[Editor’s Note: Today’s entry marks the site debut of new Uni Watch bench coach Bryan Redemske, who’s found a uni-related angle on an interesting topic. I’ll meet you down at the Ticker. — PL]
By Bryan Redemske
When schools introduce “creative” new uniforms, some apologist always says, “Yeah, but the kids really like it, so it helps with recruiting.” And sure enough, you can now see that concept — uniforms being used as recruiting tools — playing out in today’s media guides.
Now, back in the dark ages — say, anything before the 1990s — a college sports media guide was just that: a guide, for the media. Every sport at a school had one, and it included basic biographical and statistical information on the team and its players. They were typically digest-sized, contained few pictures, and were almost always boring. But the media needed guidance, and this was where they got it. As a guy who has relied upon a media guide or two in his day, I can attest that having that information handy is a lifesaver.
But then desktop publishing came along, and the internet recruiting boom began. Suddenly, the humble media guide wasn’t just for the media. It became a place to showcase a program’s past — or its goals for the future — complete with slick pages and computerized graphics. Somewhere along the line, football guides became known as media and recruiting guides.
And then things got really nuts. Guides got bigger, shinier, and loaded with more useless crap every year, until Missouri unleashed this thing in 2004. Maybe they’d been emboldened after their 2003 guide was judged the best in Division I-A, or maybe they just got carried away. In any case, the 2004 guide, weighing in at 614 pages and four pounds it was, and still is, the largest media guide in history. Every player, even the redshirt freshmen, was given at least two pages, including a full-body shot, biographical information in large type, and a map showing their hometown.
What’s interesting about all this is the recruiting stuff — specifically, the 26 pages devoted to the team’s equipment. Every item of clothing issued to players is listed, along with the technical description and what appears to be Mizzou’s own indexing number.
For example, after practicing in your Nike Stretch Woven Football Pants, including Dri-Fit 5 Pocket Pro Girdle, wouldn’t it be nice to slip into something more relaxing? Say, the black Varsity Block Survivor Tee, paired with light gray Hail Mary Shorts. Or perhaps the always comfortable Off Tackle Pant and Sueded Microfiber V-Neck? The possibilities are endless — and also slightly ridiculous.
In 2005, the NCAA finally forced media guides to go on a diet, but Mizzou still found plenty of room to tout their uniforms home, road), helmets and facemasks, shoes (and there’s more), T-shirts (more), shoulder pads, gloves, jackets, headwear, off-field clothing, technical apparel, and polo polo shirts.
It’s safe to say that the media has little if any use for this information (well, except maybe for Paul). But it’s an interesting peek into all of the stuff college football players get, and also the lengths schools will go to use their uniforms to sell their program.
Uni Watch News Ticker: Zzzzzzzzz. … Reprinted from yesterday’s comments: Those Akron uni numbers sure am big. … Kenn Tomasch notes that ECHL officials are wearing a memorial sleeve patch for linesman Ryan Birmingham, who was killed in a car accident last May. … Starting next season, MLB base coaches will have to wear helmets. They’ll also have to sit in child-safety seats when riding to the stadium and hold the manager’s hand when crossing the street. … Kansas is an Adidas school, but apparently Mark Mangino didn’t get the memo (good spot by Alex Chiu). … Interesting find by Jim McCue, who reports that Pepperdine’s practice jerseys have the “NE” printed in a different color — it stands for “no excuses.” … More cool sports-based maps from Bill Turianski here and here (for more, check out his site). … Not a good idea. … Think Oregon has a lot of uni combos? Check out Gateway High, near Pittsburgh, which has worn at least six different looks this season: one, two, three, four, five, six (compiled by Nate Budziszewski) … And while we’re at it, James Robertson reports that the Anchorage Seawolves have five different uniforms: one, two, three, four, five. … Some very odd socks on display at the Iowa State Volleyball Tournament (with thanks to Jesse Gavin). … Terrell Owens has been hit with a towel fine. … You know about old-style “base ball” games with 19th-century rules and attire, but here’s something I hadn’t seen before: a vintage-era basketball cage match, complete with old-school uniforms (with thanks to Black Fives honcho Claude Johnson).
#1 by John O'Hare on 11.09.07 8:54 am |
The Rays’ unis are clean, but look like a high school uni rather than a major league. You were right with your grade of ZZZZZZZZZZ. Hopefully the players will be more exciting than their uniform….BWAH-HA-HA, just couldn’t keep a straight face!
