Uni Watch News Ticker: All my life I’ve been waiting for striped socks for chairs and didn’t even realize it (big thanks to Steven Brown). ”¦ Fred Jackson “D III” eye black has earned him a $5000 fine (with thanks to Casey Barcomb). ”¦ Here’s something you don’t often see for sale: a men’s roller derby uniform. ”¦ And here’s a real prize: a Colts marching band uniform! That’s gonna go for big bucks, methinks. ”¦ Don’t think I’ve ever seen corduroy basketball shorts before. They don’t appear to match the jersey, but whatever — still an interesting find. ”¦ Love the blue/yellow striping on this old leather football helmet. ”¦ And I’m a sucker for this kind of basketball uni. ”¦ Last graf of this story indicates that Cincy will be wearing white helmets in the Sugar Bowl. … What do the Blue Jackets and the Arizona football team have in common? Their NOBs feature a mix of capital and lowercase letters (as pointed out separately by Phil and Alan Kreit). … Bob Loblaw really needs to get this cap, no? Part of this collection (big thanks to my old pal Christine Freeman). … Jamie Bassett‘s grandmother got these Texas Tech salt and pepper shakers for Xmas. ”¦ Cool craft project by Nate Budziszewski, who used perler beads to make these Tecmo icons. “So far I’ve only made the Tecmo Bos that Nike recently put on its trainer shoe,” he says. “But next I’ll make some logos and stuff, and I’m going to try to make NHL93 players. Its fairly easy to do and the end result is pretty cool.” ”¦ Ted Craig says he was on line to buy Nats tickets back in 2008 when he bumped into a guy with this tattoo. ”¦ I had heard that several Wisconsin players were wearing Adidas’s new Powerweb pants the other night (that’s the same technology they’re using for a lot of the World Cup uniforms), but I hadn’t seen any visuals until Barry Moss sent this screen shot.

happynewyear-2000.jpg

Holiday Schedule: Phil has a special entry planned for New Year’s Day, so he’ll take a rare Friday turn at the helm tomorrow and also have his usual Saturday entry. I’ll be covering for him on Sunday, which happens to be his birthday. Would you believe he’s turning 29?

As for the impending turn of the calendar, a few thoughts: First, as most of you know, this has been a tough year for my family, and I’ve recently had to deal with a few other difficult situations as well. I’m hardly unique in that regard, of course — lots of people go through tough stretches. But most of those other people don’t have a bunch of of wonderful readers offering all sorts of kind words and moral support. It’s no exaggeration to say that the Uni Watch community helped get me through this year, and that’s on top of your daily contributions and observations that make this project so great. My sincere thanks to all of you.

That brings me to my second point, which is this: Eleven years ago tomorrow, I made the only new year’s resolution of my life, which was to create and sell a column devoted to uniforms. Just goes to show that it’s entirely possible to keep a resolution, as long as it’s not something absurd like losing 10 pounds or cleaning out the garage. Repeat after me: “This year I will create a media project that totally changes my life.” See how easy?

Finally, boys and girls, please remember New Year’s Eve is for amateurs. See you in 2010.

 
  
 
Comments (118)

    I really like the chair-socks… especially in argyle.

    Also, as a man who rocks the corduroys at least five times a week, corduroy basketball shorts are the best idea ever. I shall have my mother commission me a pair for my birthday. They will have a significantly lower cut though…

    With the Hawkeyes playing in the upcoming Orange Bowl, the equipment managers put Hawkeye helmet stickers and stripe on the polices’ helmets who escort the team around the city.

    link

    link

    Noooooooooooooooooo! Don’t name McCarthy “coach of the year” for anything! Someone at the Packers will read this and give he and Ted Thompson an extension!

    —–

    All kidding aside, thanks again for the great website and to all the people behind the scenes that make it the best sports blog on the net. I will be in Niagara Falls tonight (Canadian side, eh) celebrating the new year, and I will give an inner shout out to the Uni Watch faithful at midnight.

    Finally, boys and girls, please remember New Year’s Eve is for amateurs.

    Q: How can you tell it’s New Year’s in Wisconsin?
    A: That’s when they drink with hats.

    [apologies to Lewis Black]

    So what were the best and worst uniform changes of this decade? For MLB, I’d nominate the Tampa Bay Devil Rays’ change in 2001 as one of the best, and the Toronto Blue Jays’ makeover in 2004 as one of the worst.

    [quote comment=”369418″]Noooooooooooooooooo! Don’t name McCarthy “coach of the year” for anything! Someone at the Packers will read this and give he and Ted Thompson an extension!

    —–

    All kidding aside, thanks again for the great website and to all the people behind the scenes that make it the best sports blog on the net. I will be in Niagara Falls tonight (Canadian side, eh) celebrating the new year, and I will give an inner shout out to the Uni Watch faithful at midnight.[/quote]

    Avoid the honey garlic wings at Kelsey’s. Blah.

    Paul, I’ve been reading your Page 2 columns and the blog for years and didn’t realize it started as a New Year’s resolution.

    Any chance there could be a “this day in uni history” feature specifically devoted to past work you’ve done? Every once in a while you touch on your other projects or past writing and I find it very interesting.

    [quote comment=”369419″]Finally, boys and girls, please remember New Year’s Eve is for amateurs.

    Q: How can you tell it’s New Year’s in Wisconsin?
    A: That’s when they drink with hats.

