CAM SPORTING "THE SHIRT" 2011 VERSION (the back of the shirt is hanging behind him).

In honor of College Colors Day, the Original Retro Brand continues their season long look at College Football Cheering sections, and today we make our second stop on the tour by meeting with Cameron Thorpe, who is a member of  ‘The Shirt Committee.’ which works on “The Shirt Project.”  While “The Shirt Committee/Project” isn’t the actual cheering section (there is no official name for this), the role it plays for the 80,000 plus that fill the seats on Saturdays is undeniable.

Andy:  Can you tell us in a nutshell, what the “The Shirt Project” is all about?

Cam: “The Shirt” is a shirt designed every year by a committee of students, and come opening day of the football season you can see it all over the Notre Dame campus.  But it’s more than just a student section shirt.  The Shirt Project is a charity primarily.  All of our profits go back to the students by helping pay for students with extraordinary medical conditions that require payment beyond their means, helping students pay for dances, football tickets, books, etc. that they could not otherwise afford, and contributing to student clubs and organizations.

Andy:  Yes, MUCH MORE than just a shirt.  What is your title, and what are some of your responsibilities as a member of The Shirt Committee?

Cam: I was an executive committee member for The Shirt Project.  Our committee consisted of seven students, and we all got together weekly to design the shirt, plan the marketing, plan the unveiling ceremony, along with many other tasks.  So we were all involved with a number of different responsibilities.  However, my primary contribution was designing the website (theshirt.nd.edu), and keeping it updated throughout the year.

Andy:  When is the “Unveiling” planned for this year, and who will be the featured speaker?

CAM WEARING "THE SHIRT" IN FRONT OF "TOUCHDOWN JESUS."

Cam: The unveiling happens every year the Friday before the Blue and Gold game in the spring.  The past two years Head Coach Brian Kelly has spoken, and was up on the stage with us as the shirt was unveiled.  Last year Mike Golic (ND & NFL alum) was the MC for the event as well.  So it has really turned into a pretty cool event, and the whole weekend is a pretty fun time.

Andy:  You’d have to live under a rockne, I mean rock, to not know about the glorious traditions of Notre Dame Football.  Did you grow up your entire life a Notre Dame fan?  Can you try and explain what Saturday football mornings at South Bend are like – especially on “Unveiling” day?

Cam: Notre Dame football really is something special.  I grew up in New Hampshire, and had no family ties or friends who went to Notre Dame, but there was always a draw for me.  I remember my Dad and I watching the games and kind of becoming fans during the Brady Quinn/Jeff Samardzija days when I was in high school, but nothing compares to being in South Bend for a football Saturday.  Waking up for that first Saturday freshman year vs. San Diego St. and walking around campus was unbelievable.  Seeing a campus of about 10,000 people turn into one with about 110,000 people is mind blowing, and everything from the football games on the quads to the people grilling and tailgating in all the parking lots, to the student concession stands is truly something you have to experience. One of the coolest things that I really feel makes ND special is how friendly our fans are too.  Everyone is so excited for the game and random people will give you food and drinks at their tailgates, you’ll see ND fans pointing the opposing fans in the directions they need to go, and you even see a ton of tailgates with fans from both schools mingling (unless it’s USC or Michigan). It’s a pretty awesome experience.  The Unveiling day is kind of a way to bring people a taste of the fall in the spring.  We schedule it the same weekend as the Blue and Gold game so that the whole weekend really becomes a “football weekend.”  Crowds show up to see the new Shirt and buy it so that Saturday you get the same tailgating and crowds packing Notre Dame stadium as any other game.

NOTRE DAME WEARING THESE 1950's THROWBACK HELMETS SATURDAY NIGHT AT THE BIG HOUSE

Andy:  We understand that you have an obvious emotional attachment to “The Shirt.”  It’s a long season though, and you also like wearing The Original Retro Brand gear. What is it you like so much about our line?

Cam:  The Retro Brand t-shirt fits great and is very soft and comfortable.  I like it because it’s a really cool design (Cam wearing the shirt he’s talking about to the left) where I could wear it to a game or around campus, but it’s a comfortable enough shirt to just wear when I’m lounging around.  From one shirt designer to another I give it a thumbs up!

Andy:  Thanks for the thumbs up, and the great work you do Cam!

The Fighting Irish visit their aforementioned arch-enemy Michigan Wolverines this Saturday, in what will be the first home night game ever “Under the Lights” in Ann Arbor.

WORKS A HARD DAY'S KNIGHT

In honor of College Colors Day, for the duration of the College Football season, the Original Retro Brand will be interviewing students, alumni, and faculty from colleges across the country to get some insight as to what makes college football so special and unique to them and their school, and we’re going to start now….

