Uni Watch on Coach Sanders' Cleverness

by jlegs on Jul 22, 2008 5:48 PM PDT

Bumped. Cool find. GO BRUINS. -N

Came across this on one of my favorite blogs on the internets:

Two interesting tidbits from Jim Parker, beginning with a UCLA tale: “In the mid- to late 1950s, UCLA’s legendary head football coach Henry ‘Red’ Sanders would purchase the team’s home powder blue jerseys in a lighter shade of blue each successive season, until they were almost as pale as the visiting teams white jerseys (although the jerseys were still blue enough for players and fans to tell the two teams apart). Several years later, UCLA’s longtime equipment manager revealed why: Players and fans could tell the two teams apart, but it was virtually impossible to make the same distinction on the black-and-white game or ’scout’ films. In these films of the UCLA games, the offense and defense immediately blended into one indistinguishable group after every hike of the ball.”

Pretty clever, especially by taking advantage of new technology (well, their apparent setbacks as well). It's obviously tame in an age of recorded coach signals, sign stealing, and videotaped walkthroughs, but I think it's just sheer genius to take advantage of still and motion camera technology at the time due to the lack of color presented by pictures/film. You can't blame Coach Sanders if a camera at the time can't distinguish between our blue and another team's white, can you?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Pretty Cool

Red Saunders was a thinking coach.

It reminds me of something I vaguley remembered about Coach Tommy Prothro ( very much the thinking man ) who was called for placing radio receivers in the Quarterback’s helmet so he could call in the plays. I don’t know if there was a rule against it – but it was not allowed. It was supposedly discoverd by a spectator picking up the signal on his transitor radio. In all truth this story was told to me by a USC fan – so I cannot speak to the its accuracy.

by northbaybruin on Jul 22, 2008 7:12 PM PDT reply actions

Haha!

Now I’ll have a good response the next time some Cal alum (read: my all-Cal family) has some smart-ass comment about our “lame” or “feminine” shade of blue.

Great find!

by norcald503 on Jul 22, 2008 7:13 PM PDT reply actions

Classic!

I knew Red Sanders instituted the light blue jerseys, but I would have never imagined the why. I just thought it was an interesting choice.

On a side note, I view our “baby blues” as a badge of honor. Other’s may think it weak, or feminine or any other assinine assumption. I think Bryan Bosworth even made some comment about it before OU played us back in the 80s. I don’t remember if we beat them, but I think we did. My point? I think its a great way to get in a fight. (if that’s your thing)

Defending that which makes us unique is a pride and a privilege.

A coach is someone who can give correction without causing resentment. John Wooden

by MexiBruin on Jul 22, 2008 7:47 PM PDT reply actions

Bosworth

Said something to the effect that he wouldn’t be caught dead playing in such a sissy uniform color. And then he and OU killed us.

But he did send his sons to play in that uniform. We all get wiser as we get older.

greg in denver

by gbruin on Jul 22, 2008 8:33 PM PDT up reply actions

Bozworth Boys

Actually the Bozworth twins are Brian’s nephews (sister’s kids). Their name was Miller I believe, but they took Bozworth when then came to UCLA. The boys are good young men – Brian is a ass (who now routinely wears our sissy colors).

by Malibruin on Jul 23, 2008 11:50 AM PDT up reply actions