35 Years Ago This Week...

[The Love House]

With the recent premier of Dani Pudi's "Untucked" at the Sundance film festival, I thought this would be a good time to bring this up. After combing through the Milwaukee Journal and Sentinel archives from 1979, I was able to determine that this very week thirty-five years ago (Jan. 28, 1979 to be exact) marked the debut appearance of what has come to be known as the 'Urban Camo' uniform. It also foreshadowed the impending mid-season retirement of the iconic Arrowhead untucked jerseys that were made famous during the 1977 championship season. Oddly, we actually debuted the blue road version of the Urban Camo jersey before we debuted the home white version.  This was done at a nationally televised game at #7 Duke; a game we lost 64-69. The team would return to wearing the untucked Arrowhead jerseys for the next 3 games, including wins at Creighton and St. Louis, before ultimately wearing them for the last and final appearance in a home loss to the Detroit Titans on February 6, 1979. The game after that, which was a HUGE win over #5 Louisville, marked the debut of the home white version of the Urban Camo jersey, and the Arrowhead untucked jersey faded into history, never to be worn again.

Below are pictures from the Journal and Sentinel which show the first appearance of the blue Urban Camo road jersey against Duke, the last appearance of the Arrowhead jersey against Detroit, and the first appearance of the Urban Camo home whites against Louisville.

Some interesting things to point out in these pictures. First, #35 in the Louisville pic is none other than Dr. Dunkenstein himself, Darrell Griffith, the All-American leader of the "Doctors of Dunk" who would go on to win the National Championship under Denny Crum the next year. Looks like Sammy Worthen had just stripped Griffith of the ball, and in true Louisville-esque fashion, Griffith turns to the ref to whine for the call. Second, props to the Detroit Titans for their rendition of the untucked jersey. Even though they obviously copied our style – as did many teams after the 1974-75 season - they definitely had one of the coolest designs. I might go so far as to say that theirs were the 2nd coolest untucked jerseys of the era. And finally, is it just me or does Jim Dudley
of Marquette (#40) look eerily like Christian Bale's Joker from Batman? Creepy...

Anyway, untucked Arrowhead jerseys, you will always be remembered!

[The Love House]

Meant Heath Ledger, not Christian Bale...

[Hards Alumni]

Meant Heath Ledger, not Christian Bale...

You can edit your posts.

[Archies Bat]

Word on the street back then was Griffith was targeting MU until Al retired.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

Anybody think it may be time for a uniform redesign? I like our current ones, but let's keep it fresh!

[The Love House]

Anybody think it may be time for a uniform redesign? I like our current ones, but let's keep it fresh!

Agreed. Some guy posted some really awesome design concepts for MU football uniforms not too long ago. Hey guy, if you read this, come up with fresh ideas for basketball jerseys that incorporate some throwback elements with some cool new looks. Then email them to Buzz. Or Bo Ellis.

[willie warrior]

Anybody think it may be time for a uniform redesign? I like our current ones, but let's keep it fresh!

Go back to the Bumble Bees as retro. Implement them this year to generate some interest. The NCAA ban statute of limitations has to have run out by now. Besides they are too busy right now chasing Tark.