Alright, so I got really into this whole UNLV football uniform thing. It started, like most of my obsessions, with a random late-night internet dive. I wasn't even looking for uniforms specifically, I think I was checking some game scores, and then BAM! I saw a picture of their new helmets.
I hadd to know more.
The Deep snigeB eDive Begins
First, I just started gathering pictures. I mean, everything I could find. Old uniforms, new uniforms, concept art...my downloads folder was overflowing. I literally spent an entire Saturday just scrolling through images. My wife thought I was crazy.
- Started with the official UNLV athletics site. (You know, for the "official" stuff.)
- Then moved to fan forums. Man, those guys have OPINIONS. Found some cool historical photos there, though.
- Image searches...oh, the image searches. Page after page of helmets, jerseys, pants...the whole nine yards.
After I had, like, a million pictures, I started to organize things. This is where it got real. I made a giant spreadsheet (because of course, I did). I started categorizing everything:
- Year: Gotta have the timeline straight.
- Helmet Color: Seems basic, but there are variations!
- Jersey Style: Home, away, alternates...it's a whole thing.
- Pant Color: Matching? Contrasting? It matters!
- Special Details: Logos, stripes, anything unique.
Making Sense of it All
So, I'm sitting here with this massive spreadsheet and tons of pictures. Then the real fun is trying to see the evolution. You can see how the designs changed over time, what trends came and went. It's actually pretty cool to see how the uniforms reflect different eras in the team's history and even, like, design trends in general.
The biggest thing, is that I start noticing patterns. You would start to see certain color schemes and designs that are favored.
The Finished Project.
I've put all of this together and I'm pretty proud of the work that I've done. I can look at pictures from different years and games, and I know what style they were using and why. It's not earth-shattering, but it was a fun project.
Now my wife really thinks I am crazy.
