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Well, THAT was fun!
A perfect SWC ending to the season. Crazy from the start - horns jump out to a 17-0 lead. Sidelines clear after a sideline throwdown. No 1st quarter touchdown for Baylor (first time since 2013). 20-0 at halftime. Went outside to supervise some tree trimming and Baylor caught up 20-17. A little bit of nailbiting at the end - but Baylor's emergency backup backup backup backup? QB does not get to come out of it a hero. What a great game!
Last SWC 2015 Matchup
[Helmet matchup from 1957]
Baylor is basically playing for the Sugar Bowl - and Texas, well they are playing spoiler for a FIVE win season to avoid their first 8 loss season since 1956! They have a 7.8% chance...
A Sleeper in Fort Worth
What had promised to be a shootout, was a total yawner until OT. And with all that rain, the final game winning touchdown in double OT was a pass! In fact, two of the three OT touchdowns were passes. Baylor had 17 straight drives without scoring. Baylor went three straight quarters without scoring. In the end, TCU held Baylor on their last OT posession to seal the win and crush Baylor's Big XII title hopes.
Revivalry
[Helmet matchup from 1972]
If you think the Heisman House residents have problems with rivalry, see if you can annunciate REVIVALRY properly. A lot on the line at this game!
Wow - what a game!
What an incredible game! Good Southwest Conference football. Well, winsipedia, clear those streaks! And how about those unis - pure beauty with Tech matching up to the classic Longhorns with the 1993 throwbacks! I enjoyed every second of that game, even the few that Texas led... But man, what a finish! I felt pretty good once we got back up by two scores - but not comfortable. And that fake kneel down stolen from the A&M-Auburn game earlier in the year - but Jakeem's beast mode got us more than just a first down (the #2 #SCtop10 play of the day - #1 was his crazy tip catch touchdown early in the game)! Oh but wow, all the time left on the clock, and Texas comes back and scores again with their breakout freshman (his first career start, by the way). And then we are leading by only three. What I was most thankful for on this Thanksgiving was on 4th and 7 when Tech had only stopped that freshman once or twice, Texas called a long ball... that fell to the turf! Unbelievable! To secure the win and allow us to run out the clock, Mahomes trucked a Longhorn LB for a first down. Hey @Qriggs, can my QB flex now? ICYMI his first start was against Texas and he was promptly knocked out of the game by Quandre Diggs. Early in the game Mahomes flexed after scoring a touchdown. Diggs tweeted that same chump better stop flexing. Mahomes had some fun with the Texas alum too!
Thanksgiving Texas State Rivalry
[Helmet matchup from 1961]
Whew - that was a long gap without any SWC matchups! We are blessed this year with the Texas Tech - Texas matchup on Thanksgiving! The way it should be since the Aggies left us and no longer play Texas (at east for now). I hadn't realized we hadn't beat Texas since my dad died (that amazing Harrill- Crabtree last second game winner hookup in 2008). More importantly, I hadn't realized we hadn't beat Texas in Austin since Spike Dykes did in 1997!
Houston STILL Undefeated
What a hell of a comeback by Houston to remain undefeated at 10-0! Just wow!
Surprise Throwbacks!
For the love of God, why must the Longhorn Network exist? Because it does, most of us missed these beauties in action - oh and well, Texas and A&M no longer play each other. Stupid Longhorn Network. Stupid Longhorn Network. Texas surprised us (well, at least me because I missed the press release on Wednesday) with 1969 throwbacks to honor Freddie Steinmark. Timing was due to the My All American movie coming out this week. There were all sorts of pre-game and on-field events honoring Steinmark too. The really cool thing about the uni (besides the complete beauty of the 1969 helmets with the 100 years of college football sticker) was the attention to detail. No names on the back of the jerseys, no TV numbers on the shoulders, no jicky longhorn on the front, no block TEXAS. BLACK SHOES with white shoelaces and LOOK AT THOSE SOCKS! Such a great way to invoke a feel of the past amidst all the modern uni differences. Well played, Texas... well played! Even Coach got in on the fun with an old school looking sweatshirt! There are even fans of keeping the look (although, TV numbers are actually for game callers in the pressbox - who actually, are further and further away with the expansion of stadiums).
Death of a Garden Gnome
The UT Equipment guys have a travelling garden gnome they will tweet photos of sitting on other team's fields. Just for the record, TCU has one too (but not a gnome). Well, he broke Friday night. He was even given a proper burial. To top off the twitter fun, the UT equipment guys posted a photo of a gnome helmet memorial sticker. And yes, they fooled a few people! Not to worry gnome fans... meet Gnome II!
Seriously, though...
There THREE SWC teams still undefeated midway through the season! TCU, Baylor, and Houston!
Aw Crap... RIP BEVO XIV
Diagnosed with bovine leukemia last week, missing the Texas OU game, retired this week, and now in heaven with Dad. Major bummer to my Friday - the death a cow should really not make me cry... There have been some ugly, mean beasts wearing the BEVO halter. But I remember when I first saw XIV I knew he was perfect. His coloring was absolutely perfect. As we came to find out, he had a great, endearing personality too. Big loss and another hole in my heart. They did get some photos with him at the ranch with the Texas OU trophy. Official press release.