    [apologies to Lewis Black][/quote]

    We do have a federal grant for drinking. Even with the plane ticket, drinking for four days in Wisconsin, is cheaper than drinking in New York.

    [quote comment=”369420″]So what were the best and worst uniform changes of this decade? For MLB, I’d nominate the Tampa Bay Devil Rays’ change in 2001 as one of the best, and the Toronto Blue Jays’ makeover in 2004 as one of the worst.[/quote]

    nhl: i vote penguins, ducks, avs, stars, buffalo (#1), canes, panthers, islanders, and senators, (thanks reebok), as the worst changes…

    [quote comment=”369430″]I’m sorry, but what the H1N1 makes this hat worth $100???

    link

    nothing, i repeat, NOTHING makes those hats worth $100! lol. no worries, MLB will catch wind of it, i’m sure.

    FNOB last night in the Arizona-Nebraska game. Number 52 Dwight Jones on the sideline. No picture yet

    weren’t the chair socks posted before. i know i’ve seen them and this is the only place that they would ever be mentioned.

    [quote comment=”369431″][quote comment=”369430″]I’m sorry, but what the H1N1 makes this hat worth $100???

    link

    nothing, i repeat, NOTHING makes those hats worth $100! lol. no worries, MLB will catch wind of it, i’m sure.[/quote]

    The “O’snap” one kinda cracks me up, though.

    [quote comment=”369426″][quote comment=”369419″]Finally, boys and girls, please remember New Year’s Eve is for amateurs.

    Q: How can you tell it’s New Year’s in Wisconsin?
    A: That’s when they drink with hats.

    [apologies to Lewis Black][/quote]

    We do have a federal grant for drinking. Even with the plane ticket, drinking for four days in Wisconsin, is cheaper than drinking in New York.[/quote]

    I’ve heard that if it were counted as its own country, Wisconsin would rank 8th in world alcohol consumption. That’s a lotta brandy.

    -Greenie

    Congrats to Dan, you are my anti-spam word!

    I have a wizard from Final Fantasy made out of those bead thingies, Nate. It has magnetic backing on it, and it sits on my fridge at home. It’s not very powerful in terms of the magnetic backing being able to hold anything, but monsters fear entering the freezer he guards. LOL

    If you get the NHL guys to work, let me know. I’d love to see them and feature them on HBIC.

    [quote comment=”369431″][quote comment=”369430″]I’m sorry, but what the H1N1 makes this hat worth $100???

    link

    nothing, i repeat, NOTHING makes those hats worth $100! lol. no worries, MLB will catch wind of it, i’m sure.[/quote]

    they just took an mlb cap and brought it to one of those kiosks at the mall. i don’t know what justifies the extra $60+ dollars. with paul’s idea, i’m going to start a website with the exact same hats for ONLY $50. they can’t sue me, they’re already infringing on some copyrighted material.

    [quote comment=”369440″][quote comment=”369431″][quote comment=”369430″]I’m sorry, but what the H1N1 makes this hat worth $100???

    link

    nothing, i repeat, NOTHING makes those hats worth $100! lol. no worries, MLB will catch wind of it, i’m sure.[/quote]

    they just took an mlb cap and brought it to one of those kiosks at the mall. i don’t know what justifies the extra $60+ dollars. with paul’s idea, i’m going to start a website with the exact same hats for ONLY $50. they can’t sue me, they’re already infringing on some copyrighted material.[/quote]

    Hey, just cuz the guy is walking inside the edge of shadiness doesn’t mean he isn’t entitled to something for his creativity and his time and effort going back and forth to the mall. (eyeroll)

    —Ricko

    LOL…

    One way to tell you’re a Uni Geek:
    You get a new car (because your old one fried like a Zamboni someone gassed up with Kool Aid), and you remember the license plate number by thinking…
    “Oh, Ryne Sandburg’s Batting Practice Hat”
    023 BPH

    Yes, yes, Ryno played before BP hats…but you get the point.

    —Ricko

    Curious how Cinci will look w/the white helmets. How many more teams will switch to white helmets in 2010?

    [quote comment=”369443″]Curious how Cinci will look w/the white helmets. How many more teams will switch to white helmets in 2010?[/quote]

    They switching to them, or is it just a “bowl game” thing?
    (Same question for Arizona, btw).

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”369443″]Curious how Cinci will look w/the white helmets. How many more teams will switch to white helmets in 2010?[/quote]
    Quite honestly, with the way Arizona played in their white helmets last night, I’d think we wouldn’t see as many teams go white. As a UC alum, i’m not really looking forward to the white helmets, I like the black and what is nice is that it isn’t black for black’s sake

    I’m disappointed in the close-up of the challenge flag.

    From the NFL, I expected an NFL Equipment shield and a Reebok logo. I expected it to be made out of some patented proprietary fabric to make it 19% grippier for the coach, enable it to fly 16% faster and 24% further while shedding 86% of all moisture.

    Instead it just looks like a napkin from TGI Friday’s.

    [quote comment=”369445″][quote comment=”369443″]Curious how Cinci will look w/the white helmets. How many more teams will switch to white helmets in 2010?[/quote]
    Quite honestly, with the way Arizona played in their white helmets last night, I’d think we wouldn’t see as many teams go white. As a UC alum, i’m not really looking forward to the white helmets, I like the black and what is nice is that it isn’t black for black’s sake[/quote]

    Done well, and when it’s a school color, the all-black be really cool.
    This, for example, it just wrong for Oregon…
    link
    BUT, with school-appropriate changes to graphics, of course, it would be a GREAT look for Army (if they ever were of a mind to change from their traditional gold helmets, et al). Even includes the gray of the Corps of Cadets.

