Sunday Morning Uni Watch

By Phil Hecken, with a fantastic cast of characters

Good Sunday Morning, Uni Watchers — today we REALLY kick off the Sunday Morning Uni Watch season with all the uni highlights and shenanigans from Week Two of the NCAA Football Season for the year 2016. That means I’m back with Terry Duroncelet, Joe Ringham, Rex Henry, Dennis Bolt, Kyle Acker, Davis Vinckier and Ethan Dimitroff. TJ, of course, handles the main uni watching load, Joe does the 5 & 1, and the rest of the guys track the Power 5 conferences. Dennis also does double duty with the Duck Tracker. It’s all below, so let’s get right into it, starting with TJ’s SMUW:

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Sunday Morning Uni Watch
By Terry Duroncelet, Jr.

Before we begin, I want to clear up an error that I caught yesterday: When I mentioned that Notre Dame changed their tackle twill layering/coloring from printed twill to the die-cut outline, I thought that I pulled an image from that Texas game a week ago. But I looked at the image again, and saw the ribbing near the (almost nonexistent) armhole, and upon further examination, found that the image is actually an older Adidas-era shot from most likely 2013, at the latest. Furthermore, it turns out that Notre Dame is still using printed twill numerals (an actual pic from the Texas game). In sum: the font change is true, but the twill change is not. My bad.

From Friday:

• It begins. Well, at least they live up to their name. Also, has anyone else noticed that Louisville’s sleeve cap wings and jersey numbers look like red and platinum grey paint was quickly slapped on, and the paint is still wet?

From Saturday:

• Pitt and Penn State renewed an ages-old rivalry, playing each other for the first time since 2000, and Pitt wore all-navy in this game. Oh FFS, just put the guys in daisy dukes and be done with it already (credit to Matt Edwards). Also, this (H/T to @interst8forty4).

• Not sure how long East Carolina’s been wearing these UV-like purple facemasks. Is that new for this year?

• I’ve said it before, but Oklahoma State has a way of pulling off black, orange, and grey, and their black/black/grey look with orange numbers is no exception. In that same game, it was discovered that there seems to be a discourse between semi-gloss and fully-matte helmets amongst Central Michigan (credit to Chris Knox).

• There were several teams who wore S&S and/or camouflage accouterments of varying degree, including (but not limited to): Rice, Texas A&M, Houston, Cincinnati, and Baylor.

• Touching on the Cincy game again, Purdue wore all-black against the Bearcats’ all-white (also note the U.S. Armed Forces decals on the back of Purdue’s helmet).

• ♫ Mr. Stevens… bring me a dream ♫ … Alright, that’s actually Mike Stevens, but that ‘i’ does look an awful lot like an ‘r’ (credit to Jeff Spry).

• Georgia Tech seems to be swinging back to a classier look. Hope it sticks. They’ve also added a drop shadow to their endzone text (credit to Britton Thomas for that last pic).

• Okay, so… forget what I said in yesterday’s post. But this does prove a point that I’ve been saying for years now: there’s more to a uniform than just a jersey. Not bad, Tulsa (courtesy of Rick Couri). Also from that same game, you know how Ohio State’s receiving corps wears those Zone 6 decals (scroll down to the fifth item on this list)? Now the runningbacks have their own “Tote Nation” decals (closer look). Credit to Andrew Lind for the last two pics.

• This is getting out of hand. (with thanks to Donovan Lewis)

• Kentucky looks good in all-white, mainly because the checkerboard pattern is more pronounced than in years past, and pops really well on the white background as a result. Florida wore all-orange.

• Iowa State debuted their new white helmets, and while the all-white thing is VERY mundane at this point, this is probably in my top 5 all-white looks that aren’t normal fare (which rules out Penn State and Texas, sadly).

• Appalachian State forgot to use the Fill tool in MS Paint.

• Air Force wore their Sharktooth uniforms against Georgia State.

• BYU broke out their royal blue uniforms in their annual color-vs-color game against rival Utah. I noticed that some BYU players had the pennant patch that says “NCAA” (signifying their independence), while others did not. I couldn’t find a static pic, but watch closely at #76 (Keyan Norman) at the very beginning of this video. He has the patch, but the bulk of his teammates didn’t.