Finally, it’s upon us.  College football begins Thursday night.  College Colors Day is this Friday – The day when College Football fans don their school colors to show support for their team.  The UCF Knights open up their season on Saturday, and UCF grad, and sports illustrator/artist Brian Perrymond will be at the ready with his paint brush in one hand, a remote in the other, and an Original Retro Brand shirt on his body!

Andy:  I’m guessing you were (still are?) a regular at Knights games when you were in school?

Brian: Of course!  I should preface by saying I’m a college football fan first and foremost.  I love it all!  I grew up watching the great announcer Keith Jackson call all those classic games on Saturdays.  Once I got into college and found out students could get into football games with their college ID’s, I was there.  I didn’t miss one game while I was in school.  It was a ton of fun going down to the Citrus Bowl to watch my Knights.  Daunte Culpepper was the QB back then, and UCF was beginning to play some big programs.  The stadium was live and we supported the Knights big time!!

Andy:  When your not watching football, you’re obviously painting.  You have produced some of the most outstanding sports illustrations and paintings I’ve ever seen!!  I’m no art critic, but I’ll go out on a limb and formally declare your work AMAZING!  Where did this talent come from – were you formally trained?

Brian: Thanks for the kind words Andy..I appreciate it.  Well, I’ve been fortunate.  I did not know any artists growing up.  I was fascinated with drawing from a young age.  Drawing was something that I enjoyed so much, that I just drew all the time -  especially in my classes.  I became infatuated with making every new drawing better than the previous.  My senior year in High School, my art teacher took my drawings and submitted them to the Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phoenix City, AL.,  that landed me a scholarship.  That’s when my formal art training began.  Afterwords, I attended the University of Central Florida where I was pushed and encouraged by some great instructors.  I also had the chance to freelance for the Orlando Sentinel which gave me some great experience as well.  Following college I had the chance to do an apprenticeship with master portrait painter Hoeun Chung in Atlanta.  Talent, along with great instruction and hard work is what has brought my art to where it is today.

TALENT EVERYWHERE!

Andy:  Maybe George O’Leary’s boys will work as hard as you do this year!  While you cover boxing, horse racing, basketball and football throughout your gallery, the majority of your work seems to focus on baseball and the Negro Leagues.  I’m guessing baseball is your main inspiration?  Can you explain?

Brian: Not necessarily baseball.  Sports in general is something in which I have enjoyed throughout my life and that’s what has inspired me.  When I first began painting, I painted what interested me.  I love history, and I found the game of baseball and the historic Negro Leagues fascinating.  When you see old baseball photographs, you get a feel of how it was America’s game.  I love the way the the fans would dress up in their Sunday best  to got out to  the ballgame.  I just wanted to show my perspective on how I saw baseball, and that’s how the series of those pieces came about.  I’m inspired today by what continues to interest me most, so I enjoy mixing things up to keep my work fresh.

Andy:  Speaking of fresh, I know you’ve sold paintings to the likes of Andre 3000 from Outkast, and had work commissioned by the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame and the Kennedy Space Center to name a few.  Are you currently working on any new projects for celebrities and/or similar institutions?

Brian: I’m currently working on a commissioned painting for Mr. Michael German of the  U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness.  He’s a celebrity in my eyes.  He’s making an impact on the lives of the people who need help the most.  He’s given me the chance to work from one of his old family photographs that depicts his family back in the day.  I love taking an old black and white photo and making it a painting.   Beyond that project, I’m   producing new work for upcoming  shows and taking  personal commissions as they come.

WEAR WHAT THE CELEBS WEAR

Andy:  Your a celebrity in our eyes Brian!  You’ve collected a few Original Retro Brand shirts over the years.  What is it you love so much about the brand?

Brian: These shirts are by far the most comfortable shirts that I have without question.  I enjoy the unique throwback look that the shirts have as well as the cut and the colors.  I just feel really comfortable when I’m wearing them.

Thanks for taking a few minutes with us today Brian.  Congratulations on all your success, and good look to the Knights this year!  To view Brian’s gallery and to commission him for a painting, you can visit his website at Brianperrymond.com

Please be sure to check back with us this Thursday, as next up on our season long College Colors Day tour we’ll visit the “Tent City” known as Paternoville (that’d be right outside of Beaver Stadium, home of the Penn State Nittany Lions).