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”369446″]I’m disappointed in the close-up of the challenge flag.

    From the NFL, I expected an NFL Equipment shield and a Reebok logo. I expected it to be made out of some patented proprietary fabric to make it 19% grippier for the coach, enable it to fly 16% faster and 24% further while shedding 86% of all moisture.

    Instead it just looks like a napkin from TGI Friday’s.[/quote]

    well, despite the apparent evidence to the contrary…maybe it IS

    perhaps mccarthy took his real flag to dinner and confused it with his red lobster napkin…and the rest, as they say, is history

    [quote comment=”369447″]
    Done well, and when it’s a school color, the all-black be really cool.
    This, for example, it just wrong for Oregon…
    link

    i’d agree that black is not an oregon color — perhaps they forgot the other big university in the state that uses it — BUT

    NOBODY does the all black look as well as the ducks

    if the saints or ravens or falcons or bengals could possibly co-opt that look, it would look 1000 times better than what they currently sport…wouldn’t want to see it for the stillers or raidahs…THAT would be wrong, but given the first three teams already have a monochrome black outfit, the could do worse than to copy oregon…flat, matte and generally “badass” (as the kids say)…the best all black look (IMHO) there is

    much better than this absolute joke

    the only other way to make an all black uniform look aight is to add stripes and real socks with contrasting color

    but this, this, this and this just look awful

    /of course, monoleotards don’t belong in the nfl, period, but if they are here to stay, they’d do a lot worse than looking like the ducks

    History will be made tomorrow at the Winter Classic. For the first time Ty Conklin will not be on the winning team. He was on the winning team for both of the first two winter classics and the Heritage game in Edmonton.

    [quote comment=”369447″][quote comment=”369445″][quote comment=”369443″]Curious how Cinci will look w/the white helmets. How many more teams will switch to white helmets in 2010?[/quote]
    Quite honestly, with the way Arizona played in their white helmets last night, I’d think we wouldn’t see as many teams go white. As a UC alum, i’m not really looking forward to the white helmets, I like the black and what is nice is that it isn’t black for black’s sake[/quote]

    Done well, and when it’s a school color, the all-black be really cool.
    This, for example, it just wrong for Oregon…
    link
    BUT, with school-appropriate changes to graphics, of course, it would be a GREAT look for Army (if they ever were of a mind to change from their traditional gold helmets, et al). Even includes the gray of the Corps of Cadets.

    —Ricko[/quote]
    i just wish the bearcats would go back to an older logo (like this perhaps? link) of course, it is not hip or “ferocious” enough. but when i was growing up and when i walked on, that was the logo and it looked really good on the black helmet

    [quote comment=”369442″]LOL…

    One way to tell you’re a Uni Geek:
    You get a new car (because your old one fried like a Zamboni someone gassed up with Kool Aid), and you remember the license plate number by thinking…
    “Oh, Ryne Sandburg’s Batting Practice Hat”
    023 BPH

    Yes, yes, Ryno played before BP hats…but you get the point.

    —Ricko[/quote]
    I have a locker at McGill with a combination lock (turn twice to the right, stop on X; full turn to the left, stop on Y; turn to the right again, stop on Z, pull). But I remember X, Y, and Z by famous Yankees’ numbers. As for the locker itself, it’s #245–easy to remember, because it’s an Eric Dolphy song and the address to the favorite microbrewery amongst us McGill musicians.

    [quote comment=”369452″][quote comment=”369442″]LOL…

    One way to tell you’re a Uni Geek:
    You get a new car (because your old one fried like a Zamboni someone gassed up with Kool Aid), and you remember the license plate number by thinking…
    “Oh, Ryne Sandburg’s Batting Practice Hat”
    023 BPH

    Yes, yes, Ryno played before BP hats…but you get the point.

    —Ricko[/quote]
    I have a locker at McGill with a combination lock (turn twice to the right, stop on X; full turn to the left, stop on Y; turn to the right again, stop on Z, pull). But I remember X, Y, and Z by famous Yankees’ numbers. As for the locker itself, it’s #245–easy to remember, because it’s an Eric Dolphy song and the address to the favorite microbrewery amongst us McGill musicians.[/quote]

    In the movie Wonder Boys, the combination to the safe with Marilyn Monroe’s jacket is 5641. When that little plot point was revealed, I chuckled and my wife said “what?” and I told her about DiMaggio’s 56 game hitting streak in ’41. Then she called me a nerd for noticing that and told me to be quiet and watch the movie.

    [quote comment=”369450″]History will be made tomorrow at the Winter Classic. For the first time Ty Conklin will not be on the winning team. He was on the winning team for both of the first two winter classics and the Heritage game in Edmonton.[/quote]

    and in his college days too, i think (michigan?)

    Uni-Alert:
    Air Force vs. Houston is a color-on-color game. Both teams received permission from their respective conferences. Since the colors do contrast and are not similar in color, permission was granted.

    link
    the only other way to make an all black uniform look aight is to add stripes and real socks with contrasting color…

    The uni is fine but where the heck are they playing that looks like they are on a hardcourt not old school short turf.

    [quote comment=”369413″]I really like the chair-socks… especially in argyle.