• Auburn honored first responders during their game, but as you can see in the pic provided by Clint Richardson, they used a 9/11 ribbon logo that looks just like the ones the NFL will be using today.

• I can’t wait for the Razorbacks’ game against Arkon!

• UTEP head coach Sean Kugler was spotted wearing a Texas Western cap (the school used to be called Texas Western College of the University of Texas before being renamed in 1967). Credit to Dustin Perez.

• Andrew Hartfield writes “subtle change to Georgia Southern’s jersey numbers. Went from stitched on to screen printed.”, but this shot from Chris Ferris (zoom in for the full effect) shows that they’re “technically” stitched numbers, but Adidas’s latex fetish makes them look screened on from afar. I wouldn’t be surprised if this were actually a combination of print and twill.

• 156,990 fans in attendance for Virginia Tech/Tennessee. I can’t even wrap my head around that. Even Michigan’s north of 115,000 attendance game against Notre Dame from Sep. 7th, 2013 is insane to me. Anywho, as threatened promised, the Hokies wore… these. But what you may have missed with that distraction is that this was also a color-vs-color game. And what’s the deal with that new shape thing that Nike likes to put on football pants nowadays? You know what? If it doesn’t have a name already, I say we call it the USB Stripe, because it looks like the end of a USB connector. USB Micro B, specifically.

And that’ll do it for Week 2! As you may have noticed, a lot of those links were from Twitter, and that’s mainly because I prefer large photos in a good resolution, so I can point out any particular nuances in any given uniform (like the Georgia Southern numerals, for example), and Google only has a small handful of good quality pics ready after the games have ended only a few short hours ago. If I have time to find massive hi-res photos (like during bowl season), then it’s a different story, so that’s why you see so many Twitter links. Nonetheless, hope you enjoyed, and I’ll see you next week.

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Thanks, TJ! See ya Sunday.

Welcome to the 2016 Oregon Ducks Uni Tracker. This little project was originally begun way back in 2008-08 by Michael Princip, who retired after several seasons, whereupon the project was continued by Tim E. O’Brien. He, too, retired from the tracking, but the project has been ably kept up by the man who also tracks the Pac12, Dennis Bolt.

Here’s this week’s Uniform Combo for the Ducks (you can click to enlarge):

You can read about this uniform, and MUCH MORE, by checking out the Duck Tracker here!

Joe Ringham’s 5 & 1

Following in the footsteps of the original “5 & 1,” Jim Vilk, and Catherine Ryan after him, Joe Ringham is back for 2016 to make his “5 & 1” (five good looking and one stinker) Bowl matchups. Sometimes he’ll have some “honorable mentions” and sometimes there will be more than one “bad” game. You may agree and you may disagree — these are, after all, just opinions and everyone has one. Feel free to let him know what you think in the comments section.

Here’s Joe:

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Good Sunday, everyone. Week 2 of this new season has come and gone, with a number of fine looking games on the field. Let’s see who made the cut…

5) Portland State at San Jose State — This was quite the colorful game to look at. The Vikings looked simple, yet sharp, in their green/white/green road look and it matched up quite well against the Spartans blue/blue/yellow home uni’s. I’ll look past the stripes on the pants.

4) Georgia State at Air Force — I’ll admit, I initially wasn’t very high on the one-offs that Air Force was trotting out this week. But, damn did they look good on the field Saturday. Matched up against GSU’s white/white/blue made the game look quite nice.

3) Troy at Clemson — Saw this game pop up on my TV and immediately loved the look of it. The Trojans red/white/red went up perfectly against the orange/orange/white of the Tigers. A great looking home opener in Death Valley.

2) Mercer at Georgia Tech — A game that nearly took over the top spot. Loved how the Jackets went gold/white/gold yesterday, looking sharp against the black/orange/black of the Bears.

1) BYU at Utah — As I said yesterday, you go color vs color (especially in a rivalry game), you get a spot on this list. The Holy War is no different. The Utes mono-red looked great against BYU’s white/royal/white. A great looking game in Salt Lake City.

