By Phil Hecken, with Tod Hess
Back today with part II of the College Bowl predictions and previews, joined by Tod Hess, who has put together the Uni Watch NCAA Bowl Pool. If you want to dispense with the remaining 17 bowl writeups, and head straight to the poll, it’s right below. The reader poll showed that you guys want a pool based on STRAIGHT picks. So, here it is:
Uni Watch Football Bowl Pool. Our Group ID# is 6828 and the Password is bfbs (lower case).
If you missed yesterday’s article explaining the set up, feel free to check back now. Otherwise, let’s finish up the remaining matchups.
December 31, 2010
Meineke Bowl (Charlotte, NC): Clemson (-4.5) vs. South Florida (O/U 40)
Tod Hess: All orange (Clemson) versus all white (South Florida). I will go with South Florida in a mild upset.
Phil Hecken: I’m not sure what combination Clemson will wear (another Oregon wanna-be) but despite the garanimals-tendency, at least they have a fairly traditional uni-frame. South Florida has great colors, but the collar horns (yeah, I get they’re the “Bulls”) aren’t a good look. I’ll take Clemson.
Sun Bowl (El Paso, TX): Notre Dame (+3) vs. Miami (O/U 47)
TH: Miami wins the game, Notre Dame look better.
PH: Uni-wise, this is no contest. The game will probably be closer, but the Irish eyes dress will be smiling. Give me Notre Dame.
Liberty Bowl (Memphis, TN): Georgia (-6) vs. UCF (O/U 55)
TH: I have always loved Georgia’s uniforms and even if Central Florida is 10-3, the Bulldogs will win.
PH: In another easy uni-pick ’em, the Bulldogs are so classically superior in the sartorial department, it makes it very easy to take Georgia.
Chick-Fil-A Bowl (Atlanta, GA): South Carolina (-2.5) vs. Florida State (O/U 55)
TH: Give me a #1 with a vanilla shake, er Florida State has better uniforms, South Carolina has the better team. Gamecocks win.
PH: The ‘Noles have had some crazy unis the past several years, but it seems they’ve settled back into their classic garnet and gold scheme. That would normally be enough, but the ‘Cocks unis are, well…not good (nice colors, but terrible unis). I’ll take Florida State.
January 1, 2011
Ticket City Bowl (Dallas, TX): Northwestern (+11.5) vs. Texas Tech (O/U 60.5)
TH: Texas Tech wins the game and looks much better in the process.
PH: Good lord. Another choice between the lesser of two evils. Black and purple look horrible together (although the Ravens do it better than NW, which isn’t saying much). Still, they at least have Northwestern striping, and the white over white is quite nice. Texas wreck has better colors, but the uni is far worse. The spread will probably continue to grow and I’ll regret the pick, but I’m taking Northwestern. Maybe the uni gods will have mercy on my pick.
Capital One Bowl (Orlando, FL): Michigan State (+7) vs. Alabama (O/U 52.5)
TH: I detest Michigan State’s new uniforms and Alabama’s are classic. In the game Saban rolls his old team as Alabama smokes the Spartans.
PH: There is no uni matchup, not even PSU, for which I would not pick Alabama, so the opponent is immaterial here. However, Sparty used to have really great unis, until this ‘university-wide rebrand’ they underwent, designed to be uniform (pun intended) across all sports. They downgraded in the process. No contest, the Tide will Roll. Alabama wins.
Outback Bowl (Tampa, FL): Florida (-5) vs. Penn State (O/U 48)
TH: Both teams have great uniforms. Nod to Penn State in the uniform department. Florida wins the game for Urban Meyer.
PH: PSU sports my second favorite uni, so once again, this one is no contest, uni-wise. That being said, Florida does usually have pretty sweet unis as well. However, Florida is one of four teams (Boise, TCU & Oregon are the others) slated to receive special new bowl costumes, so we can expect another new look for the Gators. Doesn’t change my choice, no matter what that costume is. I choose Penn State.
Gator Bowl (Jacksonville, FL): Michigan (+5) vs. Mississippi State (O/U 52.5)
TH: Uniforms — Michigan. Game — Michigan. I know in my head they probably won’t win but this one I pick with my heart.
