Saturday, January 12, 2019

Boston College (2018); UNH (2018); Yale (2018)

Let's tear through some more 2018 uniforms, shall we?


Boston College (7-5 overall, 4-4 ACC) had another respectable year in a tough conference. The Eagles also had some blasts from the past: Two of their wins came against long-ago rivals UMass and Holy Cross, and they also debuted a 1980s throwback alternate. (And if I hear anyone whining about how the originals had no BC logo on the shoulders, they'll have to watch the Mad Fisherman marathon on NESN next Christmas, 'K?) The "Bandana Man" alternate was used for this the straight season. The Eagles reached the First Responder Bowl in Dallas ... which was cancelled by lightning after seven minutes. Sigh.

Fly like a eagle with these BC unis: 20172016201520142013200720001995-9619941989-90198419821978-801968-77, 1962-631958-60, 19571955-561950-5219391935-38, Rivalry Week (w/Holy Cross).


Well, it had to end eventually, right? New Hampshire  (4-7 overall, 3-5 CAA) saw its run of 14 straight NCAA FCS playoff berths and seven consecutive Brice-Cowell musket wins over Maine come to a crashing halt. The seven losses matched the number of combinations the Wildcats wore, which included a slightly altered road jersey with traditional-looking numbers. 

Stay Granite Strong with these Wildcat uniforms: 2017, 2016201520142010-1320001998,  1979-831976-7719751968-71 (part 1) (part 2)1966-671965 195519501947-4819381936. Rivalry Week: Maine-UNH.


One year after winning the Ivy League title, Yale (5-5 overall, 3-4 Ivy) also came down to earth. The Bulldogs, as usual, receive a KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid!) award for using only two combos. One small addition was made: A memorial patch for legendary coach Carm Cozza, who died shortly after the 2017 season.

More Yale uniforms that'll make any Bulldog salivate: 201720162015201420132006-111997-981994, 19961979-8219781974-771972-731967-6819651959-601954-58,  1949-53, 1934-361930. Rivalry Week: Harvard-Yale. 


Tuesday, January 1, 2019

Rhode Island (2018), UConn (2018), UMass (2018)

Let's celebrate the New Year by knocking off a few more 2018 uniforms, shall we?


Longtime punching bag Rhode Island (6-5 overall, 4-4 CAA) achieved its first winning season since 2001, and even cracked the FCS Top 25 polls for several weeks. The Rams kept the same uniform formula they've had the last few seasons, mixing and matching three different jerseys and three different pants. I wouldn't mind seeing the navy jerseys and pants fade away, though (those are Maine colors, ya know).

Ram on with more Rhody unis: 201720162015201420132003-071997-991983-921976-821967-7119661963-6519621957-6119511947-501936-39. Rivalry Week: UConn-Rhody.


First, the good news from UConn (1-11, 0-8 American): Once-and-again coach Randy Edsall brought back the big "C" helmet from the 2000s glory days, something he had dropped some no-so-subtle hints about doing for a while upon his return to Storrs. The bad news: The Huskies fielded unquestionably their worst team since joining the then-Big East in 2003. The quote this AP story: "The Huskies this season gave up the most yards (7,409), yards per game (617.4), points (605) and points per game (50.41) of any major college football team in NCAA history." And they had almost as many uni combos as points allowed, as you can see above. The Huskies' only win was over old Ramnapping Trophy rival Rhode Island.

More UConn unis for the Huskymanicas: 201720162015201420132003 (Inside the Jersey)20021989-931984-881971-7219701966-6719651958-601957195119501948-491934Rivalry Week: UConn-Rhode Island. 


And that brings us to UMass (4-8 as a independent), in its seventh season of impersonating an FBS program. Seriously, would either UConn or UMass have won the CAA this year? The Minutemen kept the same basic elements as in years past, and turned to the 1990s for its Homecoming throwback helmet (hopefully, that remains a tradition in Amherst). But UMass has a new, youngish coach, so the Minutemen might get the last laugh yet ...

Much, much more from UMass: 201720162015201420132000-021986-871978-841975-771974197319721966-681960-621953-541951-521938-391930. Tribute: Dick McPherson.