Give 'em Hell, Give 'em Hell
OU sucks!
Unranked Longhorns are now 6-2 when facing a ranked OU... that was simply bea-u-ti-ful! A fast start gave the kids the confidence they needed and the Horns NEVER looked back! Led the whole way, executed perfectly! But was not without a bit of stress there at the end. I watched some of Sooner GameDay Final show which was filmed while at Fair park and was stunned how professional and fair these guys were. They called it like it happened, and gave credit where credit was due. It was a fun watch! Hook'em!
And OU still sux!
Unranked Longhorns are 5-2 when facing a ranked OU... is it possible this year???
What time is it?
Thursday Treat
[Helmet matchup from 1973-75]
Only one SWC matchup this week - and it is on Thursday, so pay attention and don't miss it! After that, we have a long drought until Thanksgiving. U of H has taped SMU jerseys on their floors so the team can walk all over SMU. Fun, but kind of weak since they could only come up with fake black jerseys. Dallas reporters are pretty offended... Sounds like a pretty heated rivalry based on some old wounds! Wow, Houston ran up the score 95-21 the year after the death penalty ended. The win-loss history between the two favors U of H, but mostly due to the recent years of Houston being better and SMU grasping at straws. Before 2006, it was pretty even. I think this might be a good game if SMU does not make any early mistakes.
Well, that sucked...
One thing for sure about the Southwest Conference - you had your occassional drubbings! Will be curious if the new red uni elements for Texas Tech stay in the rotation with those two losses. For details to the return of the RED Raiders - see "In the Wash" in the right column. I continue to make updates to that feature when new uni elements drop.
Two More On Tap Today!
[Helmet matchup covers 1980s]
History has this one supremely lopsided in favor of the Horns. However, playing in Fort Worth with the issues Texas is having this year, I am not sure Texas can pull it off. Strong was told the line before the game and he responded, "Oh, I didn't realize it was that much".
[Helmet matchup covers 1971]
All even at 36-36-1 prompted a new trophy for the Texas Shootout! I am assuming the other side of the football has a double T??? All Texas Tech since official SWC play ended except the last four years in a row for Baylor.
SWC Overload
Honestly, last weekend was so intense, I was not even capable of talking about those SWC games until now - and I still may not have recovered from them... What a true SWC matchup between Tech and TCU in a place that is known for upsetting Top 5 teams. Knowing Tech was in trouble with TCU threatening it was brutal watching the end of that game. When the ball tipped out of Doctson's hands, I knew we had won and started screaming... only to have the victorious moment shattered a mere second later with that tipped ball falling into Aaron Green's hands. Hands to head, screaming Noooooooooooo! I do not think I have reacted so personally to a game in a good long while. The only two that pop into my mind that I can compare it to had more positive endings - the Texas Natioanl Championship game in 2005 and the Tech upset of Texas in 2008. This matchup really paid some serious tribute to the old Southwest Conference! But I still say, TCU wears women's tights!
After that heart stopper, we were treated to a hell of an ending to the Southwest Classic where the Aggies beat Arkansas in overtime.
The Baylor Rice game got out of hand quicker than expected - but boy, what a good looking game!
THREE SWC Matchups this Weekend!
[Helmet matchup from 1967]
Should be a good one in Lubbock! Tech has a good rep of upsetting Top 5 teams at home lately (whether ranked or not). Last weekend we played a team that slaughtered us the year before and we won. Well, TCU beat us 82-27 last year...
[Helmet matchup from 1979]
I just really can't see how this game goes well for Arkansas. Arkansas has the overwhelming overall record (Arkansas was pretty good when it was in the SWC). But in the Sumlin era A&M is 3-0 and by far the better SEC team. If the Aggies pull it off in DFW, it wil be the first 4-0 class in 80 years against the Razorbacks.
[Helmet matchup from 1966]
Not as lopsided as you might think over the years. Baylor kind of sucked in the SWC until Grant Teaff. Since the end of the SWC, Baylor and Rice have only met 3 times resulting in Briles wins. Rice went through a tough stretch and is a much better team now - but this game is at that new stadium in Waco.
Sorry, Owls.
Some good tidbits in this TSHoF article!
What a SWC Weekend That Was!
Wow, wow, wow! Epic win for Tech in Fayetteville (SEC who?) or maybe epic meltdown for Arkansas... No - epic win for Tech for sure, they played just awesome. With the exception of the one INT (which was a freshman goof "throw it up" - Arkansas ain't some FCS patsy, well maybe they are this year) which we got one right back, I think we scored on every posession but one. Ah, that missed field goal - which we just should have really gone for it - what the hell was that call anyway? I don't think we ever punted. Beautiful game and wow, bea-u-ti-ful throwbacks (especially when the compression sleeve stripes were worn)! Lots of talk about the throwbacks being mid 90s or from 1990 which was the last time the Red Raiders were in Fayetteville 25 years ago. But they are from 1993-94. One year earlier they would have had stripes on the helmet. On year later they would have no stripes on the pants.