PH: Michigan still has a classic home … er, dark uni, although adidas has done their best to ruin the white jersey. Mississippi State is pure dreck, what with all the lumbar panels and side stripes. BFBS unis actually looked better than their regular ones, but you don’t spit on your school colors unless you play in Eugene. Easy pick: Michigan.
Rose Bowl (Pasadena, CA): TCU (+2.5) vs. Wisconsin (O/U 58)
TH: I don’t care what TCU comes out in, Wisconsin will look better and will win the game.
PH: Ah…the granddaddy of them all. THE game. The Pac 10 vs. the Big 10 in a cage death match for braggin’ rights. What’s that? TCU is in the Rose? DAMN YOU TO HELL, BCS SYSTEM. Well, we all know the Pac 10 winner (your Oregon Ducks) would have trounced Sconie, so maybe this will be a fairer fight. On the uni-fight, this is no contest. Wisconsin trumps anything the Horny Toads come out wearing — and it will be something we’ve never seen before, since Nike will be giving them new costumes just for the Rose. How sweet. Sorry Texas Christian — I’ll be rooting for you big time, but I ain’t pickin’ ya. The choice is Wisconsin.
Fiesta Bowl (Glendale, AZ): Connecticut (+17) vs. Oklahoma (O/U 55)
TH: Sorry UConn fans but they don’t belong in a BCS game. Oklahoma in a blowout on the field and in the better looking uniform department.
PH: This is another reason why the BCS sucks: guaranteed bids. No offense to the good people of the Nutmeg State, but your team is way out of its element here. And UConn’s unis are not in the same class as Oklahoma either. This, kiddies, is your “Lock of the (second day)”. As much as I can’t stand to hear Boomer Sooner, I expect it will be resonating throughout the southwest early and often. With no spread to overcome, this one is no contest: Oklahoma, by a ton.
January 3, 2011
Orange Bowl (Miami, FL): Stanford (-3) vs. Virginia Tech (O/U 58)
TH: I still can’t get pass the James Madison loss that Virginia Tech had. Stanford wins this game and unless Va Tech comes out in throwbacks, Stanford looks better too.
PH: I still can’t get past the Boise Community College loss that Va Tech had. Of course, they’ve improved since then. Va Tech does have a real purdy white over white with a white lid (despite the truncated stripe) but Stanford, with the exception of the momentary loss of reason (also known as BFBS), still has superior unis, both home and away. Stanford probably should have gotten the Rose, but the Orange will do. I’ll take Stanford for a nice birthday present.
January 4, 2011
Sugar Bowl (New Orleans, LA): Ohio State (-2.5) vs. Arkansas (O/U 58)
TH: Ohio State has the better uniforms and probably will win the game but as a Michigan fan, I just can’t bring myself to pick them. I will go with ex-Wolverine Ryan Mallet and the Arkansas Razorbacks.
PH: THE Ohio State University has pretty great unis — the silver is perfect, but the garnet needs fixin. I kid, that’s a little jab at THE Rob. Seriously, the Bucks have a pretty classic uni and even the Nike throwback costume they wore against Michigan was nice. The Razorbacks really shouldn’t be putting SNNOL (school nick-name on leg). A stripe is all that belongs on the side of one’s pants. Nuff said. I’ll take Ohio State.
January 6, 2011
Go Daddy.com Bowl (Mobile, AL): Miami (Ohio) (-3) vs. Middle Tennessee (O/U 48.5)
TH: Danica Patrick over Candice Mic er Miami of Ohio has the better uniforms and will beat the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State.
PH: The “go daddy” bowl? Well, at least the commercials will be entertaining. Miami of Ohio has some pretty nice unis, actually, and Middle Tennessee actually blends a classic with a modern look reasonably well; that BFBS was a bit much though. Pretty easy choice here, takin’ Miami.
January 7, 2011
Cotton Bowl (Arlington, TX): Texas A&M (+2.5) vs. LSU (O/U 49)
TH: LSU has a better uniform than Texas A&M and a better team. LSU wins this bowl.
PH: A&M has pretty nice unis, but what’s with the wavy piping on the pants? Don’t. Do. That. And of course, the Tigers would match up with almost any team anyway, since their uni is approaching perfection, so A&M had too much to overcome from the get-go. Easy choice here, geaux LSU.