#2 by Chris on 11.09.07 9:01 am |
Missouri mailed their 2005 media guide to me all the way in Massachusetts when I was a junior in high school.
I remember it because they had the entire guide stuffed into an envelope far too small and put what appeared to be an entire book of stamps on it.
#3 by Josh on 11.09.07 9:01 am |
I like the new Rays hats. Since I will be sporting one whenever the Franchise caps come out. Navy and Baby Blue are a match made in heaven. That sunspot thing on the jerseys will haunt my dreams forever.
#4 by dm00n on 11.09.07 9:05 am |
In the Black Fives game, they must have just used off the rack throwbacks, because one team is all number 9 and the other is all number 6.
#5 by Charlie on 11.09.07 9:07 am |
Gateway High School is a very good team…Western PA HS football is a thing of beauty…any given friday you’ll find an amazing game within driving distance.
#6 by Robert on 11.09.07 9:09 am |
If Missouri wants to pump so much money and effort into even their reduced-weight model,why don’t they use color photos of the uniforms, equipment and such? Black and white just looks bad.
#7 by ChrisM70 on 11.09.07 9:11 am |
Some talk on the new logo:
http://www.undercons...
#8 by Robert on 11.09.07 9:13 am |
Regarding the photo of the strangely-socked Iowa volleyball players: Why don’t volleyball players wear hi-top shoes?
#9 by Dave on 11.09.07 9:15 am |
Couple things…
First, I’m not one of those people that is always complaining that we focus on sports too much in schools (even though we do..) But man, SIX uniforms for a HIGH SCHOOL team!? That is absolutely outrageous…especially since they look like nice uniforms. Buy a new computer lab or something, jeez.
Secondly, no matter how many jerseys the UAA Seawolves have (I’m from Alaska, we never call them Anchorage by the way)…the UAF Nanooks will always be the better team.
#10 by ScottyJ in WV on 11.09.07 9:15 am |
Today, as a Mountaineer fan, I’m at a loss for words.
Well, except for one maybe……
Blech.
#11 by Joe H on 11.09.07 9:19 am |
I’m soooo mad that I missed all of the great Maryland uni/state flag talk yesterday.
As a MD resident and a Terp (my recent wedding was at the Memorial Chapel on campus) I’m sure I’m biased, but I have always felt the MD flag was a very strong and distinct example of good design.
Normally I would say 4 primary colors for an athletic system is too much, but MD has been lucky to pull them off very cleanly. The key has always been that the only “feature” at most 3 of the colors and then use the 4th as an accent.
That being said I really miss the “checkerboard” trim on the b-ball uni’s (and on the old Nike football unis) and think the backs of the current ones look ridiculous.
I’ve always enjoyed that my Terps had their own identity with their unique uni and trim, and didn’t succumb to the frocks for jocks, but now we are just one of the many that have fallen in line…sad.
#12 by Daniel on 11.09.07 9:22 am |
Perhaps Mangino can’t see the logo on his shoes.
#13 by LI Phil on 11.09.07 9:24 am |
that’s not the only thing he can’t see below his waist
#14 by Andy--01 on 11.09.07 9:24 am |
That Mangino picture is from November 20, 2004. It was taken at Missouri, and that is the only time he has won in Columbia. While kU was an Addidas school at the time, it’s not exactly a recent picture. Surely he has changed his shoes in the last 3 years.
I guess it’s just that no one paid attention to kU’s football program until now.
#15 by Boston Nick on 11.09.07 9:26 am |
Damn…beat me to it.
#16 by Dane on 11.09.07 9:27 am |
Redemske, I like ya, kid. Ya got spunk. Ya got moxie. Stick with us at the Daily UniWatch Bugle and you’ll go places. Maybe a Pulitzer. At least a Webby.
What, you still standing there? Go get Mr. Lukas his coffee! Time is money, kid.
(That’s my tongue-in-cheek way of saying welcome aboard, and congrats on an entertaining first entry.)
#17 by Ryne on 11.09.07 9:28 am |
I actually kind of like the West Virginia jerseys. They were much better than the Cal-like look a likes they wore a couple of weeks ago. The yellow on yellow is much better than yellow on blue.