And #PonyTempoUp, SMU!!! The final score was in no way representative of SMU's play in that game with that talent at QB. The team's moxie and confidence instilled by Chad Morris is impressive. And the guy is some kind of wizard! Happy to have a competitive SMU back! And some solid unis they are rocking this year - assumably can credit Chad Morris with bringing the stripes back on the white pants. Solid move. Only way to improve on that look - striped socks (can't win them all).
One Down, Two to GO?
(Click to Enlarge)
Found this beauty at RedRaiders.com. Scott Hall did an honorary Dirk West cartoon for 2015. Well done.
Guns Up Helmet?
Found in a video is a Guns Up helmet on Kliff's desk. Hard to make out at first, but it is a smoking gun. When @TTU_Equipment was asked about, they said "you never know". That to me is a yes, kids! Sure will beat the hell out of that hombres crap one-offs we have been wearing!
TCU has the Skillet
[Helmet matchup from 1966]
Let's look at that statistics site again. If you disregard post SWC, these teams are pretty evenly matched. And really are anyway - one big red chunk for SMU in the 80s and one big purple chunk for TCU of late, it all averages out. I am more surprised about the red blips in that field of purple. Can SMU pry the Iron Skillet from TCU's hands?
Tech is Arkansas's Bitch?
[Helmet matchup covers 1984-92]
When I saw the overall record between Tech and Arkansas, I was surprised and did not really understand how it was possible. I have no recollection of being Arkansas's bitch my whole life. Cool graphics at this site show win/losses with magnitude of score differential and also has yearly winning percentages graphed out below. Only the second time the two have played since 1991, I guess I haven't really missed Arkansas afterall! Maybe we can get another black bar on that chart this weekend - too bad we are not playing at The Rock!
No 1965 Repeat
Was kind of hoping Rice might pull off a win - with it being fifty years since that upset in Austin, a Froggy Williams decal, and the fact I turned 50 this year... For the record Rice stuck in there and made a worthy effort at a comeback after the Texas fast start.
Here is the Kern Tips game highlights video from that game - with some added film of the midfield post game celebration by Rice. The article about Jess Neely's last road win includes a note that KTRK broadcast the GAME film the following day!
With the new white matte helmet, Rice is the latest school to go full on stormtrooper. Oddly enough, the last time they wore a white helmet was in 1976 - which coincidentally is the one below!
Why does Rice play Texas?
[Helmet matchup from 1976]
Those are famous words from JFK. They tied that week. Classic rivalry this Saturday on the 53rd anniversary of JFK's moon speech at Rice. Texas is 40-2 against Rice since 1965. The last time Rice got the upper hand was in 1994. But considering how Texas played last week and Rice's new found confidence, this could be a good one!
Some Uni Surprises
Stripes on SMU's white pants was the biggest and welcome surprise to me. Well, other than SMU giving them a fight for a while there! We are also seeing an influx of the Riddell SpeedFlex helmets which really break up the design aesthetics of helmets (even more than the weird shapes). It is just another glaring "look at me" in my eyes. And is it just me - or does the new College GameDay logo echo this shape, or what? I really hate it. It also has stupid Nike letters too. Here is another version that "sort of" includes a football... The old one was eons better!
Updates added to "In The Wash" down in the right column.
The Day is Here
[Helmet matchup from 1991]
Oddly enough, in 2012 when this SWC rivalry was reinstated SMU led this series 36-35-7. Prior to then the two had only played twice since the end of the SWC. Boy, timing is everything. In 2012 and 2014 Baylor pummeled ole Peruna and Baylor now holds the series lead. And I don't expect that to change any time soon... Not sure why they did not play in 2013. Here is a link from 2012 that lists the five best games in this rivalry.
COUNTDOWN
To 1st 2015 SWC Game
Ranked by Last Year's SWC Finish
Well Played!
As you can see in Baylor's 2015 team photo, #61 is followed by #58. The score Baylor beat TCU by. While Baylor assures us this was a coincidence, that tweet from Nielsen (lined up by height) has since been deleted. There is also an 11-2 (their record last year).
Well, that wasn't so bad...
Just a lot of stupid hype about a black "Ice" Halloween night game one-off. Score = Stupid
Oh God, what now?
Everyone is worried about the new A&M alternate. Adidas and @AggieFBlife has been leaving cryptic tweets the whole week. Most say something stupid like night speed, looking fresh, and various other speed mentions - ugh, uniforms cannot make you fast. Some have promising hints like Texas Royalty, Football Legend, Original 12th Man, Football VIP that make me hope for some kind of 1957 John David Crow or maybe even a Gill throwback. But the underlying theme is that stupid exploded diamond pattern Adidas pushes. Which by the way has no "elevation" in the College Station area! And then there were snowflake emojis - and now we have ice...??? I can tell you one thing - if that gawd awful beveled ATM shows up on a helmet, my head will explode like that ice!
Working a Little Too Hard
Apologies for my absence last year! Had a huge project at work that required significantly more time. I do have all my notes and will be recreating the 2014 page for the archive. Scheduled matchups are posted and I will be filling in all the uni updates shortly.
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