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Good morning, Uni Watchers. It’s Friday! We made it.
I’ve been a bit under the weather this week, but yesterday evening I felt particularly lousy, so my number of articles may be limited today (my apologies). At least in a bit of good news, I was able to resolve the cable situation, but that’s about all that has gone well this week for me (again, my apologies).
We’ll see a number of special helmets on the college football gridiron this weekend, highlighted by the three you see above. Those are, in order, Washington State, Utah, and Arizona.
Washington State
The Cougars have been a bit more adventuresome with their helmets the past couple seasons, including three separate “WAZZU” variations in 2022 and 2023. Against Utah in 2022, they wore a red helmet with a script Wazzu, and last season, a dark gray and a red Wazzu. But in all their years of playing football, the team has never worn “Sailor Coug” on their helmets. That will all change on Saturday.
For their homecoming, the Cougars will sport gray helmets with the popular logo.
They’ll pair the gray helmets with crimson jerseys and gray pants to complete the look. I love it when Wazzu looks like Wazzu!
Here’s the full combo Washington State will wear against Hawai’i.
If you’re interested in the origin of Sailor Coug (and all the other sailor hat wearing mascots), this is a great primer.
__________
Utah
The Utah Utes will be taking on the TCU Horned Frogs, in a PAC-12 Big XII After Dark game (10:30 pm ET kickoff). The Utes will be playing in their annual “Ute Proud” game, which has become an annual tradition of celebrating the rich culture and traditions of the Ute Indian Tribe. For several seasons, the team has worn special helmets and uniforms for this game.
Here’s a good closeup of the special helmet decal:
The Utes will go white/black/white, which includes a couple of new elements. The interlocking U’s decal now features tribal elements added to it, while the black top will be the new black throwback the team debuted a few weeks ago.
__________
Arizona
The Wildcats are also playing their Homecoming game this Saturday, and they’ll be taking on former PAC-12 (and current Big XII) rival Colorado. They’ve come with an awesome decal for their helmets — it’s an old logo that at one time appeared as the center logo on the team’s basketball court, and existed as a secondary logo until around 2010. The football team is reviving the old logo and wearing it as a decal on the sides of their helmets for this game.
You can get a good view of the helmet decal in the video below:
The logo includes the block letters “ARIZONA” with a green saguaro cactus rising out of the “I.” Here are a couple view of the full uniforms (Arizona is going white/red/red) that will be worn for the Homecoming game.
And here are some better looks at the logo:
__________
I’m looking forward to seeing each of these helmets on the field. I love the fun (Sailor Coug), honorific (Utes) and kinda out-of-the-box (Arizona) feel of each one. And no one is doing the blackout or “icy white” look either, thankfully.
What do you guys think of these special helmets/decals?
What's Happening With the Astros?
The Houston Astros posted a rather cryptic video on Wednesday.
It simply states “H-Town, where legacies begin,” followed by “10/18/24” — which is today’s date. Based upon that, it seems the Astros will be making an announcement, which is possibly uniform-related.
The video’s narrator is wearing a black Astros’ jersey with red lettering, and as a beat plays in the background, he notes “with the swing of a bat or the drip of a pen, it’s all in H-Town, where legacies begin.” The video concludes with the date 10/18 flashing on screen, which leads one to believe something new is going to be unveiled. Some have speculated it could either be a new alternate uniform, or even the announcement of their new City Connect uniform. I have my doubts that a new CC would be unveiled (those are typically unveiled a week or so before the uniform debuts, and are staggered throughout the MLB season). MLB teams don’t usually announce uniform changes until the current season ends.
Still, this bears watching. Depending upon what the announcement is, and when it happens, I may be able to get an article up later today. If not, it may fall to Jimmer Vilk for Saturday.
MLB Playoff Jersey Tracking
MLB Playoff Uni Tracking
Longtime readers know our longtime MLB Playoff jersey tracker Alex Rocklein has been covering all the jerseys worn by each and every Major League Baseball playoff team/game for the past several seasons, and I’m pleased to announce Alex is again returning for the 2024 MLB Playoffs. With the expansion of the Wild Card (to six teams — three in each league) in 2022, his graphics have gotten more complicated, but they’re still great. I recently did a Q & A with Alex and his Playoff Tracker.