#18 by Jason Axel on 11.09.07 9:28 am |
i love it when teams put out a special “Bowl Edition” of their media guide for a bowl game, which really the only difference is the cover has pictures from the season and like 10 extra pages worth of box scores from the games from the season, yet they reprint the whole damn guide…central michigan did it last year…ive got both, and i honestly think there is maybe 15 extra pages in an already 200 pageish media guide
#19 by xyz on 11.09.07 9:29 am |
Paul,
Have to admit I am liking the red Giants jersey especially with the winged (Michigan style) helmet. Are you still disliking the red Giants jersey after seeing the 1940’s winged helmet that went with it ?
#20 by MichaelM on 11.09.07 9:30 am |
Looked like a Highlighter Factory exploded all over their white unis.
#21 by todd krevanchi on 11.09.07 9:31 am |
last nights yellow on yellow kept reminding me of this picture.
http://www.thevib.co...
#22 by Justin Barrett on 11.09.07 9:33 am |
Has West Virginia done a yellow helmet before?
#23 by Mike on 11.09.07 9:33 am |
As a WVU grad I am ashamed they wore those uni’s last night…..horrible….just horrible….maybe if they had thought about the fact the lines on the pants did not match the jerseys, a common problem they seem to have had the last couple of years, someone could have waved them off….
#24 by Michael B on 11.09.07 9:33 am |
Does anyone else feel like the Rays new unis make them look like a minor league affiliate of the Yankees???
#25 by todd krevanchi on 11.09.07 9:33 am |
there are no regulations on internet hazing, is there?
#26 by John on 11.09.07 9:38 am |
The new official nickname of the “Rays” is the “Gays”. That logo is terrible and looks like it is trying waaaay too hard to be “happy”! Someone with photoshop skills could easily convert that logo to Gays. I’m guessing that it will be on here by the end of the day!
#27 by scott on 11.09.07 9:39 am |
So MLB mandates helmet wearing for coaches, even though a helmet would have done nothing to save Coolbaugh’s life? Talk about an overreaction.
#28 by Mike on 11.09.07 9:41 am |
Well that would be just stupid and immature.
I’m straight, by the way.
#29 by Andy--01 on 11.09.07 9:41 am |
It’s a small pick, but the stripes on Mangino’s Addidas shoes are hard to miss.
This shot was taken at the Fort Worth Bowl in Dec. 2005.
#30 by Charlie on 11.09.07 9:44 am |
as a follow-up to Western Pa football there’s a big game tonight:
Jeanette and Terrelle Pryor (10-0) are facing Steelers Chairman Dan Rooney’s grandson and Shady Side Academy (9-1) in a playoff game. Wish I was home…i’d go check that out!
#31 by Charlie on 11.09.07 9:44 am |
sorry…here’s the link
#32 by Charlie on 11.09.07 9:45 am |
ok…i’m failing today
http://www.post-gaze...
#33 by Tony on 11.09.07 9:46 am |
Devil Rays to Rays…Eh eh eh!
Color, color, color where is the color? Where is the originality? The team logo looks good, but it did not translate to the uniform. Has anyone noticed the Rays new uniforms look a lot like the Blue Jays? Rays vs Jays, there is a matchup. Maybe on the same day you will have the Astros vs D-Backs.
We can make new retro looking baseball stadiums with a modern touch that look different from each other, why can’t we do the same for uniforms? Back in the day, not one team looked like another. Uniforms had style, they had simplicity, and all that with a smaller color pallet. Now a days, with computers that can produce millions of new colors, and Hi-Def televisions to show off those colors, we have a lot of teams that look like each other.
Don’t even get me started with 99% of baseball teams using gray for their the away uniforms.
Come on baseball, get with it!!!
#34 by keith on 11.09.07 9:46 am |
Y’know what? I like the Rays home jersey a lot better now that I see it in pictures. The shadowing detail pops the wordmark a lot better, though the Cap logo could be a little more. . .appealing? exciting? And the road jerseys should display the city name, not the team name. They could have done more, but I like that they went with a clean, simple approach. And at least they’re not Civil Rights Game jerseys.
#35 by al on 11.09.07 9:47 am |
Boooo for the Rays … they could have just changed their name and gone with this: http://shop.mlb.com/...
#36 by mg12 on 11.09.07 9:53 am |
As a KU alumni I feel much less intelligent after seeing so many images of Mizzou today.