And, finally…

+1) Virginia at Oregon — The Cavs don’t look terrible in mono-white (although, I don’t really care for it all that much and think they could’ve gone with a little more color). However, the Ducks going mono-high vis yellow with the black lids just looks terrible.

Enjoy your Sunday, everyone, and we’ll do this again next week.

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Thanks, Joe! See ya next Sunday.

NCAA Uni Tracking

Uni Watch will again track the uniform combinations worn by the “Power 5” conferences. Most of the 2015 trackers are back, with one new tracker added:

We’ve got Rex Henry (tracking the ACC), Dennis Bolt (tracking the PAC-12), Kyle Acker (tracking the Big XII), Davis Vinckier (tracking the B1G), and Ethan Dimitroff, (tracking the SEC). Rex, Dennis, Kyle and Davis are all returning from 2015, and Ethan is new to the NCAA Uni Tracking this season

Here are the Uni Trackers for WEEK TWO of the NCAA Season:

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Rex is up first today:

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ACC

Noteworthy uniforms:
Georgia Tech in new pants and jerseys
Virginia Tech in Battle at Bristol uniforms
Pittsburgh in blue helmets
More Here.
Follow Rex on Twitter here.

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And now, here’s Dennis with the PAC-12:

PAC-12

More here.

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And here is Kyle with the Big XII:

Big XII

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And here’s Davis the B1G:

B1G

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And finally, here is Ethan, with the SEC:

SEC

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And now a quick word from Paul: Today is the 15th anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. I don’t often talk about 9/11 — in part because I don’t particularly like the way it’s become just another U! S! A! rallying cry, but also because it was, frankly, a very difficult day for those of us who live here in New York City. My house is about three and a half miles from Ground Zero. The smoke plume from the Twin Towers wafted right over my neighborhood; small pieces of debris from that plume landed in my backyard. The whole thing surreal and horrific and awful beyond belief — and I didn’t even lose a loved one, like so many other people did.

In the hours after the attacks, city officials put out a call for blood donors, because it was expected that hundreds of injured people from the towers would be arriving at area hospitals. I had never given blood before, but it seemed like a good, simple way to be helpful, so I went to a local blood center and donated.

It turned out that there wasn’t much need for blood in the wake of the attacks, because there were very few injuries — only deaths. But hospitals always need blood anyway, and I liked the feeling of contributing something in such a personal way. So two months later (that’s the minimum amount of time you have to wait in between donations), I gave blood again. Two months after that, I did it again.

I’ve continued to donate blood roughly every two months for the past 15 years — most recently just two days ago. Each time I do it, I think back to Sept. 11, and how it got me started on this bi-monthly routine. If my blood has helped even one person during the past decade and a half, then at least some small bit of good has come from that terrible day.

Our medical system is always in need of fresh blood. It’s relatively painless, it takes very little time, it doesn’t cost anything, and you get free Lorna Doones at the end. If you’re healthy and not afraid of needles, I urge you to consider donating. It’s a very easy way of being a Good Person, and a great way to give something of yourself — literally. Thanks for listening.

LAST CALL for the soccer shirt: Today is the last full day to get the Uni Watch T-Shirt Club’s soccer-themed shirt (the campaign actually ends tomorrow morning). Here’s the design (for all of these images, you can click to enlarge):

We’re offering this design in four different shirt colors — maroon, black, dark green, and heather grey:

The shirt is available here. My thanks, as always, for your consideration.

UW’s Friday Flashback

In light of the recent storyline regarding Tom Brady possibly removing the NFL logo decal from his helmet, Paul’s latest Friday Flashback piece on ESPN takes a look at the history of the NFL shield, and its assorted permutations, on players’ uniforms (including the Art Rooney memorial decal that the Eagles wore on the front of their helmets when playing the Steelers in 1988, as shown here).

Check out the Friday Flashback here.

Enjoy!

Uni Watch News Ticker
By Phil

Baseball News: From Korea, “Saw someone post this hat on twitter from KBO’s Doosan Bears,” says Robert Hay. The comment on the tweet tells the Chicago Bears to take note. … Here’s What Red Sox Players Wore On ”˜Favorite Jersey’ Flight To Toronto (from Brinke). … The Arizona Diamondbacks wore their “Los D*Backs” tops last evening (from Ed Kendrick).

