Thursday, January 18, 2018

Boston College (2017), UMass (2017), Yale (2017), New Hampshire (2017)

OK, it's been a while, so let's wrap up our review of 2017 uniforms. Because of other projects, my posts are likely going to be less frequent, at least until next season. But I still plan on posting little goodies to the Facebook page, and, well, there are plenty of archives to pore through here. So awayyyyy we go ...


Boston College (7-6 overall, 4-4 ACC, lost to Iowa in the Pinstripe Bowl) put names on the back of its jerseys for the first time since 2012; otherwise, everything stayed the same, right down to the bandana-man tribute alternate. 

Craving some more BC unis? Look right here: 2016201520142013200720001995-9619941989-90198419821978-801968-771958-60, 19571955-561950-521939, 1935-38, Rivalry Week (w/Holy Cross).


UMass (4-8 in the cold, lonely world of the independents) added a couple of trick plays to its ensemble: A kick-arse 1972 throwback helmet to honor that season's Boardwalk Bowl team (discussed here), and an all-black Veteran's Day uniform worn at the Fenway Park game against Maine. (I was at the game, and good God, the fans were as drunk and uncouth as the weather was cold. I was walking back to my seat with a spiked hot chocolate and one drunken loudmouth yelled at me, "Hey, how do you like your overpriced COLD chocolate?" And he was a Maine fan!) The black jerseys all had "MINUTEMEN" on the back in lieu of names. I thought the black uniforms died with the Charley Molnar administration, but oh well. ...

Much, much more from UMass: 20162015201420132000-021986-871978-841975-771974197319721966-681960-621953-541951-521938-39, 1930. Tribute: Dick McPherson.


UNH (9-5 overall, 5-3 CAA, reached final eight of the NCAA FCS tournament) wins the Gridiron Garb Fashionista Prize for trotting out the most uniforms, with nine, ending Dartmouth's two-year reign at the top. (The all-time record: 2013 UMass, with 11 in 12 games.) Gray pants retuned after an absence of several years, and a blue alternate helmet was added with the vintage "NH" logo on one side (yay) and a uniform number on the other (boo ... I hate it when teams -- usually Nike teams -- do this).

One small observation from a jealous Maine fan: For all the talk of UNH's 14 straight NCAA playoff appearances and utter dominance of Maine (winning 15 of  their last 16 meetings), don't you think the Wildcats would like to trade a few of those tournaments and Brice-Cowell muskets for an NCAA title or two, considering they've never made it out of the final four during that stretch? 

There are plenty more Wildcat uniforms where this came from: 201520142010-1320001998,  1979-83, 1976-7719751968-71 (part 1) (part 2)1966-671965 195519501947-4819381936. Rivalry Week: Maine-UNH.


Yale (9-1 overall, 6-1 Ivy League, first Ivy title since 2006) wore only two uniforms (again), and gets the fourth and final KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) Award in addition to its Ivy crown. Which title do you think the Bulldogs cherish more?

More Yale uniforms that'll make any Bulldog salivate: 20162015201420132006-111997-981994, 19961979-8219781974-771972-731967-6819651959-601954-58,  1949-53, 1934-361930. Rivalry Week: Harvard-Yale. 

Monday, January 1, 2018

Rhode Island (2017), Sacred Heart (2017), UConn (2017)

The Parade O' 2017 Uniforms continues!


Rhode Island (3-8 overall, 2-6 CAA) revived its light gray camo pants after a one-year absence. My suggestion: The overall template is great (well, except for the camo pants), but ditch anything where navy blue is the primary color, which resembles CAA rival Maine too much. Change the helmet to white and/or light blue, make navy a trim color on the numbering and lettering and you have a winner.

Ram on with more Rhody unis: 20162015201420132003-071997-991983-921976-821967-7119661963-6519621957-6119511947-501936-39. Rivalry Week: UConn-Rhody.



Sacred Heart (4-7 overall, 2-4 NEC) modified its uniform across the board. The jerseys now bear a passing resemblance to Louisville, and the shirts and pants were given some odd striping. Also, the "SHU" on the helmet was given a nice sheen. The all-gray uniform, with last year's template, was used again. 

The Pioneers wore a special star-spangled 9/11 uniform, complete with blue numbers dotted with white stars. The "SHU" on the helmet was given the American flag treatment for the second straight year, and the look also was worn for one road game.

More Sacred Heart uniforms: 2016, 2015, 201420132008-12.


UConn (3-9 overall, 2-6 American Athletic Conference) retained its 2016 uniform under Randy Edsall in the first year of his second stint as Huskies coach. The all-gray uniform was ditched (yay!) as was the red facemarks UConn wore on occasion last year. Two years after wearing nine combos, only three were used in '17.

Going by his recent tweets, Edsall has all but said the 2003-12 "C" logo is returning next season. After seeing the clunky designs of the post-Edsall era (see links below), I approve.

UConn coach Randy Edsall recently tweeted this helmet,
featuring the classic 2003-12 "C." Here's hoping it sees game action in 2018.

More UConn unis for the Huskymanicas: 20162015201420132003 (Inside the Jersey)20021989-931984-881971-7219701966-6719651958-6019571951, 19501948-491934Rivalry Week: UConn-Rhode Island.