B1G Revisions

[TimEOBrien]

I don't think we have nothing to worry about.

Exactly.

[TimEOBrien]

Not many reactions to the Bucket Game so maybe the Land of Lincoln Game will get some feedback:

Illinois: The Illini host this year's Sweet Sioux Tomahawk game Land of Lincoln game, and they come onto (a) Memorial Stadium* wearing fauxbacks to a simpler time. Three simple stripes grace the shoulders and pants. A rounded version of the state name appears on the helmet (as opposed to "Illini" which has appeared on the lid in the past). Only blue and orange grace the uni (except the shoes), just like it was back in the day.

Northwestern: The Wildcats are also donning a fauxback of sorts. The white helmet is inspired by this helmet from NU history. The jersey is basically their current road uni with the addition of the 'N-Cat' logo while the pants are stripeless and give the 'Cats a sleek, clean look.

*With Nebraska now in the B1G, there are three Memorial Stadiums in the conference (U of I, IU and OU).

[nuordr]

I like the helmet on Illinois...it is a big improvement over their current set.

[RedSox44]

I like the helmet on Illinois...it is a big improvement over their current set.

Ditto. Love arched wordmarks on helmets for whatever reason.

[RedSox44]

Today I bring you the first of six (I think/hope) uniform matchups I'm calling The Rivalry Series. Today, I bring you a matchup close to my heart: IU vs. Purdue - The Battle for the Old Oaken Bucket.

Indiana: I bring back the much beloved candy-striped pants but pair them with (a variation of) their actual 2011 jersey. The helmet is logo-less and features candy-stripes much in the way Maryland featured the Maryland flag. Now, my image show that the compression shirt sleeves and the socks not matching, but that is because each individual player can either wear vertical or horizontal stripes (so long as they wear all matching). This allows for fun customization while still being 'uniform'.

EDIT: This is my own template - Let me know what you think.

Holy crap that Indiana uniform is gorgeous.

[TimEOBrien]

Not much love again, let's try The Heroes Game:

There isn't much history in this 'rivalry' game so I manufacture some from the uniforms:

Nebraska: As the home team, Nebraska comes out in a uniform that honors many of their best teams from their long, storied history. While the helmet design is the same as the one's they've worn since 1970, the red facemask harkens back to 1982. The jersey focuses on both those eras as well. The shoulder numbers are from the

while the sleeve 'N's are from the 1983 team.

The pants are from both eras but the red belt screams 1983. The black shoes and white socks go through many generations of Huskers.

Iowa: The Hawkeyes come into (a) Memorial Stadium wearing fauxbacks to their 1958 National Championship team. While Iowa has worn fauxbacks to this era before, they've never worn the road version of these before. That's a shame, because those were some beautious unis. The moving if the stripes from the sleeves to the shoulders is just for player continuity (no lost stripes due to lack of undershirt).

Also, the facemask is unapologetically black.

[speedy]

These type of templates really make it difficult to show the design - especially when there's shoulder/sleeve stripes. Just not a fan of it, when I do concepts I want them to be both visually appealing and easy to view. Just my 2 cents.

[thespleenenator]

These are incredible.... just.... wow. THIS is what we were talking about getting creative!

[vmd9]

Today I bring you the first of six (I think/hope) uniform matchups I'm calling The Rivalry Series. Today, I bring you a matchup close to my heart: IU vs. Purdue - The Battle for the Old Oaken Bucket.

Indiana: I bring back the much beloved candy-striped pants but pair them with (a variation of) their actual 2011 jersey. The helmet is logo-less and features candy-stripes much in the way Maryland featured the Maryland flag. Now, my image show that the compression shirt sleeves and the socks not matching, but that is because each individual player can either wear vertical or horizontal stripes (so long as they wear all matching). This allows for fun customization while still being 'uniform'.

EDIT: This is my own template - Let me know what you think.

Holy crap that Indiana uniform is gorgeous.

I like the idea, but helmet, socks, undershirt, and helmet stripes are little much. I'd say pick 2 and keep everything else red. Maybe helmet-pants? or helmet-socks? maybe you could try incorporating the stripes into the shoes too?

[TimEOBrien]

I like the idea, but helmet, socks, undershirt, and helmet stripes are little much. I'd say pick 2 and keep everything else red. Maybe helmet-pants? or helmet-socks? maybe you could try incorporating the stripes into the shoes too?

Yeah, fair. I'd probably go with something like this if I were ever in charge of IU's unis. Maybe add in a stripped undershirt. but pretty plain uni and helmet.

[TimEOBrien]

Today is the Battle for Paul Bunyan's Ax:

One of the Best rivalry trophies in all of sports deserves some great unis.