    Also, as a man who rocks the corduroys at least five times a week, corduroy basketball shorts are the best idea ever. I shall have my mother commission me a pair for my birthday. They will have a significantly lower cut though…[/quote]
    Those chair socks are brillant, not sure which of these i’d like to see on MY chairs. link.
    Thanks for the shout out, Paul. the Dodger lid might be a good fit, but the aCl might actually hit closer to my heart or right leg to be exact.

    Thank you for your fine work here & I wish you and the entire UniWatch nation (ugh, that sounds silly)a safe and happy New year!

    [quote comment=”369455″]Uni-Alert:
    Air Force vs. Houston is a color-on-color game. Both teams received permission from their respective conferences. Since the colors do contrast and are not similar in color, permission was granted.[/quote]

    YES!

    [quote comment=”369458″][quote comment=”369455″]Uni-Alert:
    Air Force vs. Houston is a color-on-color game. Both teams received permission from their respective conferences. Since the colors do contrast and are not similar in color, permission was granted.[/quote]

    YES![/quote]

    dammit, was just coming back here to post “look, they’re playing the THE jeff bowl on espn…”

    good to see THE jeff is already all over it ;)

    [quote comment=”369454″][quote comment=”369450″]History will be made tomorrow at the Winter Classic. For the first time Ty Conklin will not be on the winning team. He was on the winning team for both of the first two winter classics and the Heritage game in Edmonton.[/quote]

    and in his college days too, i think (michigan?)[/quote]

    I don’t think this is historic as much as it is just the end of a streak.

    [quote comment=”369456″]http://www.oursportscentral.com/usfl/images/dougwill.jpg
    the only other way to make an all black uniform look aight is to add stripes and real socks with contrasting color…

    The uni is fine but where the heck are they playing that looks like they are on a hardcourt not old school short turf.[/quote]

    Skelly Stadium, Tulsa.
    Early artificial turf didn’t have blades of fake grass, and got positively shiny when wet (see Joe Washington’s amazing performance vs. Pats at Schaefer Stadium on a rainy Monday night).

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”369461″][quote comment=”369456″]http://www.oursportscentral.com/usfl/images/dougwill.jpg
    the only other way to make an all black uniform look aight is to add stripes and real socks with contrasting color…

    The uni is fine but where the heck are they playing that looks like they are on a hardcourt not old school short turf.[/quote]

    Skelly Stadium, Tulsa.
    Early artificial turf didn’t have blades of fake grass, and got positively shiny when wet (see Joe Washington’s amazing performance vs. Pats at Schaefer Stadium on a rainy Monday night).

    —Ricko[/quote]

    And, yes, Washington was wearing his customary silver shoes for the Colts that night. They were Riddell, though, a brand he rarely wore. Most often wore adidas or Spot Bilt (except for Asiscs briefly with the Chargers).

    This moment of arcaneness brought to you by…
    —Ricko

    At the Green Bay Press-Gazette, we care about uni details. That’s why you get nice photo blog posts like that.

    We also have published a swell book — “Titletown’s Team” — which has hundreds of photos in which you can study the details on Packers unis from the ’20s to today. Perhaps you would like to buy one.

    As for the pen loops on Mike McCarthy’s caps, Packers seamstress Marge Switzer confirms that they are sewn onto fitted caps for him. He doesn’t need a loop when wearing an adjustable cap, obviously.

    Air Force has new helmet decals today. They appear to be a gray(maybe green) and blue camo pattern outlined in blue. Here’s the usual look: link

    [quote comment=”369449″][quote comment=”369447″]
    Done well, and when it’s a school color, the all-black be really cool.
    This, for example, it just wrong for Oregon…
    link

    i’d agree that black is not an oregon color — perhaps they forgot the other big university in the state that uses it — BUT

    NOBODY does the all black look as well as the ducks

    if the saints or ravens or falcons or bengals could possibly co-opt that look, it would look 1000 times better than what they currently sport…wouldn’t want to see it for the stillers or raidahs…THAT would be wrong, but given the first three teams already have a monochrome black outfit, the could do worse than to copy oregon…link (as the kids say)…the best all black look (IMHO) there is

    much better than link

    the only other way to make an all black uniform look aight is to link

    but link, link, link and link just look awful

    /of course, monoleotards don’t belong in the nfl, period, but if they are here to stay, they’d do a lot worse than looking like the ducks[/quote]

    I agree with almost everything you said (go figure), except for one big thing. That Ravens all-black look is really growing on me. It’s not BFBS and they almost look like ravens when they wear it. Again, I don’t think every team should be colored like its mascot, but in this case it really works. Plus, if the all black look inspires the Steelers to go full-time with the yellow helmets, I’m all for it.

    Well, Paul, I hope 2010 is better for you than this year was.

    I’m not going to miss ’09 a whole lot, but one good thing to come out of it was finding Uni Watch. Thanks to you, Phil and all the others I’ve come to regard as friends for this great site.

    Happy New Year, everyone!

    [quote comment=”369413″]I really like the chair-socks… especially in argyle.

    Also, as a man who rocks the corduroys at least five times a week, corduroy basketball shorts are the best idea ever. I shall have my mother commission me a pair for my birthday. They will have a significantly lower cut though…[/quote]
    This gave me a thought. Since UNC uses that Argyle motif on their basketball unis and it’s been picked up every once in a while by other teams, what does everyone think of having Argyle stirrups on a baseball team? I think Carolina is the team to try it out, since they have a connection and a big-name baseball program.

