Shout-out to the gang over at One Foot Down, the SB Nation Notre Dame blog that does a great job covering/making Fighting Irish news fun on a daily basis.
They’ve come up with their own bracket and are currently in the second round of voting to determine Notre Dame’s best alternate uniform in relatively recent history. Here’s a link to their site and bracket and below I share what my picks for the bracket will be.
1. ’77 Throwback over 16. ’18 Pinstripe
One is iconic while the other was downright awful. The one thing I will say is that the Pinstripe jersey wasn’t as bad once you actually saw it on the playing field. That said, it’s still worthy of this seed, although I’d have the ’16 Shamrock uniforms up there, too.
9. ’15 Shamrock over 8. ’11 Shamrock
It may have been too much green for some but it was at least different and an attempt. Sure the Irish played poorly that night at Fenway Park but that was a better look than the ’11 Shamrock which was just a copy of Bush Push green’s with a funky helmet.
5. ’91 Sugar Bowl over 12. ’14 Shamrock
The white jersey with the green numbers were beautiful and from a memorable upset win which shouldn’t count for anything but too bad, for me it does. The ’14 Shamrock blues worn in Indianapolis against Purdue were a disaster. Not quite 16-seed bad but still plenty awful.
4. ’88 Throwback over ’12 Shamrock
Not going to lie, next round is going to be really tough for me to decide in the moment. The ’88 Throwback might have sounded a bit cheesy but looked awesome while the ’12 Shamrock uniform was as ugly as Miami’s performance the night they were worn.
3. ’13 Shamrock over 14. ’16 Shamrock
The whites at Jerry World in Dallas were beautiful in knocking off Arizona State while the ’16 Shamrock would have been in real discussion for my 16-seed. Easy win for ’13 here.
6. ’05 Bush Push Green over 11. ’18 Senior Night Green
The hunter green was a gorgeous look while the neon green did nothing for me although anytime you beat up Florida State things look good. ’05 greens easy.
10. ’17 Rockne Tribute over 7. ’98 Gator Bowl
The Rockne Tribute jerseys worn in the Senior Day win over Navy were beautiful even if not that absurd looking. Probably why I liked them so much. Easy win for an awful seeding by the committee.
2. ’11 Under the Lights over 15. ’02 Green (BC)
Two games that make me vomit, the ’11 Under the Lights at Michigan uniforms were the best thing Adidas ever did during their time with Notre Dame.
Second Round – My Picks:
1. ’77 Throwbacks over 9. ’15 Shamrock
’77 Throwbacks are a powerhouse and were done perfectly, even down to the socks. Another blowout win for the ’77 Throwback, even if they were only worn in a blowout loss to USC.
5. ’91 Sugar Bowl over 4. ’88 Throwbacks
It was nearly a battle of national championship throwbacks but I couldn’t quite give it to ’88. Maybe it’s the memories of that Sugar Bowl as Mirer doing the gator chop in these is nothing short of awesome to me. Sugar Bowl white’s with green numbers moves on!
3. ’13 Shamrock over ’05 Bush Push Greens
Loved the Bush Push Greens in the moment but they’ve hardly withstood the test of time. Also have a brutally tough match-up here as those ’13 white uniforms in Dallas were tremendous.
10. ’17 Rockne Tribute over 2. ’11 Under the Lights
Fight me. The Rockne Tributes were a thing of beauty and the details even on the gold helmet were an excellent example of attention to detail. Final Four for them!
My Final Four Picks:
1. ’77 Throwbacks over 5. ’91 Sugar Bowl
This was close for me but those ’77 Throwbacks are a one-seed for a reason. They were just so near perfect even if they’d already been worn three decades earlier.
10. ’17 Rockne Tribute over 3. ’13 Shamrock
I told you how ridiculous it was that the Rockne’s were a 10-seed in the first round. How do you not love them? The cleats even looked old school that day!
Finals:
Whew boy, this is a powerhouse match-up for me. I guess it depends on what you’re feeling at the exact moment because these are my two favorites in the bracket by a fairly wide margin. I do have to give the edge to the Rockne’s though. Classic feel while being original gives it the slightest of edges to me.
10. ’17 Rockne Tribute over 1. ’77 Throwbacks
Enjoy their bracket over at OFD and again, following it by clicking here.
UPDATE: One of my favorites went down in round one but I did go 6-2 in the opening round, still having three of my final four picks remaining!