I have to agree with Andy–01. The picture of Mangino was from 2004, but it was the last year that KU football was outfitted in Nike. You can see that Mangino and his staff are all wearing dark navy, just like the KU uniforms from that year. When KU switched to Adidas for the 2005 season they also modified the blue color that was used. The blue used with Adidas KU jerseys was much lighter. Just as the jersey color was lightened, so were the jackets, sweaters and even Mangino’s patented tent-like vests that the KU staff wore.
#37 by Kenny on 11.09.07 9:53 am |
There are some unis that look good only on the fast guys and there are some that look good on the fat guys
These look good on nobody
And L’ville (stupid by the way put UL or something) - you are the Cardinals. Yes there is black, but it is not a dominant color - i’m just sayin
#38 by Bryan Redemske on 11.09.07 9:54 am |
NCAA rules say you can only have color on the front and back covers, as well as on the inside of the front and back covers. That’s it.
Sir, Mr. Lukas doesn’t like coffee. I mailed him a Diet Coke yesterday, though.
And thanks. Glad to be here.
#39 by John on 11.09.07 9:56 am |
gay /geɪ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[gey] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation adjective, -er, -est, noun, adverb
–adjective 1. having or showing a merry, lively mood: gay spirits; gay music.
2. bright or showy: gay colors; gay ornaments.
#40 by College Kid on 11.09.07 9:57 am |
RE: Protective headwear for base coaches.
I’m for it. Something simple won’t detract from the game. In 1907 the first batting helmet was created after people were hit in the head (not killed, but injured) but were not mandatory in MLB until 1971. This was only after many years of many players being hospitalized from pitches to the head. Only one baseball player died directly as a result of being hit in the head (in 1920). I’m sure the batting helmet was despised and hated when first made mandatory as well, but 36 years later and you can’t begin to imagine what the game would be like without batting helmets.
#41 by Joemanji on 11.09.07 9:57 am |
No “Tampa Bay” on either road or home- they’re moving within the next few years. I’d put money on it. And did they get rid of the vest? It sort of seems like they’re attempting to emulate the Yankees unis (without the pinstripes). There are more Yankee fans in the Tampa area than Rays fans, so it’d sort of make sense?
#42 by dm00n on 11.09.07 9:59 am |
Heh, rumors are swirling that Georgia has black jerseys for this weekend.
#43 by Rick on 11.09.07 10:01 am |
Not uni related, but sports related, and odd….
http://sports.espn.g...
#44 by dm00n on 11.09.07 10:02 am |
Hey, if anyone is in Pittsburgh, stop by and check this out:
If you read the article, it sounds like there will be tons of good stuff there.
#45 by al on 11.09.07 10:03 am |
Amen ! That picture is my new desktop background. Ol’ No. 7 was the Butkus of his time! I wish I could locate this type of football jersey, so much better than the bloated ones available to the public now. if anyone knows a decent site to find these please give a shout out.
#46 by Johnny O on 11.09.07 10:06 am |
Does anyone know if the Golden Gophers will have special uniforms for next weeks boarder battle against Wisconsin? I had heard on here a few months ago they might go all maroon? Or will they go with the urine soaked unis again?
#47 by al on 11.09.07 10:06 am |
I don’t think you’ll see that happen as this site is a PC zone. Try elsewhere.
#48 by dm00n on 11.09.07 10:08 am |
Besides losing the names on their jerseys, Colorado has banned headbands.
#49 by Stuby on 11.09.07 10:10 am |
If the “Rays” were going to recycle another team’s unis, they should have gone with these. That would’ve been cool and distinct.
#50 by Eriq Jaffe on 11.09.07 10:13 am |
Maybe it’s just the photography, but the button placard on the Rays’ home jersey seems about 8 shades whiter than the surrounding jersey. The same effect can be seen on the road jerseys, but it’s not quite as pronounced.
#51 by Anthony Verna on 11.09.07 10:16 am |
I think the phenomenon of desktop publishing is not limited to these media guides.
I think it’s also in law. Speaking to older lawyers, they shake their heads about document discovery today and very long judicial opinions (just to name two issues that have become more complex more easily).
#52 by dm00n on 11.09.07 10:16 am |
The white fabric overlaps there. On the rest of the jersey the dark blue undershirt can be seen through the thin white jersey, darkening it some.
#53 by Rick on 11.09.07 10:16 am |
Minnesota shouldn’t even waste the money on different jerseys this year. They’ve been one of the biggest disgraces in college football this year. A record of 1-9 and loses to Bowling Green, North Dakota State, and Florida Atlantic, to name a few!
