There are rumblings going on that the Oregon Ducks are considering a new helmet for the Rose Bowl that would eliminate the famous 'O' for the first time since the '98 season. These aren't just rumors started by a few knuckleheads, reports are coming out in other blogs, such as this one: http://duckotherside.blogspot.com/2011/12/uniform-rumor.html, people on message boards are talking about it, and facebook and twitter are abuzz about it today as well. I've also got a few inside connections - both at NIKE and on the team - who say this may be happening.
You know the saying where there's smoke there's fire? Well there's too much smoke here to ignore this, and I'm pretty angered by it. Look I give the Ducks credit for their uniform changes. I didn't like it at first (in fact the 2006-2008/'09 edition uniforms with the diamond plates were my favorite) but realized its what set Oregon apart from other schools. It made them trendy, cutting edge, ahead of the curve, and so on. But it has to stop at some point. I draw a line in the sand with the helmet.
A teams helmet is the most sacred part of the uniform. It's the most recognizable...a calling card if you will. The Oregon 'O' helmet has been the one thing that has remained untouched over the years during all the uniform changes, and is one of the most recognized, and popular helmets in the country. Flashing the 'O' today, is what flashing the 'U' used to be like. See how I know what the 'U' is? It's the logo on the University of Miami Hurricanes helmet. The 'O' is so popular, it inspired a song about it by Xile called "O-Time." The 'O' is not just a logo, as Xile would say in that song, "it's a culture."
Change for the sake of change is stupid, and removing the 'O' would be a damn shame. I hope it's not true, and if it is...I hope it's just a one time thing.
Elsewhere in the college football world, the NCAA ruled on Ohio States case yesterday, and it turns out that tatoogate is gonna cost them a mere one year bowl ban, and a loss of 9 scholarships. Pretty much a slap on the wrist. Ohio State will be fine. So they miss a bowl for one year, big deal. It might be a big deal for next year's senior class, but to new coach Urban Meyer - who's there building for the future - he can tell the young kids that you're coming in to rebuild this program, and will be playing in big bowl games in the future, but you probably wouldn't be playing much next year anyways, so you're not missing out. And why do most of these kids go to the big time programs anyways? Because they want to get to the NFL, and they're more likely to get noticed by pro scouts at an Ohio State, a Texas, an LSU, or an Alabama, then they would at a place like Wyoming, North Texas, Toledo, etc. A straight 'a' student coming out of high school wants to go to the most prestigious school they can, because it looks good on their resume when applying for a job. And just like a smart kid, a really good player wants to go to a prestigious football program, because it looks good on his resume. So this won't effect recruiting in the long run.
Now this doesn't really matter to me to be honest, but what it does do is it shoes that the NCAA once again, is questionable when it comes to handing out penalties, and it has me kind of worried about what might happen (if anything) to Oregon regarding the whole Willie Lyles situation. It's like if you get in trouble at home...the severity of your punishment could depend on what type of mood your parents are in. The NCAA is like your parents. Catch 'em on a bad day, and they'll come down hard on you over something that really isn't that big of a deal. Whereas you catch 'em on a good day, they'll come down light on you. Many people think that what Ohio State did is far worse than what USC did, and yet USC's sanctions were FAR worse than what Ohio State got. Makes me wonder?
It's with great displeasure that I say this, but today is day 3, 247 of the B*S system. And because of that, we are blessed with not having a playoff system, but a slew of meaningless bowl games. Today's bowl, the San Diego whatever something something Poinsettia Bowl, is between TCU and Louisianan Tech. I can hear the people yawing now. In this game, we're supposed to pretend that these teams really care, and want to win, even though No. 16 TCU (10-2) is coming in feeling like they should be playing one of the big boys in a bcs bowl game. Would be fun to see a team like TCU in a playoff system. Hell it would even be fun to see WAC champion Louisiana Tech in a playoff system. Sure they would get waxed in the first round probably, but that's what a playoff system does...it weeds out the weak teams.
And my final burn goes to the Biebs. Yes that douche nozzle Justin Beiber. As I'm sitting here writing this, I hear on the radio that the Biebs is thinkin of changing his hair style, and doesn't know what he should go with. Such a tough decision to make. He must have it really hard, but dude needs a little perspective. While he's worrying about his lettuce, kids in North Korea fight over a kernel of corn out of cow dung because they haven't eaten anything in days. That's the reality many young Koreans dealt with growing up under the regimen of Kim Jong Il. This might sound harsh, but I'm glad he's dead. I watched Inside North Korea last night, and it made realize how bad it is/was there. It's hard to imagine a society like that exists, and how anyone could ever live there? I'm proud to be an American!
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