Good morning, everyone. What you see from a distance is a rather pleasing palette (at least to me) of black/white/red vs. white/brown/brown. This is from Wednesday night’s MACtion matchup between Northern Illinois and Western Michigan. I wasn’t as enamored of the details during closer views, but I showcased this photo for another reason: you can add WMU to the list of teams that still have Gs on the goal lines. So the Broncos have that going for them. Which is nice.
While you won’t see this game in the Top Five, nor will you see any game with hard-to-read stars & stripes logos, camo logos, or reflective numbers, you will see the best of the best, and the one worst…after you read the rest of Sunday Morning Uni Watch. Now let’s get the ball rolling with our resident ball roller, Terry Duroncelet. Take it away!
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I would like Louisiana to not be 482 million degrees IN NOVEMBER anymore, thanks.
From Tuesday, November 5th
• Central Michigan/Bowling Green: Contrast Matters: Mighty MAC Edition. Bowling Green’s template may be a far cry from last year’s (not objectively bad, just kinda bland for me), but white/white/brown paired with the Chippewas’ Tuesday Best is a delight.
• Ball State/Miami (OH): I don’t know why, but Ball State’s S&S decals give me the same energy as the Hurricane Slayer (JV: LOL) (closer look).
From Wednesday, November 6th
• Kent State/Ohio: The not-so Golden Flashes with the double-fister: GFGS and S&S decals, What fun! I love looking at the textile manifestation of what people think of Ohio (closer look, which really shows the wavy effect).
From Thursday, November 7th
• Coastal Carolina/Appalachian State: With Veterans Day fast approaching, App State was one of MANY teams to do some sort of demonstration.
• East Carolina/FAU: BFBS for the Pirates. (JV: That rules them out of the Top Five…or does it?)
From Friday, November 8th
• UCLA/Iowa: S&S decals for the Hawkeyes. UCLA’s uniforms, however? CONSIDERABLY better. (JV: Meh…give me the Troy Aikman era over these.) UCLA and the Clarendon font go hand-in-hand like Vaporwave music and an old shopping mall straight outta 1992. (JV: Clarendon with a drop shadow…now you’re talking!)
• Wake Forest/Cal: Retro lids for the Golden Bears.
From Saturday, November 9th
• Ole Miss/Georgia: DOWN GOES #3!!! DOWN GOES #3!!! Also, OIe Miss wore the light blue tops in this game. Granted, they’d look 1,000 times better with pant stripes that matched the helmets, but this is still a solid look. (JV: Give Penn State their pants back already!)
• Kansas/Iowa State: The Jayhawks wore what is both their best and worst uniform against Iowa State. How can it be both at the same time? What I like: the BIG, CHUNKY numbers that can be read a mile away, alongside a fun/interesting font that’s pleasing to the eye. What I don’t like? Well, apart from the BFBS, those same massive numbers become hard to read because they’re blue on a black background. I’m telling you, this template without the black? Top 5 uniforms in college football at this moment in time.
• There was an absolute PLETHORA. Of teams that did some sort of S&S/G.I. Joevember demonstration, including (but DEFINITELY not limited to): North Texas (closer look), Rutgers, South Florida, Middle Tennessee, Southern Miss (closer look), Oregon State, Arizona State (closer look), Hawai’i (closer look), Fresno State… did I miss anyone? (I think I know the answer to that.)
• UTEP/Kennesaw State: Sweet light blue and orange retros for UTEP. (JV: SO sweet!)
• Louisiana/Arkansas State: Simplified look for the Cajuns, complete with these dope helmets.
• Tennessee/Mississippi State: Light blue accessories for the Vols, in honor of Pat Summitt.
• Mizzou/Oklahoma: The block M returns for this old Big XII matchup. Funny how things come full-circle sometimes. (JV: Wish the pants stripes would return someday!)
• TCU/Oklahoma State: Bloody eye uniforms for TCU (context, in case you’re curious/concerned about that statement).
