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The Last Two SWC Games of the Year
[Helmet matchup from 1958-59]
Two wounded teams - but the Texas wounds are more emotional than physical. I think Texas pulls it together for one last win for Charlie Strong. Longhorns have dominated the series but TCU has won big the last two years. Having only played five times since the SWC ended: once in 2007 and four since 2012 when TCU joined the Big XII. This one is in Austin, I think D'Onte Foreman will have a stellar day.
[Helmet matchup from 1972-78]
Tech hosts Baylor in Arlington the day after Thanksgiving (alas, no SWC game on Thanksgiving...). Hoping for those Texas Tech throwback uniforms we have not seen all year. As far as the record over the years, split down the middle. Albeit Baylor has won the last five. Can a humiliated Texas Tech pull it togeher and win with a vengence to stay even for the year? Baylor is certainly down and out. It would be a nice ending to a tough year.
Texas Tech Throwback Unis still MIA
There has been an increased focus on the red in Red Raiders of late. We have done a black throwback, we have done a white throwback. Since we are the home team in Arlington against Baylor, I am calling red 1970s throwback jerseys, white pants, and black #FlatDoubleT helmets with RED facemasks! If it happens, I called it back on Nov 14th!
That was ugly
Not a good week for former SWC teams. A&M does not count this week - they played a deirectional Texas school in the middle of conference play... weeeeeeak! Texas loses to Kansas for the first time since 1938 - and in overtime. Charlie Strong is likely gone. And all chances of a Texas vs Texas A&M bowl game are likely lost. The Kansas goalposts never had a chance. Baylor is laughing at the TCU and Texas loss - but... they got beat by both!
A 2-8 Iowa State hangs 66 points on Texas Tech and we only manage to score 10 points. Kingsbury might be gone (although, they may not be able to afford his buy-out). How do you have the worst defense and the best offense (of course, except this week)? How I ask - because you are Texas Tech post Mike Leach. This is all Craig James' pussy ass son's fault. I know, I know, let it go. But with losses like those suffered in week 12, you just gotta blame someone to carry on with the day. So if Rice wins and Tech loses, Tech will be on the bottom w.r.t. the overall record in the virtual SWC... not how I pictured the year!
On the flip side (definitely an opposite parallel day to those final years of the SWC) - how about those Owls, Ponies, and Cougars! Loved how UofH dominated Lamar Jackson and the 5th ranked Louisville even after Oliver went out of the game! Cougar High! Cougar High! Cougar High! (sorry, habit...) that defense played swell! And the Chad Morris led #PonyUpTempo which had a slow start not being able to close the deal for many Ws they should have earned, is now ranked above TCU, Texas, and Tech in the overall record. Wow, kind of Southwest Conference afterall, isn't it?
Other Week 10 Notes
Arkansas has been pretty old school for the last few years (with the exception of hog horns in place of their classic stripes). I even love the mandated black shoes. For the first time since 2013, they broke out #GrayorGraySake unis. But I did not hate these. Maybe I am just a sucker for steel and chrome...
Aggie back-up QB Jake Hubenak must have got his signs mixed up after coming in for injured Trevor Knight... #HookEm
Texas Tech Throwback Unis MIA
No really, where ARE those gorgeous throwbacks from the last two years???
Was that a Beat Down or Bad Karma?
I guess they wore black to their own funeral afterall... After a week of Baylor protesting the firing of Art Briles, they were shellacked 62-22 by TCU (largest loss of a ranked team by an unranked team in school history - originally 30 points in 1953 to Houston). The students were told to wear green. The players chose to wear black uniforms to protest the firing of Art Briles. He later recanted that statement and then made his account private. The #CAB movement is deplorable, disgraceful, and disgusting! They sold t-shirts and displayed their support for the disgraced Art Briles from the sky box. I have said all year, he will likely be their coach next year because Baylor has sold its soul for wins in the W column. They got and will continue to get what they deserve.
Lee Corso Picked Tech...
I was worried from that moment. Horns outlasted Tech in Lubbock. All the sudden we are down there with SMU and Rice... But still - what a game! How about that Goal Line Grand Larceny! Video here too. Hopefully the trend of Longhorn wins does not continue. Tech win in 2002, then five losses. Tech win in 2008, then six losses. Tech win in 2015, hopefully not 7 losses coming!
Another Double Header!
[Helmet matchup from 1974]
This game is usually at night - weird to see it played so early and also not around Thanksgiving. I think every single year when I pull up the series stats, I am just stunned how few wins Tech has. Those wins have been epic, though. Of course 8 years ago was the amazing last second connection between Harrell and Crabtree with Crabtree staying in bounds for the touchdown. I believe that audio clip is still coded into the bottom of this page (it was a really great game call). And last year was pretty amazing too winning in Austin. Should be a great game! SWC Roundup did a great TBT story on the 1976 game. Just look at that photo of Willie Nelson with Darrell Royal!