January 8, 2011
BBVA Compass Bowl (Birmingham, AL): Pittsburgh (-3) vs. Kentucky (O/U 53)
TH: If Pitt comes out in blue or gold pants they have the better uniform, but if the pull that uniform out they wore against Cincinnati, Kentucky has the better uniform. Either way Pitt wins this game.
PH: Pitt has better unis, unless you factor in their pro combat costume. Kentucky actually doesn’t have bad unis, unless you factor in that seemingly pointless double stripe on their midsection which neither begins nor ends anywhere it should. I’m not really a fan of KY when they go mono blue, so that tips the scales ever so slightly towards the yinzers. I’ll go with Pittsburgh, by a razor-thin margin.
January 9, 2011
Fight Hunger Bowl (San Francisco, CA): Boston College (+9) vs. Nevada (O/U 55)
TH: Boston College better uniform but, Nevada better team. Nevada wins the game in a blow out.
PH: BC has better colors, and far superior striping (although I could do without that fat Redskin-esque pants striping) but crappy fonts. Nevada has horrible bumperstickers, but better fonts. They’d probably look better if they didn’t go monochrome all the time, too. I think Nevada will win, but the sartorial choice is Boston College
January 10, 2011
BCS Championship Game (Glendale, AZ): Auburn (-1.5) vs. Oregon (O/U 74)
TH: I think the last team to have the ball wins this game. Auburn has the better uniforms but I think Oregon wins the game. Either way bet the over!
PH: OK, you know where my heart lies, so you know for whom I’ll be rooting. Of course, as of now, I have no way of knowing what the hell Nike has in store for Oregon’s bowl costume, but it can’t hold a candle to Auburn, more than likely. So, based on uni-matchup, I have to side with War Eagle. And that’s probably the only time I’ll be picking Under Armour over Nike. Wait…did I just make this game about the uniform manufacturers? Shoot me if I did. The pick: Auburn.
Alright. That’s the end of the Bowl previews/predictions. If you haven’t already made your selections, it’s time to move on to the pool. Make your selections below, and good luck to all the participants. Big thanks to Tod Hess for setting the pool up, and also to Zach Brady for the Bowl matchup graphics/locations/times/tv stations.
Once again, here’s the info:
Uni Watch Football Bowl Pool. Our Group ID# is 6828 and the Password is bfbs (lower case).
Colorize This!
Occasionally, I will be featuring wonderful, high-quality black and white photographs that are just begging to be colorized.
Last weekend I thought it might be cool to have people colorize this tremendous shot of Al Bridwell & Jimmy Archer. A few of you took me up on the offer. Let’s see what we have:
First up is first-time colorizer Barry Moss:
Phil,
I’ve enjoyed the site for a long time and thought it would be fun to give the colorization a try. Being a Cubs fan I figured this would be a good one to start on after doing the first couple of tutorials. I thought it turned out pretty well for a first try. What do you think?Barry Moss
I also received a couple from Michael Ferry:
Hi Phil,
Once again, loved seeing everyone’s work on the Red Wings…hats off to Chris Bieniek and George Chilvers for colorizing the background on the Powell photo, which takes patience and a good eye.
I’m submitting a modified Boog Powell, with a red brim like Paul Bilewicz noted. And part of me wanted to try the background on the Bridwell Archer pic, but I just don’t have the time this week…well, and even if I’d had the time, the background was looking like a real challenge. Anyway, thanks as always, have a good one.
Regards,
Michael Ferry
Our favourite colouriser from across the Pond, George Chilvers also checked in with the following:
Boog Powell (with red brim) … Bridwell & Archer from the 1913 Cubs … and Johnny McNally from the ’29 Packers.
Finally we have Dylan Buell:
Hey Phil
Here’s my version of the photo colorized.
Thanks!
Dylan
Nice work lads!
Two choices for this week (and feel free to send in something unsolicited — if it’s great, I’ll run it). The first one is this week’s Reader Request, which is a nice challenge. It comes from Chris Bisbee, who is a proud member of our Armed Forces (or, at least I think he is):
Phil,
Any chance of getting this classic picture of John Wayne colorized? Thanks.
Respectfully,
Chris Bisbee
Naval Facilities Expeditionary Logistics Center
Port Hueneme, CA
Thanks, Chris. The description on that photo is as follows: “John Wayne appears in battle garb he wore as a member of the 1925 undefeated USC Trojan frosh foobtall team. John Wayne’s name then was Marion Morrison.” OK, everyone, this is a great challenge.
