(11-25-2013 01:21 PM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(11-25-2013 10:59 AM)Barrett Wrote:  For alternate uniforms (not counting throwback uniforms), I'd go with a kit dominated by gray, with blue and white as the accent colors. The helmets would be blue and designed to look like the head of an owl. So a mean-looking eye (yes, in yellow) on each side of the helmet, gray lines to look like the feathers, etc. I'm probably the only one who would like this design . . .

Nope - I'm on board.

In my mind, I was thinking of a G-Force/Battle of the Planets type thing going on.

(11-25-2013 07:59 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(11-25-2013 07:10 PM)johncatworth Wrote:  I like the idea of Rice bringing out something unique for the bowl game - I like the idea of a dark Gray jersey or a gray matte helmet but probably not both (although in Virginia's case in 2011 it didn't bring any mojo with it)

The game which may have our largest TV audience of the year, at which many viewers will be seeing and perhaps hearing of Rice for the very first time, seems like exactly the WRONG occasion to trot out a transitory and ephemeral look that was not there before and will not be there after.

Again, all this talk of special editions might make sense if we had a strong theme to vary from -- but we don't. When Notre Dame trots out a special uniform, people say "Check out that special edition Notre Dame uniform." But as of now, Rice barely has a brand at all. If we sport some special edition, people will not say "Check out that special edition of the Rice uniform." They will say, "Wow, I didn't know that's what Rice's uniforms looked like. I kinda thought their main color was blue, but I guess I was wrong. Whatever."

That is not the result we want. We need to seize our few high-exposure games as opportunities to build the brand in the first place, not as opportunities to tinker and fuss with the brand we barely have.

I respect your logic, George, but totally disagree with your conclusion.

While I personally don't see anything wrong with our current uniforms, there's absolutely nothing about them that would make the casual viewer go, "Wow. That looks cool. Who are those guys?" Different draws attention, even if you aren't 100% sure what about it is different.

Fairly early in the season this year, I was flipping through channels and stumbled across a Miami (OH) game. Their uniforms were unusual (I kinda liked them, even though most people don't) so I stuck around to watch the rest of the game. Ever since, I've made sure to check their score on Saturdays because I got a little more familiar with them. (They are still currently winless.)

The fact is, right now the CFB world can't get enough of new or special uniforms. Do you not remember the fair amount of attention we got just for swapping out the white R on the helmets for the stars and stripes one at the AFB last year? I'll be the first to admit that it's a gimmick, but it's one that tends to work.

The problem with the wings on the helmet was that I heard "did Rice just copy the Philadelphia Eagles helmet?" The OER is unique to Rice. I like the idea of using the throwback helmets (with the uniform #) once per season.

(11-25-2013 02:50 PM)I45owl Wrote:  

(11-25-2013 01:56 PM)GoodOwl Wrote:  That's K.C & the Sunshine BAND

ack. I went from KC and the Gang, to add Sunshine once I went off looking for images. Does anyone else remember the sparkly multi-color mirror stickers?

No, but I was probably sober

(11-25-2013 08:52 PM)RiceFight Wrote:  

(11-25-2013 07:59 PM)georgewebb Wrote:  

(11-25-2013 07:10 PM)johncatworth Wrote:  I like the idea of Rice bringing out something unique for the bowl game - I like the idea of a dark Gray jersey or a gray matte helmet but probably not both (although in Virginia's case in 2011 it didn't bring any mojo with it)

The game which may have our largest TV audience of the year, at which many viewers will be seeing and perhaps hearing of Rice for the very first time, seems like exactly the WRONG occasion to trot out a transitory and ephemeral look that was not there before and will not be there after.

Again, all this talk of special editions might make sense if we had a strong theme to vary from -- but we don't. When Notre Dame trots out a special uniform, people say "Check out that special edition Notre Dame uniform." But as of now, Rice barely has a brand at all. If we sport some special edition, people will not say "Check out that special edition of the Rice uniform." They will say, "Wow, I didn't know that's what Rice's uniforms looked like. I kinda thought their main color was blue, but I guess I was wrong. Whatever."

That is not the result we want. We need to seize our few high-exposure games as opportunities to build the brand in the first place, not as opportunities to tinker and fuss with the brand we barely have.

I respect your logic, George, but totally disagree with your conclusion.