NFL/CFL News: Crossover Alert (also posted in hockey): “Friend of mine took these photos outside the Hotel Royal in Hoi An, Vietnam,” says John R. Follett. “Buffalo Bills Stanley Cup Champions flag.” … Waving the bloody flag? Here’s an article you should read entitled, “How the NFL sells (and profits from) the inextricable link between football and war.” … Not exactly a big surprise (nor a secret), but here is the decal that will be on all NFL helmets today (via ESPN). Here’s how it will look on the Jets. … The Houston Texans will be going blue/white/white today (from Mike Chamernik). Does anyone else think this is by far and away the Texans best look? … The Edmonton Eskimos broke out their third jerseys yesterday (from Russell Price). … A local Stop ‘n Shop on Long Island is featuring soda displays of the New York Giants and New York Jets (from Christopher Labella).

College Football News: For those of you who are upset when your favorite Big Uni manufacturer won’t sell your team’s jerseys, I’ve got more bad news for you.

Hockey News: These are pretty cool: The St. Louis Blues released these two old schedule graphics on their facebook. Submitter Alex DeWitt adds, “People loved the ‘Follow the Blues’ on pic 1.” … Crossover Alert (also posted in NFL): “Friend of mine took these photos outside the Hotel Royal in Hoi An, Vietnam,” says John R. Follett. “Buffalo Bills Stanley Cup Champions flag.” … The Montreal Canadiens are moving their farm team from St. John’s to the Montreal suburb of Laval for 2017-2018. Submitter Wade Heidt adds, “The new name has been selected. The Rocket de Laval.” … Tim Horton’s and adidas — perfect together? (from Gerry Muir). … And now, a rant from Harvey Lee: “I have never liked #TeamUSA in white helmets and I think Adidas agreed, so why did we come out in white in our first exhibition game? We wear white in IIHF tournaments but this is run by NHL and the NHLPA. Why not wear white helmets with white jerseys and a colored helmet with colored jerseys? These guys can afford it.”

NBA News: If these screenshots are to be believed, it looks like the Houston Rockets will have a new court design this year (from TheOneSportGuy).

College Hoops News: Abilene Christian University will be taking the court this season in some new uniforms (thanks to Chris Mycoskie).

Soccer News: Last evening, the Portland Timbers wore special training tops to commemorate their one hundredth consecutive sellout (from Mike Donovan). #RCTID, right Kenny Ocker?

Grab Bag: Not quite sports-uniform related, but Cleveland Firefighters were told they cannot wear commemorative 9/11 polos (as they have done for the past 14 years), due to a union dispute (from Mary Lynn Delfino). … Not Uni related but still fantastic:A bunch of ads for cocaine and coke paraphernalia from the 1970s and 80s, from Mike Chamernik. He adds, “It’s on the front page of reddit. Reddit commenters say the ads ran in porno mags and High Times.”

And that will do it for this fine Sunday. Big thanks to all my SMUW crew, and to Paul for the very heartfelt words. Today is (still) a painful day for me, though it’s getting easier, as my cousin lost her husband (and at the time their sons were one and three). I still can’t fathom how difficult it is to grow up having never known your father. And the village where I lived at the time lost 25 or so residents, some of whom were my neighbors and who I also knew. It was very difficult going to funerals (really, memorial services — since there were no bodies or even remains) and the day is still a very somber one. Please keep the victims’ families in your hearts today, and be thankful for our first responders, and all the civilians who gave that day and in the days and weeks that followed. Those are your true heroes.

I’ll be back next Saturday — so have a good day, and to the extent possible, enjoy the first weekend of concussionball the league where they play for pay. I’m not sure I can watch the NFL anymore after Thursday night, but it’s not high on my priority list today, thats’ for sure. Until next weekend, follow me on Twitter @PhilHecken.

Peace.

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“No joke here, Wyoming v. NIU would get my look for best looking game of the week. Yellow and Brown look fantastic together”¦Yellow and anything looks fantastic together. Sports needs more yellow”¦that’s an indisputable fact.”

–Mark Medinger