#54 by dm00n on 11.09.07 10:19 am |
Other Colorado basketball news:
#55 by Ian on 11.09.07 10:22 am |
Allegedly, Chase Daniel’s recruitment to Mizzou was partly due to the media guide. He said that he liked how it showed everything the players got, and how they did a great job showcasing the players and the program.
#56 by Tim on 11.09.07 10:22 am |
RE: High school uni combos.
I wish i could find the link, but Massillon (OH) Washington High School wore 9 different uni combinations a few years ago.
They had white, black and organge jerseys and white, black and orange pants…..that’s 9 different combos, they repeated a combo for their 10th and final game.
#57 by Mike on 11.09.07 10:24 am |
Well duh, obviously gay means that too. But do you really think that anyone that is gonna satirize the Ray’s jersey in that way is gonna be thinking of gay in the “happy” term?
#58 by Adam on 11.09.07 10:25 am |
I doubt it, since they apparently have a pretty iron-clad lease. And even if they were moving, I doubt that the lack of city on the uniform would have anything to do with it. If they ever did move, I’d bet they’d totally change the name, why would they want to be associated with the horrible past that franchise has had?
#59 by The Ol Goaler on 11.09.07 10:26 am |
Not uni-related, but I think I spotted an error on the floor of the “cage” basketball game… if memory serves, the “three-second” lane was only three feet wide “back in the day”, widening to a “jump circle” centered on the free-throw line. The result looked like an old-fashioned keyhole, and was called “The Key”. So a player standing directly in front of the basket beyond the free-throw circle (about 20 feet out) was said to be standing “at the top of the key”; a phrase I’ve heard used by broadcasters to this day!
The lane was widened with the advent of athletic “big” men; George Mikan of DePaul (and later the Lakers) being the most notable. The “cage” match shown today was played with a standard high school/college “lane”.
#60 by Ian on 11.09.07 10:28 am |
The high school I played for, Lake Highlands High School in Dallas TX, had more uniform combos than that. We had red white and black jerseys, two pairs of white pants, two pairs of silver pants, black pants, and red pants, and red white and black socks. thats a total of 54 possible uni combinations. That was 2003. I think they have added more possibilities to that now… so who knows how many they have now…
#61 by Kevin on 11.09.07 10:33 am |
Guys — really, really love the site. But is it really necessary to mock the new helmet rule? I’m sure Mike Coolbaugh’s widow and two sons wish the rule had been instituted years ago.
I know you’re just trying to make a joke — but I’ve seen this kind of sentiment elsewhere, and it’s baffling. When did protecting yourself (even if it’s just with a lined or hard cap) become something to be mocked?
#62 by Anthony Verna on 11.09.07 10:35 am |
You, sir, are 100% correct.
#63 by Kevin on 11.09.07 10:39 am |
I think it has to do with the fact that even with a helmet Coolbaugh wwould still have died. He was hit at the base of his skull and the helmet doesn’t protect that area.
#64 by Jeff on 11.09.07 10:42 am |
Hmm… not sure what happened to my post that had pics of Kansas Nike and non-Nike. As mentioned above they switched from Nike to Adidas sometime in 2005. That’s why the picture of Mangino is with the “coal miner’s blue” that was used on the football uniforms. The switch to Adidas lead to the NY Giant unis they have now.
The pictures showed the Nike basketball unis in the 04-05 season and the non Nike ones in the 05-06 season.
#65 by Kyle O. on 11.09.07 10:43 am |
I wonder f the Alaska Hockey team has so many different uniforms for laundry purposses. I would assume there are many long road trips where facilities might not be readily available. That would seem to be the only functional purpose of that many unis
#66 by Jonathan on 11.09.07 10:49 am |
I have to agree with Mike…kind of a tasteless attempt at humor with the new helmet rule. This isn’t babying base coaches, this is protecting their lives.
#67 by Chance on 11.09.07 10:51 am |
Bingo. It’s an empty gesture.
#68 by Kenny on 11.09.07 10:53 am |
I do enjoy the new TB hats though…but I kinda have a thing for navy hats
#69 by Frank Mercogliano on 11.09.07 10:55 am |
Regarding that media guide (which as someone who writes them, I do know about them), Bryan is right in the that they have to be black and white on the inside, although Division II can have color.