    [quote comment=”369468″][quote comment=”369413″]I really like the chair-socks… especially in argyle.

    Also, as a man who rocks the corduroys at least five times a week, corduroy basketball shorts are the best idea ever. I shall have my mother commission me a pair for my birthday. They will have a significantly lower cut though…[/quote]
    This gave me a thought. Since UNC uses that Argyle motif on their basketball unis and it’s been picked up every once in a while by other teams, what does everyone think of having Argyle stirrups on a baseball team? I think Carolina is the team to try it out, since they have a connection and a big-name baseball program.[/quote]
    The real question: what does everyone think of having stirrups on a baseball team? I’m all for it. Lukas for Commissioner to restore hosiery to its rightful place in the universe!

    Does anyone know what the Stanford award decals are? They kind of look like red “tanks”.

    Thanks for the help.

    Anyone notice Air Force’s lighting bolt on their helmet is filled in with come sot of camouflage pattern? It’s usually just a solid blue bolt…

    [quote comment=”369470″]Does anyone know what the Stanford award decals are? They kind of look like red “tanks”.

    Thanks for the help.[/quote]

    axes

    full write up can be found here

    Does anyone know what the Stanford award decals are? They kind of look like red “tanks”.

    According to Wiki:

    “They are axe blades, and resemble the Stanford Axe which is awarded to the winner of the annual Big Game (Stanford vs. Cal).”

    Thanks for axing. :)

    [quote comment=”369455″]Uni-Alert:
    Air Force vs. Houston is a color-on-color game. Both teams received permission from their respective conferences. Since the colors do contrast and are not similar in color, permission was granted.[/quote]

    Ugly and painful. I refuse to watch games that are color on color.

    [quote comment=\”369454\”][quote comment=\”369450\”]History will be made tomorrow at the Winter Classic. For the first time Ty Conklin will not be on the winning team. He was on the winning team for both of the first two winter classics and the Heritage game in Edmonton.[/quote]

    and in his college days too, i think (michigan?)[/quote]

    Conklin played at New Hampshire, he was not in the Cold War game at MSU.

    First time I’ve ever seen something like this: in the Brut Sun Bowl, along with the expected Brut logos, there are two CBS Sports logos on the field.

    [quote comment=”369471″]Anyone notice Air Force’s lighting bolt on their helmet is filled in with come sot of camouflage pattern? It’s usually just a solid blue bolt…[/quote]

    Here’s a look: link

    [quote comment=”369476″]Where’s Vern Lundquist?[/quote]

    The SEC crew is doing the Florida State/West Virginia game

    [quote comment=”369479″][quote comment=”369471″]Anyone notice Air Force’s lighting bolt on their helmet is filled in with come sot of camouflage pattern? It’s usually just a solid blue bolt…[/quote]

    Here’s a look: link
    Looks a little like this unused camouflage pattern: link

    [quote comment=”369451″][quote comment=”369447″][quote comment=”369445″][quote comment=”369443″]Curious how Cinci will look w/the white helmets. How many more teams will switch to white helmets in 2010?[/quote]
    Quite honestly, with the way Arizona played in their white helmets last night, I’d think we wouldn’t see as many teams go white. As a UC alum, i’m not really looking forward to the white helmets, I like the black and what is nice is that it isn’t black for black’s sake[/quote]

    Done well, and when it’s a school color, the all-black be really cool.
    This, for example, it just wrong for Oregon…
    link
    BUT, with school-appropriate changes to graphics, of course, it would be a GREAT look for Army (if they ever were of a mind to change from their traditional gold helmets, et al). Even includes the gray of the Corps of Cadets.

    —Ricko[/quote]
    i just wish the bearcats would go back to an older logo (like this perhaps? link) of course, it is not hip or “ferocious” enough. but when i was growing up and when i walked on, that was the logo and it looked really good on the black helmet[/quote]

    Agggh. I remember that UC logo- it was on every transcript and mail I got.

    Still strange to see the football team in a bowl game. For all my years in Cincinnati, the BB team was fantastic, and the FB team stunk. Badly. Good for them.
    link

    [quote comment=”369477″][quote comment=\”369454\”][quote comment=\”369450\”]History will be made tomorrow at the Winter Classic. For the first time Ty Conklin will not be on the winning team. He was on the winning team for both of the first two winter classics and the Heritage game in Edmonton.[/quote]

    and in his college days too, i think (michigan?)[/quote]

    Conklin played at New Hampshire, he was not in the Cold War game at MSU.[/quote]

    Ryan Miller, Buffalo’s goaltender in the 2008 game, was the Spartans’ goaltender.

    [quote comment=”369482″][quote comment=”369451″][quote comment=”369447″][quote comment=”369445″][quote comment=”369443″]Curious how Cinci will look w/the white helmets. How many more teams will switch to white helmets in 2010?[/quote]
    Quite honestly, with the way Arizona played in their white helmets last night, I’d think we wouldn’t see as many teams go white. As a UC alum, i’m not really looking forward to the white helmets, I like the black and what is nice is that it isn’t black for black’s sake[/quote]

    Done well, and when it’s a school color, the all-black be really cool.
    This, for example, it just wrong for Oregon…
    link
    BUT, with school-appropriate changes to graphics, of course, it would be a GREAT look for Army (if they ever were of a mind to change from their traditional gold helmets, et al). Even includes the gray of the Corps of Cadets.