We had two games yesterday. In the early game, the Guardians walked off in a thriller wearing their Sunday best. I figured they’d wear white and I’ll pretty much guarantee they’ll stick with that today. The Mets were back in their pinstripes last night, but that didn’t help, as the Dodgers handed them another ass-whuppin’. Alex sent me his tracking a little early, when the score after the eighth inning had the Dodgers leading 10-2, as the game dragged late into the evening. It would end 10-2. Today the Mets will try to save their season, taking on the Dodgers, who lead the NLCS 3 games to 1, at 5:08 ET on FS1. The Yanks/Guardians (Yanks lead 2-1) Game 4 will start at 8:08 on TBS.
Each weekday from now until the end of the 2024 World Series, I’ll have an updated tracker.
• • • • •
Thanks Alex! Looking forward to this once again throughout the playoffs and World Series!
Guess the Game from the Scoreboard
Guess The Game…
…From The Scoreboard
Today’s scoreboard comes from Courtney Beauregard.
The premise of the game (GTGFTS) is simple: I’ll post a scoreboard and you guys simply identify the game depicted. In the past, I don’t know if I’ve ever completely stumped you (some are easier than others).
Here’s the Scoreboard. In the comments below, try to identify the game (date and location, as well as final score). If anything noteworthy occurred during the game, please add that in (and if you were AT the game, well bonus points for you!):
Please continue sending these in! You’re welcome to send me any scoreboard photos (with answers please), and I’ll keep running them.
Guess the Game from the Uniform
Based on the suggestion of long-time reader/contributor Jimmy Corcoran, we’ve introduced a new “game” on Uni Watch, which is similar to the popular “Guess the Game from the Scoreboard” (GTGFTS), only this one asked readers to identify the game based on the uniforms worn by teams.
Like GTGFTS, readers will be asked to guess the date, location and final score of the game from the clues provided in the photo. Sometimes the game should be somewhat easy to ascertain, while in other instances, it might be quite difficult. There will usually be a visual clue (something odd or unique to one or both of the uniforms) that will make a positive identification of one and only one game possible. Other times, there may be something significant about the game in question, like the last time a particular uniform was ever worn (one of Jimmy’s original suggestions). It’s up to YOU to figure out the game and date.
Today’s GTGFTU comes from Pete Hudson.
Good luck and please post your guess/answer in the comments below.
And finally...
…that’s going to do it for the early lede. Depending on how I’m feeling today, I’ll try to get some additional articles out, but no promises (again, my apologies). We’ll definitely have Anthony’s Ticker, so be sure to check back later for that.
You guys have a great Friday and a better weekend, and I’ll catch you next for Monday Morning Uni Watch.
GTGFTS: April 20, 1981. Exhibition Stadium, Toronto. Brew Crew 5, Jays 4 in 12.
Virginia is also wearing logoless throwback helmets again (link). Probably doesn’t count and I didn’t realize it when sending in the combo.
Arizona’s is awesome!
Get Well, Phil!
That Arizona helmet is exceptional – not ‘Action A’ great, but I like it.
I remember seeing that Arizona logo when I was a kid. I drew it quite a bit! I’m happy to see it as a helmet decal.
Marcus I did the same thing as a kid!! I had no idea where Arizona was located but rooted for them just because of the dessert logo
Cool coincidence, you guys! It scrams 80s to me and as much as I did not like the 80s visual identities at that time, this one has always appealed to me.
*screams
Three VERY nice helmets.
Absolutely. Such a refreshing set of reveals, with all three stellar designs and all three accompanying nice looking unis. Only nitpicks are Wazzu would really shine with a bold red/white/red stripe pattern on the pants and helmet, and the decal placement suffers slightly from the helmet sculpting/setup. But it’s really on their opponents to keep any of these out of the top 5 this week.
GTGFTU: Monday September 2010: Green Bay Packers (17) at Chicago Bears (20) Soldier Field.
Seems to me the Packers were featured quite a bit this week in GTGFTU…not complaining, just an observation.
Love all three of these helmets. I remember the Arizona logo from the court in grainy VHS videotapes.
The arizona decal made me realize how being navy and red feels like a color combo miss. After looking it up apparently they were originally sage green and silver. Now that’s cool!
