Merry Christmas 'N' Deed!

I'm a uniform geek. Not ashamed of it, been that way for a long time. When I was a nine or 10-year-old and it was time to select my Hutch football uniform from the JC Penney catalog, I chose the Bengals, despite the fact that the Bears were my favorite team, because Cincinnati had flashier uniforms. (I have since recognized the simplistic genius in the Chicago uniform.)As far back as I can remember, both my brother and I have cared a little too much about what teams wore.

Nowadays there's an official forum for this obsession. The UniWatch Blog is typically my first Internet stop of the day and I even attended a UniWatch party recently in Boston just to disply my Harry Husker belt buckle with pride amongst like-minded obsessives.

This passion, however, presents a problem when it comes to Nebraska fandom. Quite simply, we don't like change much and even if we did there's not a whole lot to change anyway. I delighted in Nebraska's all-white look for the Colorado game because it was a rare moment of stylistic hubris from the scarlet and cream. (I know many wouldn't but I'd love to see an all-red game once in a great while too.)

Beyond the occassional monochrome look, you pretty much know what you're going to get from Nebraska. Even if Nebraska were to trot out a throwback, which they haven't, there aren't a whole lot of options out there that seem that compelling. Sure there's the old 'NU' helmet (additional pics here) that I'd love to see come back for a game (and the great Johnny Rodgers shoulder stripes that came with it). Additionally, in the late 60s, there were those uniforms with the crazy number font that Dan Jenkins loathed, but neither of those really elicit the sheer terror--or joy in my mind--of something so garishly gaudy that it only could've come from another era. Any way you slice it, and ultimately this is a good thing, Nebraska is going to look like Nebraska, but wouldn't a little variety be nice for one game?

It's simply not out there, or so I thought until today. Check out these beauties:

The photo comes courtesy of UniWatch reader Robert Eden and is from a 1932 game against Minnesota (Nebraska lost 7-6 but the Gophers were a juggernaut back in the day).

Look at that N! It's glorious. I'm a bit surprised to see it's in the same sans-serif style that has become synonymous with Nebraska football but that only makes it better. Here we finally have a throwback worth showing off.

My family always opened one gift on Christmas Eve and, while I'm not at home, I can officially consider this my gift for the day.

Happy Holidays, Huskers!