    —Ricko[/quote]
    i just wish the bearcats would go back to an older logo (like this perhaps? link) of course, it is not hip or “ferocious” enough. but when i was growing up and when i walked on, that was the logo and it looked really good on the black helmet[/quote]

    Agggh. I remember that UC logo- it was on every transcript and mail I got.

    Still strange to see the football team in a bowl game. For all my years in Cincinnati, the BB team was fantastic, and the FB team stunk. Badly. Good for them.
    link
    BG, that would be why i was able to walk on … they were terrible

    [quote comment=”369459″][quote comment=”369458″][quote comment=”369455″]Uni-Alert:
    Air Force vs. Houston is a color-on-color game. Both teams received permission from their respective conferences. Since the colors do contrast and are not similar in color, permission was granted.[/quote]

    YES![/quote]

    dammit, was just coming back here to post “look, they’re playing the THE jeff bowl on espn…”

    good to see THE jeff is already all over it ;)[/quote]
    I called this one in for you THE Jeff. I just had a strange feeling that a bowl was gonna do this this year. It just took the right color contrast and some interest on someone’s part to put both teams in their main school color.

    [quote comment=”369449″][quote comment=”369447″]
    Done well, and when it’s a school color, the all-black be really cool.
    This, for example, it just wrong for Oregon…
    link

    i’d agree that black is not an oregon color — perhaps they forgot the other big university in the state that uses it — BUT

    NOBODY does the all black look as well as the ducks

    if the saints or ravens or falcons or bengals could possibly co-opt that look, it would look 1000 times better than what they currently sport…wouldn’t want to see it for the stillers or raidahs…THAT would be wrong, but given the first three teams already have a monochrome black outfit, the could do worse than to copy oregon…link (as the kids say)…the best all black look (IMHO) there is

    much better than link

    the only other way to make an all black uniform look aight is to link

    but link, link, link and link just look awful

    /of course, monoleotards don’t belong in the nfl, period, but if they are here to stay, they’d do a lot worse than looking like the ducks[/quote]

    They are all awful. The Redskins’ all-burgundys look better than those (not saying they look good).

    Paul,
    I know you wanted to create a column, but did you ever think it would grow into a community?

    Life is grand. Thanks for your foresight (or just dumb luck!) that created a place for all of us to be able to say, “It’s nice to know I’m not the only one who thinks this stuff is important to me.”

    Well done and thanks for the inspiration for me to start my own corner of the internet.

    I hope to see you in person in Minneapolis in a few weeks.

    Jeff Barak

    More helmet thoughts: I would like to see something like this design: link
    incorporated into the improved style of helmets, the thick stripes would fit perfect with these newly designed helmets.

    Air Force vs. Houston – Color vs. Color!!!

    Not good every day, or for every game, but certainly good to see when the occasion is special (Bowl game, rivalry) and the colors contrast enough to make it worthwhile.

    Looks like the Texas Bowl has marked the endzones like each team’s home field. Mizzou has the diamonds while Navy has the big letters.

    [quote comment=”369489″]More helmet thoughts: I would like to see something like this design: link
    incorporated into the improved style of helmets, the thick stripes would fit perfect with these newly designed helmets.[/quote]

    I kinda like that too, even if it is a Buckeyes helmet. ;)

    [quote comment=”369491″]Looks like the Texas Bowl has marked the endzones like each team’s home field. Mizzou has the diamonds while Navy has the big letters.[/quote]

    Navy is wearing the uniforms they wore in the Army/Navy game in the Texas Bowl.

    [quote comment=”369492″][quote comment=”369489″]More helmet thoughts: I would like to see something like this design: link
    incorporated into the improved style of helmets, the thick stripes would fit perfect with these newly designed helmets.[/quote]

    I kinda like that too, even if it is a Buckeyes helmet. ;)[/quote]

    Looks pretty silly just painted on. As shown in the accompanying photo, the original helmet had a raised exterior padded area, and that’s what was red.

    Oh, I suppose we could you say it’s like Michigan and Princeton that way (based on the painted trim on old leather helmets), but at least that graphic has a sense of design and shape to it, and goes from point A to point B.

    Painted on a typical plastic shell, that Ohio State recreation (and a bad one at that) just doesn’t work. Looks like a gray helmet with big red healthy liver painted on it.

    Maybe for a medical school. Or a team from AA.

    —Ricko

    Check this out. Googling for a color shot of the Ohio State padded helmet, I seached “Paul Warfield Ohio State” and found this wedding cake.

    Memphis Grizzlies, Paul Warfield…
    link

    —Ricko

    And, for those who don’t recall that Warfield returned to Cleveland after the WFL folded, finishing his career with the orange-pants Browns…
    link.jpg

    Here’s hoping everyone enjoys a safe and happy ball dropping experience tonight.

    And a little reminder about another phenomenon occuring this eve:

    link

    would someone please tell all play by play and color guys that there is a difference whith wildcat man in motion across the formation and single wing like what stanford is running … god idiots…

    [quote comment=”369490″]Air Force vs. Houston – Color vs. Color!!!