30 DAYS AND COUNTING!

College football is just 30 days away with 15 Division I games scheduled for Thursday, September 1 – WOO-HOO!  College Colors Day - wear your college colors! – kicks off the following day, and even has a countdown clock ticking away every hour, minute, and second until the whistle blows.  The ESPN game that Friday night will feature the defending Rose Bowl Champion (and undefeated) TCU Horned Frogs versus in-state rivals, the Baylor Bears.  What does all this have to do with a Retro Rewind? Nothing other than an excuse to talk about COLLEGE FOOTBALL and that the Baylor Bears are a good lead in for a retro rewind….

15 years ago yesterday, Baylor Bear Michael Johnson broke the World record in the 200 meters to win his second Gold Medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta (the other was in the 400 meters, making Johnson the first man ever to win both at the same Olympics).  Remember his all-metallic gold sneaks?  How about the emotional tear streaming down his face on the podium?

RUNNING BEAR

I was managing and bartending at an Atlanta hot spot at the time (Pat Hurley’s Backyard Atlanta peeps?), and our owners had set up a make-shift monstrosity near the Olympic Village downtown called World Bar in an attempt to cash in on thirsty visitors.  The World Bar fit right in with the much bigger neighboring monstrosity coined “Tent City” – A grotesque display of corporate promotion which more resembled Spring Break in Daytona than a quaint village.  …..oh yeah, on top of that we had a horrible mascot named Izzy, and a bombing in Centennial Olympic Park.

The point is that along with all of the bad, there were plenty of silver linings (to go with a world best 44 Gold Medals).  There was Muhammad Ali lighting the torch for the opening ceremony, Kerri Strug and her one footed landing (which led to Gold and a Wheaties cover)), Andre Aggasi winning a Gold, and of course Mr. Johnson.

GOLD STANDARD (photo The Daily Champion)

Before we go, just wanted to mention that on this day in 1992, another amazing Olympic track & field athlete became the first woman to ever win back to back Gold Medals in the heptathlon (7 events).  UCLA Bruin Jackie Joyner-Kersee took care of business first at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea, then again at the 1992 games in Barcelona, Spain.

JACKIE GOT A WHEATIES COVER TOO! (photo LIFE)

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COME GET SOME ALBERT!

We can answer that for you.  In our biggest voter tally to date in the Original Retro Brand “Mascot Wars Bracket Challenge”, we have two clear cut winners from last week’s semi-final match-ups.

Clear cut is putting it mildly, as Albert E. Gator from Florida took Sparty of Michigan State by the neck, and took him for a permanent dip in the Swamp! Albert took in a staggering 89% of the vote (over 400 votes cast).  The Texas Longhorns came into the semi’s boasting a 3 week winning streak in which they dominated their opponents – Bevo was the overall top vote getter each of those 3 weeks.  Then came the little tough green guy from Notre Dame – yep, the Leprechaun gave Bevo a taste of his own medicine by grabbing him by the horns, and boxing his ears to the tune of “When Irish Eyes are Votin’”  78% of the vote went to the Leprechaun.

So along with the glorious pomp & pageantry of College Colors Day this Friday, and the official opening weekend of the 2010 College football season, the Championship of the ORB “Mascot Wars Bracket Challenge” will also be crowned.

TIME FOR A DIP LEPRECHAUN!

Will it be Albert E. Gator (Hey Gator freaks – What does the “E.” stand for anyway?) of Florida, or the Leprechaun of Notre Dame?  Last time these guys met on the field in a big bowl game, Jerome Bettis scored 3 touchdowns to lead the # 18 Irish in a comeback victory over the heavily favored # 3 Gators 39-28 in the 1992 Sugar Bowl.  Can they do it again?  Well the polls are officially NOW OPEN for voting in the FINAL ROUND, SO HAVE AT IT!!

The Polls will close this Thursday, 9/2/10  @ 9pm PCT. We will reveal the winning Mascot on Friday’s blog post (9/3/10).  We will also announce the TOP 3 Prize Winners for the $250, $150, and $75 worth of Original Retro Brand merchandise respectively.

Adam Carnow is one of many voters who picked both match-ups correctly in the voting last week, but he is the winner of the FREE Original Retro Brand T-shirt by virtue of a drawing.  This is what Adam had to say upon learning he won:  “Thanks so much!  Wow, what a great honor and gift!  I love your stuff!  It is the best!  I have bought a bunch of it already and will continue to do so and I tell every sports fan I know about it.” We’re happy, you’re happy – Congrats Adam!

Again, be sure to check back this Friday, September 3rd, when we’ll post the Final results!

Will Florida or Notre Dame win the 2011 BCS Championship game this year?  Scroll right to the bottom and vote in the poll to let us know who you think the early season favorite is -

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And then there were 4.  That’s right, just 4 ORB College Mascot T-shirts left “hanging” in the Original Retro Brand “Mascot Wars Bracket Challenge.“  We started with 32 back on July 19th, and a week from today we’ll have our 2 finalists and the eventual champion to be crowned on College Colors Day, Friday, September 3rd.  How’d your mascot do in the voting last week?  Check the brief video for round # 3 results, and then you can place your votes for Round # 4 below.