• Oregon/Maryland: Two teams that weren’t even playing in the B1G a decade ago, meeting up in a regular season game, while also being THE schools for their respective maker’s markers (Oregon/Nike, Maryland/Under Armour) is crazy. Even crazier is that the Terps saw Oregon’s iridescent numbers, and decided to put their own spin on that. Huge shoutout to Tanner George –a student at the University of Maryland– for being on top of this. He wrote a few days ago: “As you know, the Terps have rolled out a lot of different uniforms over the years, and I’m fairly confident that they’re getting ready to unveil a new alternate as they prepare to take on Oregon this Saturday.” Turns out he nailed it right on the head. This is going to be a very specific reference, but for anyone who’s played Wave Race 64 for the Nintendo 64, do Maryland’s numbers not remind you of the water from Sunset Bay? It’s genuinely as if they couldn’t choose between [insert color here] numbers, and just decided to do them all. It’s honestly kinda cool for a one-off deal. And yes, I want to rub my fingers across the raised helmet decals. If only the Terps were as victorious as my intrusive thoughts.
• New Mexico State/WKU: Cool fauxback decals for the Tops (closer look).
• Texas Tech/Colorado: Texas Tech wore uniforms made in collaboration with Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who of course played his collegiate handegg at Texas Tech. I won’t go too deep into it, as that dive has already been done. All I’ll say is: TECH. Tha– that’s it, that’s the statement. (JV: I’d rather you focus on the Three-peat, Patrick.)
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Thanks, Terry!
Great job crew! This week there were so many good looking games, harder to name a top 5 or even 10.
On the Stars and Stripes / camo decals for Veterans Day, Arizona state should not be in that long list. They actually were honoring a veteran- Pat Tillman. I also like how they tastefully did it.
My grandfather fought in WW I. He hated how Armistice day immediately was co-opted to bellow empty patriotism, glorify war, and celebrate “victory.”
The true purpose was to honor veterans who gave their lives and peace.
“He hated how Armistice day immediately was co-opted to bellow empty patriotism, glorify war, and celebrate “victory.”
The true purpose was to honor veterans who gave their lives and peace.”
Well said. As I note almost every year, most folks forget “Veterans Day” was originally Armistice Day — and so named to mark the end of the Great War — or “The War to end All Wars.” If only…
“The true purpose was to honor veterans who gave their lives and peace.”
Sorry, it’s that old misunderstanding getting let through again.
Veterans’ Day is for honoring ALL current and former military members regardless of their current life status.
Those who died are honored specifically on Memorial Day.
You’re right Tom. Memorial Day is designated to honor all those who died in action. I certainly want to honor all veterans.
This history is a little more complicated. My grandfather was upset about the empty patriotism around Armistice Day. He survived the Battles of the Meuse–Argonne, thought 26,000 Americans did not.
Veterans Day was adopted in 1954 which does honor veterans of all wars. Public Act 380 only changed Armistice to Veterans.
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Eisenhower’s Presidential proclamation focused on Veterans who served in wars.
“On that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.”
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It was in the 1958 Congress, Title 38 of the US. Code defined a veteran as anyone who served in the military.
Tom you are right– Memorial Day is specifically dedicated to those who died in action. I certainly want to honor all veterans on Veterans Day. My point is that my grandfather was disgusted by the fact that many took the holiday as a empty display, not actually to honor veterans, much like what happens on uniforms.
The history is a bit more complicated, however. My grandfather fought in the Battle of Liege-Argonne where 26,000+ Americans lost their lives in 7 weeks. He was upset what happened with Armistice Day– seeing how the holiday became more about empty jingoism rather than solemn gratitude to those who fought and died. He also over time became disillusioned that the war to end all wars did not result in peace– which was also the original intent of Armistice day, “it is fitting that the recurring anniversary of this date should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.”
In 1954 Congress passed Public Law 380 changing Armistice to Veterans Day, but that only changed the name.
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Eisenhower’s proclamation 3071 accompanying the legislation still focused on veterans of wars.
“On that day let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly, on the seas, in the air, and on foreign shores, to preserve our heritage of freedom, and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.”