    Not good every day, or for every game, but certainly good to see when the occasion is special (Bowl game, rivalry) and the colors contrast enough to make it worthwhile.[/quote]

    Could it be that the Armed Forces Bowl wanted some Red White and Blue?

    just got back into chicago toaday, buh. sorry i didn’t respond yesterday to the bobble comments, but i was on vacation and out golfing, well mini golfing, rough game, next time i take a cart. but thank you to anyone who made a nice comment.

    and yes the cat named jesco is named after jesco white, the dancing outlaw.

    wow! phil looks great for 29, i thought he was maaaybe 25. happy early bday phil.

    here is to everyone out there have a great new year! well ,except the ducks, i hope their year starts out shitty, go bucks! beat ducks!

    Iowa State is in Red over yellow and Minnesota is in white over white in the Insight Bowl which is being seen by like 35 people since it is on the NFL Network.

    A bonus is Stacy Dales is the sideline reporter for the Insight game.

    Also the Oklahoma/Stanford game was a nice matchup uniwise.

    [quote comment=”369497″]Let’s try that again…
    link
    “Warfield caught a career high 52 passes…”

    A good month for Wes Welker. Goes to show you how statistics are so tied to the period and the playing style.
    Warfield was an elegant athlete. His career 20.1 yards per catch is pretty impressive

    “Ba ba ba ba ba ba (etc), dangy dangy dang, a ding dong ding, Blue Moon. You saw me standing alone…” The Marcels, I believe. 3 weeks at #1 in ’61.

    Anyway, HNY to all at Uniwatch.

    I do have a resolution, that by this time next year, we will have one- and maybe – two websites dedicated to a pro football uniform history database!!

    Be safe tonight.

    Mizzou, as it was pointed out earlier this week, can’t settle on yellow-gold vs metallic gold or even the same tone of metallic gold. I know they wear some dark piss-gold home alt jerseys that don’t match the M or the stripe on the helemts; some old gold pants that don’t amtch the numbers on their black jerseys or the helmet trim… and today’s uni features the black pants and all of the trim aoppears to be yellow-gold that clashes with the helmet stripes, etc.

    I know that most uni-watchers here really appreciate uniformity of colors and consistency of application. This is a mess. Not even gonna discuss the riflery nonsense.

    [quote comment=”369507″]Anyone see this?

    link

    Ricko,

    The link goes nowhere for me. I get an internet explorer can not display the web page

    [quote comment=”369501″]wow! phil looks great for 29, i thought he was maaaybe 25. happy early bday phil.[/quote]

    grassyass, roberto

    [quote comment=”369501″]here is to everyone out there have a great new year! well ,except the ducks, i hope their year starts out shitty, go bucks! beat ducks! go ducks! beat bucks![/quote]

    (fixed)

    Shit. This is it (well, the gist of it)…

    COLOR BLINDNESS LED TO INTS, SAYS HOUSTON QB

    FORT WORTH, Texas—Six interceptions for the high-powered Houston passing offense?

    Something must be amiss, thought Cougar fans.

    Something was.

    Following Air Force’s 47-20 victory Wednesday in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Houston quarterback Case Keenum admitted to Cougar coaches that his vision does not recognize the difference between red and blue.

    And that was a problem, considering the schools had petitioned the NCAA for permission for both teams to wear colored jerseys for the game, contrary to the normal practice of one team wearing white. Permission was granted, so Houston wore its red jerseys and Air Force its royal blue.

    “I didn’t want to say anything,” said Keenum. “I knew Air Force wore white helmets, and figured that would be enough of a difference, but I was wrong. I told Coach (Kevin) Sumlin I was sorry. A lot of times I just couldn’t tell our guys from their guys. I apologize to our players, and to Cougar fans.”

    According to Dr. Stephen Melgram, chief opthamologist at Kelso Medical Center in Fort Worth, studies have shown that more than half of all men have some degree of color-blindness.

    “Most either simply don’t realize it, or don’t want to admit it, and they live lives where they learn to work around it,” he said.

    Would playing quarterback for a major college football team be a situation where “working around it” would be difficult? “Yes,” Dr. Melgram said, “I’d think that would be extremely difficult.”

    Anyone watching ESPN right now?

    In their coverage between bowl games they had some of the broadcast from the Rose Bowl. Oregon players were in the background in their green jerseys and white pants…no helmets in the picture. I would have to imagine that is the combo they are going with just due to thinking why would they ship down to Pasadena multiple combos.

    In the “I am still calling it the Peach” Bowl. Virginia Tech is in White over Maroon with Maroon helmets. Tennessee is in their Orange over white.

    Bad news is Matt Millen is the color guy.

    Been watching a lot of bowls the last two days (home due to workers comp) and I enjoyed seeing the Air Force-Houston all color matchup. That looked perfect, red vs. blue! Also, if it weren’t for the helmets, I couldn’t tell if it was Stanford, Wisconsin or Nebraska in their respective games. Unis looked too damn similar.

    ya know…that link ricko attempted to post earlier got me to thinking seriously about this whole color versus color issue

    we all loved this matchup right? finally got ourselves a color on color game

    i imagine this, however, this is how the houston QB saw the game

    almost impossible to tell the teams apart that way

    now, this is not to say color on color can’t be a great matchup…the usc/ucla game is a treat

    why is that better? because the hues are not only different, but they’re completely different when viewed in greyscale, which, i’ve been told, is basically how a colorblind person sees things

    color vs. color can be great, but you really have to be careful to avoid similar ‘strength’ hues…whereas, this type of matchup will avoid that

    am i right?