I was the contest coordinator for the CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America) publications contest, and in 2004, I ran the football one (Oklahoma was the big winner I believe). When those Missouri things showed up we just laughed…first of all, I couldn’t believe they had won the thing the year before, but the excess actually pissed me off. It is because of stupid things like that that we now have the 208-page rule, which is sort of asinine anyways because now you get crap pulled like at Texas A&M last year (and I love those guys….this was a basketball coaching thing), where they put out a 208-page “Media Guide” that is so full of nothing and is totally about recruiting, and then the print a more compact version of the guide with no cover, that is 188 pages and is on a keychain-type thing as “an addendum”. Way to get around the rule.
Anyways, that Missouri thing didn’t even finish top 40, and if I remember, Fresno State’s book was like 140 pages (tiny compared to the others) and finished like 11th.
Frank
#70 by Ian on 11.09.07 10:58 am |
I found the uni combos for LH this year… and its not complete because its only from 8 of the games…
red and white
white on white
white on black
red on black
I know for a fact that they have a black jersey hidden somewhere in the closet because its a tradition dating back to the 80s. Also the JV wore the red pants for some of their games see here so I know they have those too.
#71 by Kek on 11.09.07 11:00 am |
Regarding Gateway, i don’t think they’re taking any money away from other programs in the school. From what I gather it’s a great facility. Speaking of facility, check out their stadium: http://www.gatewayga...
yeah, it’s a pretty good year for HS football, even by the high standards of western PA. Pryor is the #1 recruit in the country. Lots of good games this year.
i live in west mifflin and two of the teams featured in those gateway slides (Norwin and Mckeesport) are playing each other at the local stadium. they said on the news they are expecting a huge crowd so if you don’t need to drive near the field, don’t!
#72 by Cosmo Kramer on 11.09.07 11:08 am |
Good observation on the requirement of base coaches to wear helmets. Unfortunately, a helmet would not have saved Mike Coolbaugh’s life. He was struck in the neck,below the ear, causing a ruptured artery and ultimately, his tragic death.
Note:
http://sport.moldova...
The Pulaski County (Ark.) Coroner says Tulsa Drillers first base coach Mike Coolbaugh died from a ruptured artery that caused a loss of blood to his brain.
He was struck in the left side of the neck below his ear by a line drive during Sunday’s game against Arkansas. The force of the blow caused an artery to burst.
Baseball should require a suit of armor if they want to prevent such tragedies…
#73 by tim on 11.09.07 11:11 am |
love the rays jerseys..very classic
#74 by Josh on 11.09.07 11:16 am |
The Rays are not moving. They are locked into a lease. They took out Tampabay on the jerseys because Stenberg wants the entire central florida area to identify with the team. It is a marketing strategy. Not one I am a fan of, but one none the less.
#75 by Jason Axel on 11.09.07 11:18 am |
Article from the (Devil) Rays website about how the committe that made the uniforms loves them…including their work with MLB about making sure their design and color scheme were “unique” in baseball. Zzzzzzzzzzz
#76 by Wes Covington on 11.09.07 11:22 am |
So what does the nature of Mike Coolbaugh’s death have to do with whether or not a base coach should wear protective headgear?
The helmets will provide a modicum of protection as opposed to what they have now. Which is none.
Baseball knows it can’t come up with a foolproof plan that will protect against every injury, but there are at least some kinds they know they can avoid. And to say that coaches shouldn’t wear a helmet because it isn’t sartorially correct is akin to people who don’t wear seat belts in cars because they wrinkle their clothes.
#77 by John on 11.09.07 11:25 am |
Everyone says there state has the greatest high school football. But nothing can compare with western PA. Its just not football if your in the playoffs and it isnt 30 degrees. Rivalries run so deep that you hate people that went to that school fifteen years after you graduated just because it has always been that way. When you walk off the field with tears of happiness (or frustration) freezing to your face you know you have played western pennsylvania high school football.
#78 by David Potter on 11.09.07 11:27 am |
“Coolbaugh was struck in the neck by a line drive during a minor league game.” So how does wearing a helmet make a difference…he still would have died. Pay attention
#79 by jere on 11.09.07 11:30 am |
I agree with what you’re saying about the uniforms, but I’ve been sick of these stadiums for years now. I call them “the new cookie cutters.” In the 60s/70s, the “new” stadiums they were building were thought to be cool, too. That’s why every team started copying them. It took a while before they realized the mistake they’d made.