While I personally don't see anything wrong with our current uniforms, there's absolutely nothing about them that would make the casual viewer go, "Wow. That looks cool. Who are those guys?" Different draws attention, even if you aren't 100% sure what about it is different.

Fairly early in the season this year, I was flipping through channels and stumbled across a Miami (OH) game. Their uniforms were unusual (I kinda liked them, even though most people don't) so I stuck around to watch the rest of the game. Ever since, I've made sure to check their score on Saturdays because I got a little more familiar with them. (They are still currently winless.)

The fact is, right now the CFB world can't get enough of new or special uniforms. Do you not remember the fair amount of attention we got just for swapping out the white R on the helmets for the stars and stripes one at the AFB last year? I'll be the first to admit that it's a gimmick, but it's one that tends to work.

I agree that it is the trendy thing in CFB - casual fans will tune in to see what the ducks are wearing...that said, the most important thing to build a 'brand' is to consistently win football games - BU under Briles, K St under Snyder, etc. Winning gets you noticed. But something unique in the uni department probably doesn't hurt...even the stars and stripes OER at the AFB (which would work again in the Military Bowl). Since the thread started with a baseball reference, I will add that the Washington Nationals have a uni with a stars and stripes curly W that they roll out on the 4th and a couple of other days - looks sharp.

Sticking to the base blue uniforms and the OER, even if we dress it up with flags or pink or whatever else we are commemorating/honoring/calling attention to, still builds that uniform recognition and OER trademark recognition that we want and need while being fun for the fan. In fact, dressing up the OER with the different color patterns enhances and expands the scope of the trademark protectibility!

(11-25-2013 08:52 PM)RiceFight Wrote:  ...While I personally don't see anything wrong with our current uniforms, there's absolutely nothing about them that would make the casual viewer go, "Wow. That looks cool. Who are those guys?" Different draws attention, even if you aren't 100% sure what about it is different...

To counter your anecdote, I will say that I've never watched a football game just because the uniforms were interesting. I might remark on a uniform that is particularly hideous when ESPN is showing highlights, but then I move on.

The special edition uniform thing is completely overused at this point anyway. It's tired. It's worn out. If we want to make people go "wow" we need to do something that actually is new--or we need to play exceedingly fine football the next time we get a prime broadcast slot.

Keep the OE R, just about everything else is up for change at times as far as i"m concerned

I like the solid helmet, but I'm okay with even going wild every so often... a la navy and air force's special helmets or Maryland or the GA one above... wings on the shoulders... wings coming out of the R... the shield stippled on the shoulders.

The R is our brand. It doesn't matter if it is on a baseball uniform or helmet or basketball shorts or soccer jersey or a watch or blanket or polo or car or flag or notebook

It is Georgia's G, Duke's D, Stanford's S, UT's horns, BU or UH's block letters

People in general don't watch teams because of their uniforms... but kids like them. It shows that you are trying to reflect the spirit of that team

(11-25-2013 08:28 PM)Rick Gerlach Wrote:  But I don't recall whether the current uniform/helmet variation was ever adopted as a 'brand', or whether it was the latest 'update', attributable to an AD, coach, or some AD/coaching staff committee.

From CDC's Rice Athletics bio:

Quote:Del Conte's vision for a revamped and aggressive approach by the department saw a consolidation of various marks and logos used by Rice's different sports into a unified, readily identifiable mark first made famous by the national baseball team, the Old English "R."

(11-26-2013 01:30 AM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  From CDC's Rice Athletics bio:

Quote:Del Conte's vision for a revamped and aggressive approach by the department saw a consolidation of various marks and logos used by Rice's different sports into a unified, readily identifiable mark first made famous by the national baseball team, the Old English "R."

Wow! The most revealing thing about this statement is the implication that, at Rice, the idea of a "unified, readily identifiable mark" was considered borderline heretical as of CDC's arrival in 2006. There are too many Rice constituents who still feel that way -- or more accurately, who feel that, while disciplined adherence to the standard may be fine for everyone ELSE at Rice, their particular stylistic ideas are a worthy exception.

(11-26-2013 01:30 AM)Brookes Owl Wrote:  

(11-25-2013 08:28 PM)Rick Gerlach Wrote:  But I don't recall whether the current uniform/helmet variation was ever adopted as a 'brand', or whether it was the latest 'update', attributable to an AD, coach, or some AD/coaching staff committee.