    [quote comment=”369510″][quote comment=”369501″]

    [quote comment=”369501″]here is to everyone out there have a great new year! well ,except the ducks, i hope their year starts out shitty, go bucks! beat ducks! go ducks! beat bucks![/quote]

    (fixed)[/quote]
    fixed again.

    [quote comment=”369518″][quote comment=”369510″][quote comment=”369501″]

    [quote comment=”369501″]here is to everyone out there have a great new year! well ,except the ducks, i hope their year starts out shitty, go bucks! beat ducks! go ducks! beat bucks![/quote]go bucks! pluck the ducks!!

    (fixed)[/quote]
    fixed again.[/quote]
    now it is.

    Weather forecast for Boston tomorrow:

    Cloudy. High 36F. Winds N at 10 mph. 0% chance of precip.

    Fox Sports’ take on WC3…
    link

    —Ricko

    [quote comment=”369485″][quote comment=”369459″][quote comment=”369458″][quote comment=”369455″]Uni-Alert:
    Air Force vs. Houston is a color-on-color game. Both teams received permission from their respective conferences. Since the colors do contrast and are not similar in color, permission was granted.[/quote]

    YES![/quote]

    dammit, was just coming back here to post “look, they’re playing the THE jeff bowl on espn…”

    good to see THE jeff is already all over it ;)[/quote]
    I called this one in for you THE Jeff. I just had a strange feeling that a bowl was gonna do this this year. It just took the right color contrast and some interest on someone’s part to put both teams in their main school color.[/quote]
    I was out to lunch with my wife today (cuz that’s how we roll on NYE) and the Armed Forces Bowl was on the TV but I had my back to it. NOT ONCE did she mention that it was a color-vs.-color game NOR did she offer to switch seats with me so I could see the game. I got to see approximately 1.7 seconds of it as they were cutting to commercial on our way out the door.
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    It’s official: Blackhawks are the best team in the NHL. Or something.

    New Year’s Eve may be for amateurs, but come on, it’s New Years Eve. Be safe everybody.

    Robert Marshall, that Rollie Fingers bobblehead made my day.

    I want to take a moment to wish all my fellow uni-watchers a very safe, happy, healthy and prosporous New Year.

    Go teams I picked in my bowl pool.

    [quote comment=”369525″]What’s worse than little equipment logos being plastered on every corner of a uniform?

    link.[/quote]
    Yeah, but isn’t that where Under Armour is supposed to go?

    [quote comment=”369522″]
    I was out to lunch with my wife today (cuz that’s how we roll on NYE) and the Armed Forces Bowl was on the TV but I had my back to it. NOT ONCE did she mention that it was a color-vs.-color game NOR did she offer to switch seats with me so I could see the game. I got to see approximately 1.7 seconds of it as they were cutting to commercial on our way out the door.[/quote]

    i sure hope you withheld sex don’t let her watch the WC as her punishment

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    HAPPY NEW YEAR evvybody

    [quote comment=\”369491\”]Looks like the Texas Bowl has marked the endzones like each team\’s home field. Mizzou has the diamonds while Navy has the big letters.[/quote]
    Navy\’s home field usually looks like a link, not the way the Texas Bowl had it.

    [quote comment=”369530″]I feel so sorry for Case Keenum, for Houston and for Air Force.[/quote]

    i understand all the houston players were wearing these in the locker room after the game

    [quote comment=”369490″]Air Force vs. Houston – Color vs. Color!!!

    Not good every day, or for every game, but certainly good to see when the occasion is special (Bowl game, rivalry) and the colors contrast enough to make it worthwhile.[/quote]
    I think Rice (navy) and Houston (red) should go color on color every year.

    Ricko,
    You referenced a uni / helmet dilema of mine when you mentioned the Joe Washington / Colts game on MNF. In that game, as you already probably know, Joe went through several jerseys. Not uncommon but what was uncommon was that he also changed helmets.
    Joe was known for wearing a ‘clearshell’ Kelley (formerly MacGregor) brand helmet with a Riddell, two bar facemask. He wore one in college at Oklahoma, one with the Chargers (briefly), the Colts, the Redskins and the Falcons (again very briefly). In the aforementioned game (around the fourth quarter I think), Joe switches to a Riddell brand helmet with a different facemask (a Schutt OPO model). (To helmet geeks like me it is clear that it is NOT the same helmet due to the type of padding system clearly visible, also the sheen of clearshell helmets is quite apparent)
    The Kelley (MacGregor) helmets were notorious for cracking, shattering, etc. so I assume that some sort of damaged occurred and he was forced to switch or an injury occurred and Joe wanted more protection and a different style facemask but why not put it on his Kelley helmet ?
    There are a few strange things that don’t measure up. One is that they switched the numbers on the back of his old helmet (Kelley) to his new helmet (Riddell) which points to the idea that it was HIS back up helmet. (Would a 1970’s equipment manger really take the time late in a rain soaked game to put numbers on a borrowed helmet?) Also, if they did have a back up (remeber this is 1978) helmet why wouldn’t it be a Kelley as this was his preference and also why a different style facemask?

    The Winter Classic announcers kept blubbering on and on during the pre-game that the Flyers were wearing their orange and black jersey, relatively unchanged since 1967 (whatever?) and the Bruins are wearing their BLACK and gold jersey with their usual B-logo in the middle. The jersey they’re wearing is Brown and the B-logo is old, nothing like what they currently where. They obviously don’t get it. Paul, you should’ve been asked to do the pre-game uni commentary.

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