Let’s just say if Camden Yards was the Ramones, the new Oakland A’s field is even worse than Green Day–more like Blink-182. (Are we still making fun of them? If not, insert 2007’s top pop-punk-for-kids band.) As much as I like old-style parks (I am a Red Sox fan, after all), I’m just waiting for a team to break this new mold everybody seems to be locked into.
#80 by TOG on 11.09.07 11:32 am |
Article from the (Devil) Rays website about how the committe that made the uniforms loves them…including their work with MLB about making sure their design and color scheme were “unique” in baseball. Zzzzzzzzzzz
Yeah, say “Rays” to me and I think navy blue?
Rays conjures a lot of great bright color options yellow, gold, orange complimented by royal blue, sky blue, etc.
And Tropicana Field, the dark gross domed abyss that it is could be re-energized by some bright, hot color palette.
Instead we get the San Diego Padres (sans khaki)?
Too bad. Bland is NOT beautiful.
And man you should have seen the outtakes. Sweet.
Oh well. Design Committees = Boredom.
#81 by Ronnie Poore on 11.09.07 11:32 am |
regarding those Pepperdine practice unis…who came up with their wordmark? looks like it should be read “PEPPER)INE”
#82 by Andy on 11.09.07 11:39 am |
Did anyone notice how multiple Chicago Fire players were wearing Under Armour under their jerseys last night? Does that violate Adidas’ contract with MLS? This isn’t the best photo ever:
http://web.mlsnet.co...
#83 by Bill on 11.09.07 11:41 am |
My roommate at Mizzou played football. While he had a lot of the shirts/pants/jackets that were in the media guide, he said he probably had about 1/5 of what was featured in the media guide.
On a sidenote, Mizzou plays a “Gold Rush” and a “Blackout” game every year. For the past 3 years I’ve heard rumors that MU was going to come out wearing All-Gold unis for the “Gold Rush” game. My roommate told me last year they were fitted for new jerseys after their original fitting in the off-season apparently for the purpose of an All-Gold uniform. He says they never received the jerseys for whatever reason.
#84 by Shaftman on 11.09.07 11:43 am |
re: Ray’s Uni’s
The new uni’s are not ugly. They are boring in the sense that much more could be done with them. I just don’t understand change for the sake of change. IMHO the (now) defunct uni’s represented the most underappreciated design in the majors. They were sweeeet and there was no reason to make an “upgrade”. I’m sure they could have shortened the team name and still kept the previous template (my apologies for the size).
Methinks that it might have had something to do with increasing revenue.
#85 by Ed R. on 11.09.07 11:50 am |
My cousin took me to that museum last time I was in Pittsburgh. Definitely some interesting uni-related items including lots of high school football helmets.
#86 by Moose on 11.09.07 11:52 am |
While I agree in some respects, didn’t Coolbaugh get hit in the face and not the head? Would a helmet have made a difference in that situation?
#87 by Rick on 11.09.07 11:53 am |
I haven’t seen this mentioned, but Don Mattingly will be wearing #8 next year for the Dodgers. He obviously wanted #23, but Derek Lowe currently has that number. He said he chose number 8 to honor Yogi Berra…..
#88 by Adam on 11.09.07 11:54 am |
The thing is, even though the helmet wouldn’t have helped him, this made people realize “wow, coaches can get hit in the head by a ball”. Once they realized that, they wanted to do something about it. Why wait until somebody IS hit in the head? Will people change their minds if some coach is hit in the helmet in the next few years?
#89 by Pat on 11.09.07 11:58 am |
I have mixed feelings about the Rays new uniforms. On one hand, there isn’t enough going on. But on the other hand, it’s nice that there isn;t much going on. The road grays really bug me. Something about a darkish gray with navy blue as the other predominant color just screams blah. I may have gone with a secondary logo for the grays that is heavy on the light blue color and was just 1 or 2 letters (TB maybe) or was a small graphic symbol (something with that sunburst or the ray itself) and put it on the left chest of the jersey.
The biggest problem I have with the jerseys however, is a problem they had with these. I can’t stand the way the buttons go right through the middle of the ‘A’. And the same thing is happening with the new jerseys. Problem with that is obvious. It doesn’t result in a repeating leter, like with the Phillies or the Diamondbacks but still looks dumb. To me, a the seam for the buttons should not interrupt your logo or wordmark. It should be split letters like the Red Sox have or should have the logo on the chest like the yankees and tigers have.
I feel like this could have been fixed on the new Rays jerseys and they failed to do so.