[Helmet matchup from 1966]
The Revivalry! Hmmm... one not so saintly of lately. Both have had issues this year, but Baylor has almost dug it's way out in the 4th quarter every game. Does TCU have enough to take advantage of Baylor's slow starts? Does Baylor still have their swagger since they can no longer say they have not allowed anyone to score in the 4th quarter? They will be wearing black - it might be for a funeral...
Wow - epic SWC matchups!
Oh my goodness! Hook'em Horns! Baylor tweets before the game reminded us how they had not let anyone score on them in the 4th quarter this year. Not so fast! A great game through all four quarters. Texas hits a field goal with 46 seconds left for the upset. There was a Texas O-line gut laying on the field on his back kicking his legs in the air like a bug! Texas has a four game win streak against AP Top 12 teams! And Charlie Strong's third win over a top 10 team since last season!
Double OT win for Texas Tech in a somehwat defensive battle (at least for two Big XII shootout teams). In the second OT, TCU missed yet another field goal and all Tech had to do was play it safe and knock one through.
SWC Double Header in week 9
[Helmet matchup from 1969-71]
We have a classic SWC matchup between Texas and Baylor. Now, which Texas will show up? Will Baylor finally be exposed? Texas obviously dominates the series - but only won two out of the last six years.
[Helmet matchup from 1977-80]
Tech is looking for revenge over last year! Tech leads the series, but it is pretty even - even over the last four years when they picked back up playing each other. They have only played each other a total of six times since the end of the SWC and it's an even split.
SMU does it!
Oh, what a game! SMU finally pulls it all together and gets the win! They stun the 11th ranked Cougars in Dallas with some solid defense. And Chad Morris's offense steps up big time. It was the first SMU win since 1982 over a team ranked 11th or higher (they were actually ranked 4th a the time). SWC Roundup did a TBT to their 1982 matchup (only their eight meeting) and includes a full game clip here. That's Pony Express - so there is a drawback, you have to listen to the words "Craig James" over and over.
Back to SWC Action in Week 8
[Helmet matchup from 1989-90]
SWC action picks back up between UofH and SMU. Obviously Houston has dominated this series in the recent past since theu started playing again in 2005. Tom Herman used SMU as motivation to the UofH donors explaining more money is needed to unless you are satisfied with trying to get to seven wins (and if you were he knew a school in Dallas for you).
SMU Blues
Well, that answers that question... SMU does indeed still have blue jerseys. Regular readers know I am a fan of the SMU blue jersey. Pretty sharp uniform set for the ponies in week 4 with their all blue #DallasStrong tribute. I wouldn't like it full time because SMU is just the quintessential red, white, AND blue team for me. But a solid set that I really enjoyed watching on the field. And the helmet was amazing!
SWC in the SEC
[Helmet matchup from 1964]
Oh hell no, get that crap off the logo! The 2016 Southwest Classic is this year's only SWC matchup for the Aggies and the last one for the Razorbacks. Since the rekindling of the rivalry in 2009, Aggies are up 4-3. Too bad Aggies won't be wearing those 1956 throwbacks for this game - would look really good across the line of scrimmage from Arkansas's old school black shoes.
Friday Night Skillet
[Helmet matchup from 1974-75]
The Battle of the Iron Skillet is in Dallas this year - the 96th one. Four SMU wins peppered over the time since the SWC ended - each one a different SMU coach. Will this be Chad Morris's year? Frog legs anyone? Ouch, not much of a pep talk...
So Disappointed... but I got a lot to say about this!
I had been so looking forward to this Aggie throwback. And here we have it - the 1956 champioship team - the first success that came out of the Junction Boys camp.
Let me tell you a little story, Ags. In 1954 Bear Bryant came to College Station and cleaned house with a 10 day training camp in the worst drought in recorded history. It was brutal - and that year they went 1-9 (worst season of Bear Bryant's 38 year coaching career). It wasn't until 1956 that they saw the fruits of their labor and for the first time since 1922 they beat Texas and took the SWC championship for the first time in 12 years. So, after all is said and done and they don't "want" to play Texas - it is still all about the Longhorns. Back to the uni - the first thing I noticed was the painted perforations on the helmet and that loked really odd because you have this monster facemask of today. Their attempt to subtle that out was to paint two (or one) of the middle bars gray - to mimic an old gray two-bar facemask. Hmmm, works so well that they did not bother to show a side view in the promo photos... We will have to wait and see how that really looks on the field. A far cry from the previous leather helmet throwback! I do commend them on painting the nose bumper to look like it is not there and using vintage helmet maker marks - but really, what else could they do? Oh yea, a vintage looking chin strap... As far as the jersey "ultimately matching the 1956 A&M design", umm, no. Stripes were not up on the shoulder back then. Should have been put on the base layer midway down on the arm. Even though a large chunk of the players would not wear them, the integrity of the uni would shine on the few that did. I see no solid evidence of the 1956 maroon pants stripe in their selective promo photos either (although it appears there might be some maroon down by the left knee). Finally, the patch that claims an undefeated season... well, patially true. They were 9-0-1 with a tie against Houston. I hope they fix that. Or they could change it to say 9-0 in the SWC (since UofH wasn't part of the SWC yet). Update: That was fast!