From CDC's Rice Athletics bio:

Quote:Del Conte's vision for a revamped and aggressive approach by the department saw a consolidation of various marks and logos used by Rice's different sports into a unified, readily identifiable mark first made famous by the national baseball team, the Old English "R."

But does that mean it can't be changed by future AD's who have a different unified, readily identifiable mark they prefer?

The first thing Chavez did in Venezuela when he came to power was re-wrote the Constitution.

I'm not pointing this out to argue for some other design. I just question how 'permanent' any decision can be assumed to be.

If it wasn't mandated/codified by the Board of Trustees (and even if it was, it could probably be overturned), it just sounds like a really good idea by CDC that he's declaring "official". If the folks who declared the change "official" and "permanent", or simply "Henceforth, and from this point forward" are at some point all gone, what prevents a new regime from declaring the same?

Nothing, until the "tradition" gets to the point where it is perceived to be bigger than any one administration or officeholder. And even then, Rick, you're right: the tradition would endure only because the current policymakers allowed it to do so.

I think that it would be a mistake for any future AD to discard the OER. It is timeless and iconic. Because of it's uniqueness, it is much more marketable than wings or anything else. If I am not mistaken, no one else in Division 1A has a brand (swagger) like ours. :-) LOL, that alone should satisfy those in our community that like to diverge from the mainstream.

(11-25-2013 06:02 PM)talon owl Wrote:  Couple of options for getting some gray into the mix. Pants stripe could be a bit wider (wasn't an option). Also helmet could have matching stripe.

Gray jersey one would probably be saved for a special occasion.

I really like the first uniform. That's nice and almost exactly how I'd design it. I even like the black shoes, a throwback to the 90's when Goldsmith's teams wore them. I always thought that was a good look.

I love our current uniforms. They look clean, crisp and classic, both home and away. I also like the Old English R, which more and more people identify wilth Rice, and hopefully more will continue to do so as we generate continued success on the field and on the court.

Having said that, I would support an alternate uniform/helmet combination to be used sparingly, in big games or bowl games only. I can't find the link now, but years ago, someone posted on the Internet some concept helmets for a bunch of schools, including Rice. The helmets that were posted used the following logos, and were placed on a white helmet and a silver (chrome?) helmet, with a blue facemask. I think these helmets, along with a white jersey with blue and grey trim, would look awesome, and definitely create some buzz for Rice (think Boise when they eschew their normal helmets for the zoomed-in version of the bronco that they use for big events). These were the logos that someone put on the concept helmets, and that I would try to recreate if I had that sort of technical acumen:

(11-26-2013 10:57 AM)Afflicted Wrote:  I even like the black shoes, a throwback to the 90's when Goldsmith's teams wore them. I always thought that was a good look.

Yes. Shoes worn in field sports should be black.

Everyone who bothered to read this thread should check out the Uni Watch blog:

http://www.uni-watch.com

The traditionalists, like me, will like Paul Lukas more than the others do.

(11-26-2013 09:24 AM)Rick Gerlach Wrote:  If it wasn't mandated/codified by the Board of Trustees (and even if it was, it could probably be overturned), it just sounds like a really good idea by CDC that he's declaring "official". If the folks who declared the change "official" and "permanent", or simply "Henceforth, and from this point forward" are at some point all gone, what prevents a new regime from declaring the same?

Sorry, I'm not sure where you're headed here. Your original question was "Is this our official brand, or just the current uniform version?" What's the difference? Is a brand ever permanent? It's always going to be a management preference. What CDC did was important and, I think, fairly unusual. The Rice athletics brand had been pretty chaotic for years (decades?), with a wide variety of images for different sports, changing sometimes as often as annually. For a very small school with very small name/brand recognition, consolidating the brand was a pretty sharp move because it maximizes exposure. And I think/hope that his move makes it more likely that future changes will be made across the board instead of letting individual coaches apply their own preferences. What CDC did was a close to "official" as you can expect.

Oregon/Oregon State currently playing in the "Florescent Bowl". Most hideous uni's I've seen in one game.

(11-29-2013 07:33 PM)owlatheart Wrote:  Oregon/Oregon State currently playing in the "Florescent Bowl". Most hideous uni's I've seen in one game.

+10000000

Looks like some of my worst memories from the 70s!

Thank goodness for the Owls' classy unis!