Or imagine if they went more Dirt Red, Turquoise, or something more southwestern. Orange and brown…. Red and Navy seems so blah.
ASU being maroon and gold – now that’s more like it.
(p.s. how do I get un-banned from posting? I have to go to incognito mode to post every time lol. I think paul got mad at me once for calling him out years ago)
Phil the Houston Chronicle had a story a few weeks back re: a CC change for the Astros. I forwarded the link to you but it might have gotten lost in the shuffle.
My informal observations going to a handful of Astros games and traveling around town is that the current CC is wildly popular despite the low marks we give it here.
As for me, well I have been hoping that the whole CC program would just go away as unlikely as that hope is.
My only issues with their current (likely outgoing) CC are the graph paper sleeves and the extra patch on the right temple of the hat (I know those are insanely popular with young hat heads these days, though). Even Space City works great for me since they are in fact the astros and not like the space city dapper dumpster donkeys or some such modern minor league junk. Problem is: Nike and the CC program in general could care less if they actually succeeded in executing a solid or popular design. As soon as possible, they have to get fresh merch on the shelves. Much like “the valley” Phoenix unis and the “red rocks” Utah unis, they will ditch something great simply for the sake of the retail cycle. Whereas they could probably keep the space city set around for a while longer or simply make a few minor tweaks to improve them.
The MLB Uni Tracker image is a 2023 image.
GAH!
Now fixed.
The Astros used the video to release a new hat celebrating the 30th anniversary of one of their old unis. Nothing to see here.
Looks like there will be a jersey too – I don’t remember them having black back then but maybe they did. Anyway, another black jersey for black jersey fans! link
this design is a mashup of their last 2 looks. The hat is an homage to their navy and gold design, and the uni is from their red and black design. I don’t remember a black uni either. I remember white, grey, and red unis, but the internet seems to remember otherwise. Anyway, I think the elements here are a great mashup, but they ought to stick with navy and orange/tequila sunrise instead of going back to their design departure years. It doesn’t seem to be an on-field set though, so whatever.
Is it fair to say that uniforms are much better at the collegiate level than the pros (across all sports)?
They’re much better at incorporating throwback design elements. (And stripes are actually stripes). I think even just the posts from the past two days highlight this.
Do colleges and universities value tradition more than a professional team?
Very much agree. Also, no limitations on schools (versus pro leagues that require five-years before a redesign, or limit teams to three or four jerseys.) Colleges can change it up with no restraint, which offers lots of chances for gorgeous throwbacks.
Bear Down Arizona! what took them so long to put the cactus logo on the helmet. There was a time in the mid 80’s where almost every t shirt in the campus bookstore had this logo on it.
“…they’ll be taking on former PAC-12 (and current Big XII) rival Colorado” – Are they though? Arizona Alumnus (B.Arch, 2002) here weighing-in, here. Colorado wasn’t even in the PAC-12 for that long; I think 2010 or 2011. ASU (obvs.) and both of the Southern California Teams are more typical rivals for the ‘Cats.
Anyway, regarding the Saguaro Logo – The Alumni have been clamoring for it’s reuse for what seems like an eternity. That and the Old School Cowboy-sporting Wilber logo.
BEAR DOWN.
With their recent successes there’s no reason to change, but I can’t help opining the previous Astros’ scripts and numbers are superior to the current, clunky characters. I wish Houston would put them on the contemporary uniforms.
GTGFTS: April 20, 1981. Exhibition Stadium, Toronto. Brew Crew 5, Jays 4 in 12.
Virginia is also wearing logoless throwback helmets again (link). Probably doesn’t count and I didn’t realize it when sending in the combo.
Arizona’s is awesome!
Get Well, Phil!
That Arizona helmet is exceptional – not ‘Action A’ great, but I like it.
I remember seeing that Arizona logo when I was a kid. I drew it quite a bit! I’m happy to see it as a helmet decal.
Marcus I did the same thing as a kid!! I had no idea where Arizona was located but rooted for them just because of the dessert logo
Cool coincidence, you guys! It scrams 80s to me and as much as I did not like the 80s visual identities at that time, this one has always appealed to me.
*screams
Three VERY nice helmets.