Wisconsin: The home team in 2011 comes out wearing something like nothing you've ever seen take the field at Camp Randall. The helmet is a variation of the current helmet that rids the flying W of it's unnecessary drop shaddow. This harkens back to most of Wisconsin's history, when the helmets were only white and red. The Jersey is simple yet completely original. The shoulders are adorned with stripes that will quickly remind any UW fan of Bucky Badger. While the pants are almost identical to their current set, the socks pick up on the Bucky Badger theme and run with it all the way to victory.

Minnesota: The Golden Gophers have a tough task winning in Camp Randall. This Fauxback set calls upon the predecessors of this Minnesota football squad to lead them back to the path of victory and BigTen supremacy. The undershirt features Goldy Gopher's double stripe (just like my other concepts) and gold become predominant to remind the team of their victorious and glorious past.

[Somppi]

Minn's jersey is the exact same as Iowa State basically...

[TimEOBrien]

Minn's jersey is the exact same as Iowa State basically...

While I understand where this comes from (obvi there are similarities), the fact is that ISU has only worn a yellow (or gold or whatever) lid once since 1994 (my source on that info can be found here). Also, my burgandy is much darker/richer/browner than the cardinal red the cyclones use.

But really many schools wear stripes like those on the helmet and UCLA stripes on their shoulders all the time. These Minnesota unis are pretty close to LSU's unis too, but I don't think that should negate the fact that they're closest to these.

[TimEOBrien]

Today we review a trophy game that won't be played every year, The Land Grant Game:

Penn State: The home team for this game will march into Happy Valley with a uniform that will be very recognizable to it's fans and opponents. While there are some design changes (many of them have a fauxback feel) the biggest difference may be the color on the uniform. The Blue on these unis are more royal blue than the current navy blue unis the Nittany Lions currently wear. This is a throwback to an earlier era. Combine that with helmet numbers, the return of white jersey accents and a singular, thin blue stripe on the pants and Penn State has a modern update of a classic uniform.

Michigan State: The Spartans recently unveiled a new Nike Pro Combat uniform for 2011. However, I disagree with Nike's use of Bronze and Black on MSU's uniforms, particularly since MSU is named after a group of people who are famous for wearing red. But Michigan State's colors are green and white and as such, those are the only colors I use on this uni. The shoulders of jersey pop thanks to a green field that adorns them which flows nicely into the optional green compression with an updated version of MSU's 'S' logo. While the jersey numbers revert to a more traditional font, the university mark is updated to match the 'S' logo font. Thick white stripes grace both the helmet, pants and socks and help unify this uniform.

[TimEOBrien]

Come on, I got more comments when everyone was : :ting on me for not doing enough original stuff, now that I am the peanut gallery is silent? C&C, please.

[thespleenenator]

You're doing great stuff. Controversy calls for comments. As unfortunate as that is, it's true. People like telling people they suck, not how good they are. It's a psychological thing.

Anyway, I think PSU's are absolutely perfect, but Michigan State seem a bit uninspired. You should at least give them their font back.

[TimEOBrien]

but Michigan State seem a bit uninspired.

Fair point, but I just felt a bit guilty because I may have been one of the first people to put MSU in a bronze helmet. It was a request, I swear!

[drdougfresh]

but Michigan State seem a bit uninspired.

Fair point, but I just felt a bit guilty because I may have been one of the first people to put MSU in a bronze helmet. It was a request, I swear!

That bronze concept should be burned. OMG, my eyes.

As far as your current MSU look, I agree-- it's uninspired. Bronze is not a color that I associate with the college, but they added it for a reason. I feel like there's no real reasoning behind MSU. Working with two colors is hard, believe me, it's why I rarely do anything for some of my favorite teams (Red Wings, MSU), but that's where subtle touches like our new number font come in. Those are amplified on top of a simple look-- making something seemingly irrelevant mean much more.

[thespleenenator]

but Michigan State seem a bit uninspired.

Fair point, but I just felt a bit guilty because I may have been one of the first people to put MSU in a bronze helmet. It was a request, I swear!

That concept should've been their pro combat this year. Just replace the red with either green or white.

[TimEOBrien]

but that's where subtle touches like our new number font come in. Those are amplified on top of a simple look-- making something seemingly irrelevant mean much more.

See, I don't think that number font is any good - though I guess I don't really have a problem with the use of it on the 'Michigan State' wordmark. To me those little indent thingies don't signify anything (like say a beveled font denotes 'monumentality' if that's a word, or an italics font denotes speed) AND they make the number less legible, which is the only thing a font can't do on a uniform. Maybe I could go with something a bit more original than a varsity font (although there are many varsity fonts but almost all the 8s look exactly alike) but I just think the current MSU number font breaks the one rule it shouldn't, legibility.

That concept should've been their pro combat this year. Just replace the red with either green or white.

Well, the guy requesting it wanted a '300' feel to it (if you look at the player's left side, you will see the red drapes down the back of the uni like a cape would) but yea, I agree that the main colors should be green or white.