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In 1958, Title 38 of the U.S. Code, defined a veteran as a “person who served in the active military, naval, air, or space service, and who was discharged or released therefrom under conditions other than dishonorable” (since amended). Since that time Veterans Day has honored everyone who has put on the uniform– thanks for your service.
Sorry for the double post. First time I hit post nothing happened so I rewrote it.
Thank you, Minnyapples…
And, yes, Phil, “if only”….
Love the trophies handed out for the “playoff” rounds of Canadian College Football! Nice to see respect for tradition vs. one big money grab.
Terry is the greatest. You’ve brought it since day one, and you have never failed to carry the mail.
I look forward to the Sunday write ups every week because I Terry’s quirks and personality come through in their writing!
Good going…and good looking…Regina Rams! Well done in the coverage dept., Wade!
Temple in the top 5 of anything fills me with such pride…though Tulane carried this matchup to high prominence. Like Jersey B, they need to brink back the Joe Klecko’s.
Sorry, but BYU/Utah was the best of the day.
I’m not sure it was the “best,” but it was definitely T5.
Looked like generic, knock off Electric Football to me (I’m dating myself)
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Maryland ruined what would have been a great looking game against the Ducks by wearing those eyesores.
The Big XII definitely “won” worst looking conference this weekend.
UTEP needs to make those their primary asap.
Totally agree about that Kansas template – in school colors that would be maybe the best looking team in the country.
RE: BYU/Utah
Not sure there’s a Red/Blue colorblindness. There is Red/Green and Blue/Yellow.
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I’m amused at how similar UCLA’s light blue and white jerseys link are to Ol’ Miss’s light blue and white jerseys link. Without the gold secondary color, UCLA comes off as a slightly lighter version of Ol’ Miss, albeit with tv numbers. Both are Nike and seem to use the same template.
At first glance I thought the UCLA Clarendon numbers were a little off, but after looking at some photos of the originals from the 60’s, they actually did a pretty good job.
Interesting uni-related incident in this game: after a UCLA kickoff, the refs announced a penalty on the Bruins for having two players on the kickoff team wearing #17 – at which point UCLA coach Deshaun Foster went berserk, visibly yelling “no we didn’t !!!”. The Bruins have two # 17’s, linebacker Josh Woods and WR Logan Loya, the latter of whom had just caught a touchdown pass and was on the sidelines still accepting congratulations from teammates, and would never have been on a kickoff coverage team in any circumstance. Fortunately the gaffe had no impact on the game, and the Fox crew later confirmed there were no duplicate UCLA numbers on the field, but it definitely stressed out Foster, whose team has been bedeviled by penalties – mostly deserved for knucklehead plays – but sure didn’t appreciate the ultimate “phantom” call. Maybe they’ll be enough rf just couldn’t read Clarendon….
One detail I like on the Regina uniform is the Ram patch on the shoulders. Fun little quirk!
The Terps helmet logo reminds me of the puffy stickers so prevalent in the 80s and 90s. Damned if I can remember the name of that company though.
I am interested to see what the Regina Rams will wear next week. They had to win their final regular season game (at home) to make the playoffs. They unusually wore white at home for that final game. Their 2 playoff wins on the road were, of course, in white. The way it shakes out this year with the national semifinal rotations, they will be the home team in the Mitchell Bowl. Would not be surprised if they wear white at home (no one was expecting another home game). We don’t know yet.
That Virginia/Pitt game deserved to be #1. That color contrast was fantastic!!!!!!!
Mike Tirico shredded the Texans’ red uniforms at the end of the first half tonight…
Never, usually, hear that dude complain about anything…
Was (is) interesting…
NC State and Duke each wore the same color helmets and pants in last year’s matchup.
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UCF was actually at ASU this week, not on a bye.
Thanks for catching that. We’ll get that fixed as soon as we can.
When I was a kid, Louisiana Tech upset my parents alma matter michigan state in football. I remember, not hating it distinctively because of my first impression of La tech’s uniforms.
Another good report this week. Hopefully we are done with S&S and mostly done with the October costumes. As long as Pitt wears yellow pants this week, they should be in the top 5 again this week against an orange team for the 3 week in a row.