The next pic is from Shorpy again, and it’s another beaut: Hank Gowdy of the 1914 Braves. The full description is: “Hank Gowdy of the Boston Braves in a photo dated Oct. 13, 1914, the final game of the World Series. (Although this seems to be at the Polo Grounds and the Series that year was at Fenway Park.)” A quick check of Dressed to the Nines shows us this is how the Braves looked during that season. Should be a great image to colorize.
Thanks again to all the colorizers, and if you find a hi-res image that cries out for a little colorization, send it my way.
Uni Tweaks
Lots and lots of tweaks keep pouring in, so obviously this is a popular feature. A bunch new to get to today. If you have a tweak, change or concept for any sport, send them my way.
Remember, if possible, try to keep your descriptions to ~50 words (give or take) per tweak. You guys have been great a keeping to that, and it’s much appreciated!
Now, on to today’s tweaks:
Starting off the show is Peter Saunders, who has some new looks for the Patriots:
Phil,
I have always marveled at the elegance of the red and white retro unis showcased by the New England Patriots throughout the past few years, but find it disappointing that Pats fans associate those colors with losing. Considering that sentiment, I created a “faux-back” of sorts that encompasses the classic design of the Patriots’ early uniforms while keeping with the basic elements of today’s Brady-era unis.
Home — Silver-blue-silver, like the current, but with simplified fonts and classic striping on the jersey. I removed the pants striping to complement the helmet.
Away — Silver-white-blue, also keeping with the current set.
Away Alternate 1 — Silver-white-white, hearkening back to the white-on-white days of old.
Away Alternate 2 – Silver-white-silver, complementing the home set but not as aesthetically pleasing in my opinion.
Thanks for your time,
Peter Saunders
Next up is Kyle Allebach, with a Seahawks tweak:
Dear Phil,
For my uni-tweak, the Seattle Seahawks. I changed the pants and helmet to silver, but kept the basic shirt design. Also, a neon green belt. I experimented with the neon green a lot, and even on a silver jersey with green numerals, but stuck to the two uni’s I have now. Unfortunately, I’m not skilled enough with photo editing software (I used Photobucket), or else I would have more experiments.
Thanks for your time,
Kyle Allebach
In the three spot today is Mike Benkert, who some new looks for the Bengals:
Hi Phil,
In tweaking my hometown Cincinnati Bengals uniforms I wanted to address two major issues. (1) Minimizing the amount of stripes on the pants and jerseys to compliment the helmet, rather than overwhelm it. (2) Standardizing the uniform set so there aren’t so many variations and inconsistencies amongst the pants and jersey designs, home and aways, and stretchy and standard jersey templates. Old, new home & away.
Thanks,
-Mike Benkert
That’s it for today. Check back next weekend for more.
5 & 1, Best of Edition
And now, the part of the post you’ve all been waiting for: The 5 & 1. But this isn’t your usual 5 & 1 — this is THE year end, best of, wrap up Cinco y Uno, Mothersunbowlvilker-style.
He’s had a whole year to work on these, so lets see if he gets any of them right.
5. Nebraska/Iowa State — The Cyclones blew me away all year long.
4. SMU/Tulane — The Green Wave’s white helmets were a major upgrade.
3. Temple/Penn State — Both teams with NNOB…just another reason to love this matchup.
2. USC/UCLA — Last year UCLA wore a throwback jersey to make this #1…
1. Ole Miss/LSU — …while last year’s #2 stayed its good old timelessly classic self.
And the bad one: Utah State/Boise State — I’d say your unis are why the BCS won’t take you seriously, but then again they did take Oregon…
OK, then. There you have it. The Mothersunbowlvilker’s all-season best 5 and 1 worst. I have a feeling the Little Caesar’s Bowl may just challenge your “1” for the worst overall. And, of course, you still missed the worst regular season game. But we knew that already.
But hey — with four new costumes for the Bowls, we may have not even seen the worst yet.
Recollections from Terry Proctor
Way back in September, it was announced that Bing Crosby’s wine cellar holds a copy of Game 7 of the 1960 World Series. At the time, all that was mentioned was that it was going to air on the MLB Network sometime later this fall.
