Collector’s Corner for December 26, 2024

[Editor’s note: Welcome back to the return of “Collector’s Corner” to Uni Watch. Although no longer run by Brinke Guthrie, it has been ably resurrected by Chris Weir. Chris approached me about restarting CC, vowing to uphold the old look and style, but with one new twist: he will make each edition timely with what is going on currently in the sports world (i.e. rivalry games, big events, anniversary of events). Enjoy and please give Chris some feedback about the new (old) feature. — PH]

This week’s Collector’s Corner will focus on the New Year’s Six Bowls. If you’ve got anything to add just email me at collectorscorneruniwatch@aol.com and follow me on X @uwcollect.

• This year of course is the first year of the “expanded playoffs” and I’d like to take this opportunity to pour one out for the old BCS. As flawed as the BCS was, it did have a great logo which you can sport with this BCS Hat.

• We have to start with the, “Grandaddy of Them All” which you just undoubtedly read to yourself in Keith Jackson’s voice. “Don’t you just love the graphics on this box?” is one of the many lines from “The Simpsons” that I use at a weirdly high rate as I’m about to show you right now. Don’t you just love the graphics on This Box for the Rose Bowl Board Game? Here’s an Updated and “Computerized” Version of the game from 1970.

• This year will be the 111^th Rose Bowl and 109 of those games have been played in Pasadena with the exceptions being in 2021 due to pandemic restrictions in California and in 1942 due to military restrictions on the West Coast just after the attacks on Pearl Harbor. This Pin commemorates the 1942 Rose Bowl which was played between Duke and Oregon State in Durham at Duke Stadium, which is now known as Wallace Wade Stadium.

• The 1994 Rose Bowl was Wisconsin’s first appearance in the game in 31 years. I’ve always thought Old Style was more of a Chicago beer but I’m sure they still drink it in Madison. Here is a Poster combining Old Style and the Badgers’ run to their 1994 Rose Bowl title. You can also drink an Old Style out of this Helmet Mug or maybe even a Wando’s Fishbowl if the mug is big enough.

• When I saw this Hat from Washington’s 1991 Rose Bowl appearance I instantly thought about the Wolf or Husky from MGMT’s “Kids” music video.

• Back in 1971, when Stanford still used their “Indians” moniker, they had this Set of Glasses made for the first of their back to back Rose Bowl wins.

• The Rose Bowl is the only Bowl Game that comes to mind when teams incorporate the Bowl Game’s logo into their helmets as Ohio State, Wisconsin, and Utah have done. If it’s been done for another Bowl Game let me know.

• If you’re a fan of Finnish Brick Phones and the Sugar Bowl, then boy do I have a Tie for you.

• This 1944 Sugar Bowl Program features a full page ad promoting the sale of War Bonds for Higgins Boats which were produced in New Orleans and would be used during the D-Day invasion later that year.

• New Orleans is a great city to host major sporting events and I’m happy to see that the Super Bowl returns there this January. I’ve been to a Final Four in New Orleans and I really don’t see why the Final Four should be played anywhere else. I love this Silk Scarf from the 2007 Sugar Bowl with all of its New Orleans and football imagery.

• The 1975 Sugar Bowl was the first edition of the game to be played at the Louisiana Superdome. This Poster from that game between Penn State and Alabama has it all.

• I’ve always loved the Orange Bowl logo featuring the smiling orange and until today I had no idea it had a name. Obie is shown here on Pin circa 1995 and the older version of Obie is on this Hat from the 1986 Orange Bowl between Oklahoma and Penn State. I think Obie has been unfortunately fazed out of the most recent Orange Bowl logo.

• Weird mix between Buffaloes and Oranges with this Colorado Bumper Sticker from the 1990 Orange Bowl.

• From my own collection is a Pennant from the 1956 Orange Bowl which features Maryland’s original black and gold color scheme even though the team had been wearing predominantly Red and White uniforms for a few seasons by then.

• If there was ever a perfect combination of a sponsor and a Bowl Game it was Tostitos and the Fiesta Bowl. If you are bummed about Tostitos losing their sponsorship of the Fiesta Bowl, I’m confident wearing this Chip Hat will make you feel better.

• The first ever Fiesta Bowl was played in 1971 and featured host Arizona State. Here’s a Pennant from that game with a version of Sparky the Sun Devil that I’ve never seen.

• Last Week I wrote about Bowl Games giving watches to players. Apparently in the 70s and 80s the Fiesta Bowl Issued Digital Watches.

• Keep your rear end cushioned with this Seat Cushion from the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. Talk about a great game.

• For the 1985 Cotton Bowl Boston College really wanted to promote their Heisman Trophy winning Quarterback when they decided to put Doug Fluties’ name on the front of this Painter’s Hat and the school’s logo on the top.

• This Program from the 50^th Cotton Bowl in 1986 has some great cover art.

• Famed cartoonist Jack Davis’ provided the art for these Souvenir Cups celebrating Georgia’s win over Texas in the 1984 Cotton Bowl.

• I had no idea the Big Ten’s beloved Tournament Logo was just a rip off of the 1972 Peach Bowl Program. Be careful this 1971 Peach Bowl Program doesn’t burn your retinas.

• Even as a Maryland fan I don’t think I’d want this Maryland Peach Bowl Doll in my house. Those dolls always creep me out.

• Birds don’t have teeth but don’t tell that to Iowa or any of the other colleges whose logo/mascot features birds with teeth. This Pin from Iowa’s 1982 Peach Bowl appearance makes me wonder why Iowa’s mascot is always painfully clenching its teeth. Maybe this Iowa professor had a point or maybe Iowa can just change its mascot to a more biologically correct one.

Next week I’ll be taking a look at the NHL’s Winter Classic New Year’s tradition so send me any items that you have or find.

–Chris Weir