With all due respect, the 1956 uni had zero character. Adidias tried too hard, but all they came up with was a chinstrap really. Major sad face! And why not wear it this weekend against an SWC team?
SMU Helmet Logo for SWC Matchup
SMU's helmet logo for the Week 4 SWC matchup between SMU and TCU will have the Dallas skyline embedded inside the pony in support of first responders and fallen Dallas and SMU Police.
White/White/maroon Never Worn?
Aggies break out a uni combo never worn. Is that right? No maroon pants back in the 70s? At first I thought they wore them in the late 70s before they went back to the maroon helmets - but I have no photographic evidence of it. Hard to believe...
Baylor at "Hostile" Rice
[Helmet matchup from 1994-95]
Waco Tribune says Baylor preparing for hostile environment... before you scream #TribFail or #BaylorFail, anything can happen in the SWC! Any given Saturday! Baylor has a 7 game win streak over the sporradic series that falls back to before SWC football ended in 1995. Last year's victory was by a pretty harsh margin. Will Baylor's slow starts help the Owls pull one out?
SWC Catching On!
I have to admit I am happy to see so many new virtual SWC Rankings tweets, blog posts, and articles! I realize it isn't just because I have been doing this for TWELVE years now - I am a niche, for sure. All the talk of bringing in UofH and SMU into the Big XII has certainly been the reason for the spawn. It is awesome though. Here are a few to follow if you so choose: Ryan Hyatt's Raiderland Week 1 and Week 2, a Baylor guy, and this guy but he includes a bunch of teams that were never in the SWC.
SEC can't spell...
I really, really, really wanted Arkansas to lose this game - but I guess they kind of did! Arkansas with a poorly executed chest wordmark. #SECfail
Unis for 'merica
A flood of stars & stripes decals and camo for what I guess has become the established honor the military/America week of college football. Why? Because of the 9/11 anniversary? 9/11 has nothing to do with military - I guess they can check it off the list and wrap them all up in one convenient little patriotic bow. Rice utilized their basic stars & stripes decal on their navy helmet. Aggies went stars & stripes decal as well on their white helmet - here is why. UofH brought out a whole new concoction with a light blue helmet stripe with white stars along with a chrome stars & stripes decal on their white helmet. And Baylor had a whole military appreciation weekend complete with tanks on campus (always unnerving) while they did the
drab gray. By the way: Air Force knows how to really honor the military if you insist on doing it with football uniforms! Absolute beauties!
Finally!
Two SWC matchups today in week 2!
[Helmet matchup from 1979-86]
SMU visits Baylor looking to improve on their impressive performance last year. They have not beat Baylor since 1986 - Winsipedia.
[Helmet matchup from 1993-94]
And Arkansas finally meets TCU for the first time since they left the SWC. Seriously, it has been 25 years since the two have met on the gridiron. A looong streak of Arkansas wins broken up only in 1981 with a close one and in 1990 after Hatfield left Arkansas. Arkansas rallied from an early three touchdown deficit to win the last official SWC game against TCU in 1991. Winsipedia link here. Interview with E.D. Jackson who scored that game winning touchdown regarding the meaning of his last SWC games - "It's just sad knowing the SWC is gone." I hear ya, I hear ya...
One Day to SWC Matchups!
Baylor came in first again last year at 4-1.
Two Days and Counting!
TCU swapped with the Aggies and finished 2nd with 3 wins and 1 loss.
Three Days and Counting!
Texas A&M dropped a spot from the year before by finishing 3rd winning their only SWC matchup.
Four Days and Counting!
UofH finished 4th last year winning its only SWC matchup.
SWC 8-1 first weekend of 2016
All but one of the old Southwest Conference teams won on this first weekend of football for 2016. And all the games were not patsy opponents! Rice is the only school that came away without a win.
Five Days and Counting!
Texas Tech had a massive improvement and finished 5th last year.
Six Days and Counting!
Texas finsihed in 6th just like last year.
Introducing Bevo XV!
Great coloring! But he is a baby - I would be remiss if I did not mention how short this little longhorn's horns are. He is definitely going to grow into a beauty, though! Five facts you need to know about Baby Bevo.
Seven Days and Counting!
Arkansas took a dive this year finishing 7th - must have been the white shoes!
Eight Days and Counting!
Rice hung in 8th place last year.
Nine Days and Counting!
We get two SWC matchups in week 2 of the 2016 season! SMU finished in 9th place last year for the third year in a row.
Band Uniforms
I love these Band Uniform envisioned as a football uni efforts. Although, I really wish they would have mocked up the rear too! Honestly, kind of surprised no school has attempted something like this as a one-off... there have been equally ridiculous themes.
Here is the Big 12.
Well, they got the top 3 right.
An older Big 12 uni ranking from July.
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