#90 by Cy on 11.09.07 12:03 pm |
You should indeed be ashamed.
You should be ashamed that you don’t know the history of your school’s football team. The Mountaineers used to wear the gold-on-gold regularly for big games throughout their history. (this would be back in the pre-Flying WV days) (yes, there were pre-Flying WV days)
#91 by Big L on 11.09.07 12:04 pm |
Basketball cage match?! Awesome! Too bad it The Malice in the Palace couldn’t take advantage of that throwback
#92 by Perry on 11.09.07 12:05 pm |
I think after 130+ years of professional baseball, people knew coaches could be hit. This is purely an empty PR move to fix a problem that doesn’t exist.
#93 by Adam on 11.09.07 12:13 pm |
I knew somebody would say something like this. Yes, obviously if people thought about it, they’d know coaches could be hit, but I’m sure nobody did. This forced people to think about it. I hardly think it’s a PR move - why would GMs care about the general public relations of major league baseball? I’m sure they just want to do everything they can within reason to make sure it doesn’t happen again. It’ll look weird for a few weeks and then everybody will get used to it, like happens with every change like this. If it saves one life 25 years from now, it was a good change.
#94 by Big L on 11.09.07 12:18 pm |
Helmets will help, but they won’t always provide 100% protection
#95 by Johnny O on 11.09.07 12:19 pm |
9 times out of 10 players in any league choose a number because they are honoring a former player, or someone they idolize. But my question is back in the day, why did certain athletes choose certain numbers? Or better yet most baseball players didn’t have a choice because their number was based on their batting position. I think it would be cool to compile a list of old school athletes and why they chose their numbers.
#96 by todd krevanchi on 11.09.07 12:21 pm |
a. anyway we can agree to disagree on the base coach helmet decision and how it relates to the coolbaugh death and move on?
b. “…is even worse than Green Day”
“1039…” and “kerplunk” are two great albums. green day will always be one of my fave all time bands.
c. “Everyone says there state has the greatest high school football. But nothing can compare with western PA. Its just not football if your in the playoffs and it isnt 30 degrees. Rivalries run so deep that you hate people that went to that school fifteen years after you graduated just because it has always been that way. When you walk off the field with tears of happiness (or frustration) freezing to your face you know you have played western pennsylvania high school football.”
its the same way here on the eastern side of pa too. and im sure its like that in ohio, florida, texas, california and any other state with a “big high school football” reputation.
#97 by Stan aka the took on 11.09.07 12:29 pm |
My mission for today is to run out and get a devils rays hat before they take them off the shelves completely.
The Rays look exactly like my old high school team. We’re the John Bowne Wildcats and our unis we’re pretty close to what the Rays have for at least the 3 seasons I was on the team.
Now we can say that that the uniforms are just as bad as the players wearing them (save for a very select few)… that’s the circle of life as the monkey in the lion king would say.
#98 by Bob Nolte on 11.09.07 12:37 pm |
From that Site…
Adam’s comment is:
First the Diamondbacks now the Devil Rays. If the Rockies change to the ubiquitous red or blue there will be no more purple or teal, people are no fun anymore.
I don’t think he was joking…
#99 by Chris in Nashville on 11.09.07 12:38 pm |
Here is what Georgia should look like tomorrow against Auburn.
http://bp3.blogger.c...
#100 by Chris in Nashville on 11.09.07 12:39 pm |
Here is what Georgia should look like tomorrow…
#101 by Chris in Nashville on 11.09.07 12:39 pm |
#102 by Chris in Nashville on 11.09.07 12:40 pm |
http://bp3.blogger.c...
#103 by Chris in Nashville on 11.09.07 12:42 pm |
Here’s another Georgia pic
http://docgoku.com/f...
#104 by Joemanji on 11.09.07 12:43 pm |
Good thing they changed their name to the Rays to represent the Sunshine State- considering they play in a DOME! It must be difficult to play for a team that God hates.
#105 by dm00n on 11.09.07 12:44 pm |
When I played we had a dark jersey, a light jersey, a practice jersey, game pants and practice pants.
I don’t know how old our uniforms were, but our JV squad wore uniforms that my cousin wore as a varsity player 12 years before.
Shortly afterwards my school changed their uniform colors. We had white pants with red and blue stripes and red and white jerseys. Our helmets were white with red stripes and a red block B. The next time I saw the team they had a blue helmet, blue pants and blue jerseys.