MLB has finally announced that it will be airing the game this Wednesday, December 15, 2010 at 8:00 pm (eastern).
Back in September, I asked Terry Proctor, UW historian, if he had seen the game and if he had any recollections of it that he’d like to share. He sure did. Here’s what Terry told me:
“I remember that game very well. I was 13 years old and in the 8th grade at Livonia Jr.-Sr. High School. In those years of afternoon World Series games the school administration was quite lenient in allowing students to either listen to or watch the games.
“School itself was not disrupted but if you had a study hall in the afternoon you were allowed to go to the auditorium and watch the game for the length of that period. A TV was also set up in the boys’ half of our gymnasium and if you had gym class you watched the game. Our phys. ed. teacher/coach/athletic director (if you were a PE guy back then you did all of those jobs as part of the deal-no specialization) was a huge baseball fan and worked as a “bird dog” scout for the Phillies He was friends with Eddie Sawyer, manager of the “Whiz Kids” and the Sawyer family lived in Mt. Morris, NY about 12 miles from Livonia. Eddie Sawyer’s daughter was a phys ed. student at Ithaca College in 1963 and did her practice teaching at Livonia in an arrangement worked out by our coach, Gene Baker.
“When classes would change I would turn on my portable radio and get the update, passing the news to anyone I passed in the hall and to the members of my next class. I’ve always been a Yankee hater, so I always rooted for the National League club regardless of who it was. Any team as long as it wasn’t the Yankees.
“Our school day at Livonia started at 8:35 AM and ended at 3:35 PM. This was because our district had a lot of farm families and many kids had to help out with morning chores before school. The later starting time made this possible.
“The time 3:35 PM is memorable to me because that’s the exact minute that Bill Mazeroski’s series-deciding home run left Forbes Field. If you look at the picture of Yankee left-fielder Yogi Berra watching the ball disappear over the wall you will note that the scoreboard clock reads “3:35.” The day-ending bell had just rung and I was on the stairs going down to the school bus as Maz hit his shot. Being a real Yankee hater I began yelling for joy and it fely like I flew down those stairs and out of the door.
“To me, the World Series was a more prestigious event in the old days. The entire nation sort of “took the week off” from work, school and other pursuits to enjoy the last taste of baseball for the year and to get ready for the coming winter.
“I feel fortunate to have been able to enjoy the World Series as I did in those days. Nowadays the night games get over very late, often when kids are in bed. I still believe that by watching or listening to the games in school in those days helped to cultivate more baseball fans. Not so today. Most kids today gravitate to football, which is predominately an afternoon sport. Do MLB leaders need a road map to figure this out?”
Wow. Thanks, Terry. I’ll most definitely be watching this game come Wednesday night. It’s always nice to watch the Yankees lose the World Series.
Alrighty, ladies and germs. That’s almost it for this fine Sunday in December.
“I went to a football stadium and a hockey game broke out.” OK, so it’s not the classic fight/hockey joke, but they did play hockey inside the Big House yesterday. They called it “The Big Chill.” Only a few people showed up. Wow…that’s gotta be like, a record, or something. In fact, it was — more people have watched a hockey game in Michigan than have seen a football game — at least in one day.
Michigan & Sparty played, and Michigan brought out some sweet throwbacks. Too bad the maize on the jersey didn’t match the process yellow on the helmets. Still, a great look for the Wolverines. Although, I wonder how many people could even see the game from the “cheap” seats.
Don’t forget to join the Official UW Bowl Pool for a chance to call yourself “CHAMP” for a year. Unfortunately, no prizes for this — I had asked Paul about it and all the year-end goodies are already committed to Paul’s Big Raffles. So if you join the pool, and you know you will, it’s all for glory, not swag. But isn’t just being in the pool reward enough?
Enjoy the NFL today, unless of course, you live in Minnesota and New York (oh right, the Jets are playing — boy, that Tom Brady’s some QB, eh?). In case you haven’t yet heard, Minnesota got walloped with such a blizzard that they’re postponing today’s game until Monday night. So, if you live in the New York & Minnesota coverage areas, you’ll get that game on Fox. Have a great Sunday everyone.
“Except for the awful black pit stain blotches the NIU uniforms are outstanding.” — Richard