Absolutely. Such a refreshing set of reveals, with all three stellar designs and all three accompanying nice looking unis. Only nitpicks are Wazzu would really shine with a bold red/white/red stripe pattern on the pants and helmet, and the decal placement suffers slightly from the helmet sculpting/setup. But it’s really on their opponents to keep any of these out of the top 5 this week.
GTGFTU: Monday September 2010: Green Bay Packers (17) at Chicago Bears (20) Soldier Field.
Seems to me the Packers were featured quite a bit this week in GTGFTU…not complaining, just an observation.
Love all three of these helmets. I remember the Arizona logo from the court in grainy VHS videotapes.
The arizona decal made me realize how being navy and red feels like a color combo miss. After looking it up apparently they were originally sage green and silver. Now that’s cool!
Or imagine if they went more Dirt Red, Turquoise, or something more southwestern. Orange and brown…. Red and Navy seems so blah.
ASU being maroon and gold – now that’s more like it.
(p.s. how do I get un-banned from posting? I have to go to incognito mode to post every time lol. I think paul got mad at me once for calling him out years ago)
Phil the Houston Chronicle had a story a few weeks back re: a CC change for the Astros. I forwarded the link to you but it might have gotten lost in the shuffle.
My informal observations going to a handful of Astros games and traveling around town is that the current CC is wildly popular despite the low marks we give it here.
As for me, well I have been hoping that the whole CC program would just go away as unlikely as that hope is.
My only issues with their current (likely outgoing) CC are the graph paper sleeves and the extra patch on the right temple of the hat (I know those are insanely popular with young hat heads these days, though). Even Space City works great for me since they are in fact the astros and not like the space city dapper dumpster donkeys or some such modern minor league junk. Problem is: Nike and the CC program in general could care less if they actually succeeded in executing a solid or popular design. As soon as possible, they have to get fresh merch on the shelves. Much like “the valley” Phoenix unis and the “red rocks” Utah unis, they will ditch something great simply for the sake of the retail cycle. Whereas they could probably keep the space city set around for a while longer or simply make a few minor tweaks to improve them.
The MLB Uni Tracker image is a 2023 image.
GAH!
Now fixed.
The Astros used the video to release a new hat celebrating the 30th anniversary of one of their old unis. Nothing to see here.
Looks like there will be a jersey too – I don’t remember them having black back then but maybe they did. Anyway, another black jersey for black jersey fans!
link
Yeah. Looks like a fan cap and jersey…
link
No (so-called) H-Town Blue?
Hmmmm….
this design is a mashup of their last 2 looks. The hat is an homage to their navy and gold design, and the uni is from their red and black design. I don’t remember a black uni either. I remember white, grey, and red unis, but the internet seems to remember otherwise. Anyway, I think the elements here are a great mashup, but they ought to stick with navy and orange/tequila sunrise instead of going back to their design departure years. It doesn’t seem to be an on-field set though, so whatever.
Is it fair to say that uniforms are much better at the collegiate level than the pros (across all sports)?
They’re much better at incorporating throwback design elements. (And stripes are actually stripes). I think even just the posts from the past two days highlight this.
Do colleges and universities value tradition more than a professional team?
Very much agree. Also, no limitations on schools (versus pro leagues that require five-years before a redesign, or limit teams to three or four jerseys.) Colleges can change it up with no restraint, which offers lots of chances for gorgeous throwbacks.
Bear Down Arizona! what took them so long to put the cactus logo on the helmet. There was a time in the mid 80’s where almost every t shirt in the campus bookstore had this logo on it.
“…they’ll be taking on former PAC-12 (and current Big XII) rival Colorado” – Are they though? Arizona Alumnus (B.Arch, 2002) here weighing-in, here. Colorado wasn’t even in the PAC-12 for that long; I think 2010 or 2011. ASU (obvs.) and both of the Southern California Teams are more typical rivals for the ‘Cats.
Anyway, regarding the Saguaro Logo – The Alumni have been clamoring for it’s reuse for what seems like an eternity. That and the Old School Cowboy-sporting Wilber logo.
BEAR DOWN.
With their recent successes there’s no reason to change, but I can’t help opining the previous Astros’ scripts and numbers are superior to the current, clunky characters. I wish Houston would put them on the contemporary uniforms.