Arizona shows off new football uniforms for 2013

The Arizona Wildcats will have quite the wardrobe this 2013 season. If you have been paying attention to Arizona over the past year, you will recognize all of the new looks, for better or worse. The all-red look returns in 2013 with a red jersey-pants-helmet combo and the copper-colored helmet also makes a return for the upcoming season.

If you remember, I loved the addition of the copper helmet, a tribute to the copper tradition in the state. While the history and tradition angle was nice, they looked sharp. I think the same when I see it now, paired with the blue home uniform.

I was not as keen on the all-red look from the start, but I have grown on the red helmet slightly. It’s Arizona’s fourth best helmet (white, copper, blue, red) in my opinion, so hopefully we do not see it all too often in the fall. I still prefer the white helmet for regular use but the bue helmet looks great with Arizona’s red jersey and blue pants combo.

One new feature of the uniforms is the coloring of the numbers and sleeves, which fade from blue to red, Arizona’s colors.

“The updated jerseys feature ombre jersey numbers in the school’s traditional Cardinal, Navy and White. Nike has produced jerseys and pants in all three of those colors to suit various uniform combinations, complemented by Cardinal, Navy, White and Copper helmets,” an Arizona release says.

Honestly, I kind of like it and I think it works on all three jerseys. Have a look and see what you think.

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Images and video via Arizona Athletics.

Rumor: Ohio State to be part of special Nike presentation in Seattle

A couple of years ago I happened to be fortunate enough to attend a special Nike event held in New York City to display the Pro Combat uniforms to be worn that season by a handful of Nike sponsored football programs. It was a blast and it was a great opportunity to catch a first look at some great uniforms. Nike later showed off special bowl uniforms after the regular season in Dallas. Again, it was a fantastic opportunity for me and I have been hoping to get a chance to take part in another Nike event.

To my knowledge there were no college football-themed events last season, as Nike was focusing their energy on taking over the entire NFL uniform assignment, but this year I was hoping there would be some sort of college football event. It appears that might be the case.

On Monday afternoon or early evening Land-Grant Holy Land, an Ohio State blog on the SB Nation network, shared one of the best highlight videos I have seen in some time (shared below). In the description of the video it was said to be used for Ohio State’s Nike presentation in Seattle. There’s just one thing: There has been no presentation in Seattle that anyone seems to be aware of. The video was also pulled quickly from YouTube (but it has resurfaced thanks to the miracle of the Internet and its users), suggesting it was not for the public to see just yet. Either that or it was a strategic move to generate interest in a potential event to be scheduled.

Ohio State has worn a specially designed Pro Combat uniform by Nike since 2009. Here are the 2011 uniforms (much nicer than the Internet fake ones). The Buckeyes are one of the top programs on Nike’s roster, so it would not be a surprise to see the Buckeyes get a special uniform for the 2013 season once again. Mix in the idea that the Buckeyes could be a national title contender and there is plenty of room for hype to build off of.

Putting the pieces put together would seem to indicate there will be some sort of uniform event again prior to the 2013 college football season. I am contacting Nike to see if I can find out anything about this. For now, let’s watch the Ohio State video that got all of this buzz started.

A closer look at Florida Atlantic’s new helmet options

Photo via Sun Sentinel

Last week on Crystal Ball Run I shared with readers the news that Florida Atlantic was asking fans to vote on five different helmet options for the 2013 season. The idea, to me, seemed like a great idea to get fans involved at the annual spring game at a time when a program like Florida Atlantic may struggle to stay in the mindset of college football fans.

Now, we have a look at each of the helmets up fr consideration. You can view them each in the slide show attached by clicking on any photo to get started. I would lend my support for the matte gray helmet with logo on one side and uniform number on the other. But the truth is I still prefer the previous helmet over any of these options. Perhaps if FAU could keep that old helmet logo design instead of the new, updated one I could hop on board with a little more satisfaction.

All photos are via Sun Sentinel.

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UConn’s new helmets aren’t scaring anybody

Poor UConn. First you get left out of the realignment circus, never to receive an invite from the coveted ACC. Meanwhile you see conference rivals Rutgers, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and Louisville all get invites to bigger and better conferences, leaving you with Temple, after you were also abandoned by the rest of your main basketball rivals from Villanova, St. John’s and Georgetown and more.

With being left behind in so many ways, it makes sense you would want to rebrand your school and athletics program right now. In fact, I applaud the decision to give it a shot. And when I got a chance to review your new football uniforms I was ready to give you a thumbs up for an updated look that remains respectably clean and keeps from being an eye sore.

Then I saw the helmets…

Photo via UConn Athletics

Really UConn, what was the idea behind this? To be different? OK. I get that. You want to line up against your opponents and have them staring right in to the eyes of your husky. The only problem is, it is so silly looking that all of your football players are going to look like a joke now. You may not quite be up to Maryland state pride levels of ridiculousness but you are pretty close with these new helmets.

But hey, you found a way to get us all talking about UConn football on April 18 and that must mean something, right? After all, that is the only possible reason somebody could have thought this was a good idea. Just admit to that, nobody is going to be fooled if you suggest otherwise.

The helmet comes in a white version as well. Check them out, side-by-side.

Arizona State adding some new helmets in 2013?

Photo evidence might suggest that Arizona State is going to be adding at least one new helmet to the uniform mix this season. The new additions appear to include a white helmet and a maroon one with the previously updated pitchfork design on the side.

HT: UniWatch