Did I mention in that video how much I hate the Gators?  I hate the Gators (I have to admit they have awesome ORB t’s).  Florida has beaten my Dawgs (yes, they’re mine!) 17 out of the last 20 meetings on the field, and now I have to deal with Albert kicking UGA’s butt in this thing?  Moving on….

Dimitri Karakitsosis is one of many voters who picked all 4 match-ups correctly in the voting last week, but he is the winner of the FREE Original Retro Brand T-shirt by virtue of a drawing.  Dimitri also finds himself in 2nd place at the moment, in the overall bracket picture.  Here are the Top 5 as of today (below).  Remember the top 3 will win prizes of $250, $150, and $75 worth of ORB merchandise respectively.

Enough of my yackin’ already, the POLLS ARE NOW OPEN FOR ROUND # 4…..TIME TO VOTE!!

Be sure to check back next Monday, August 30th, when we’ll post the round # 4 results along with the winner of the FREE Original Retro Brand T-Shirt.  Of course, the Championship voting for the final 2 Mascots will be ready too!

FOR MORE GREAT DEALS, CONTESTS, AND FUN FROM THE ORIGINAL RETRO BRAND,  BECOME A FAN ON FACEBOOK AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER.

If you went to college, or have a favorite college team, chances are that college will be represented in this video somewhere, somehow.  Chances are the Original Retro Brand has a shirt, hat, or hoody for that college too.  Go to our College Section and pick yourself out something new for this football season. Enter code FREESHIP @ checkout, and we’ll give you FREE GROUND SHIPPING on your order (offer good through Tuesday 8/24/10 @ midnight PCT)!   COLLEGE FOOTBALL STARTS IN JUST 2 WEEKS FROM TODAY. WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!!!

Original Retro Brand “Mascot Wars Bracket Challenge” update: There are still a few days left to vote for the 8 remaining mascots in round # 3;  Notre Dame’s Leprachaun vs. Oklahoma’s Sooner Schooner, Nebraska’s Herbie Husker vs. Bevo from Texas, Florida’s Albert E. Gator vs. Georgia’s UGA, and Michigan State’s Sparty vs. Chief Osceola from FSU.  Polls close this Sunday night, 8/22/10. We’ll announce the 4 winners on the blog Monday afternoon along with the winner of the FREE Original Retro Brand t-shirt. Polls will then re-open for the Semi-Final matchups.  Click here to vote Round # 3.

CLICK TO COLLEGE

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The last photo in the Original Retro Brand’s “Kickin’ Captions Contest”, gave our judges as much of a hard time picking the winner, as the refs gave yellow cards to the Dutch in Spain’s intense 1-0 World Cup Finals victory over the Netherlands.  Congratulations to Spain on their first World Cup title, and congratulations to Kristina Miller of Simi Valley, Ca.,  for picking the winning caption – check it out below:

"SPAIN CLEANED UP THE COMPETITION AT THE 2010 WORLD CUP."

Kristina chose this UCLA Women’s Basketball shirt as her prize; nice pick! Here are the best of the rest…..

“The only thing soft about Spain is its ORB shirts…everyone else is dirty laundry.” (The ORB shirt being soft reference almost got this caption the win!)

“Spain rises from the heap to WIN!!!”

“Spain takes the rest of the world to the cleaners”

“Be sure to separate whites from colors, ….and Spanish from Dutch”

“Spain has left the competition in need of Cycle Time”

“Spain is looking to Wash, Rinse, and REPEAT its 2008 Glory Days this Sunday!”

“Will it be orange crush or will Spain reign? Stay tuned, it will come out in the wash…”

“What shirt will Andy wear today?  Tune in on Tuesday for “The Decision – Part 2″ (I chose my favorite red Georgia Bulldogs shirt to wear today!  I hope I don’t get a nasty letter from the ORB owner as he is an Arizona Wildcat fan)

“The U.S.A. goes head over heels for Spain, which hangs high above the rest.”

As is our custom (well, most of the time anyway!), when we finish up one contest, we like to start another, and with College Football just a measly 7 1/2 weeks away we cannot resist. This Thursday 7/15/10, we’ll be kicking off “MASCOT WARS”, in which we’ll pit the Original Retro Brand’s TOP 32 College Mascot T-shirts in a bracket tournament to determine who is # 1.  The contest will run those 7 1/2 weeks leading up to the finals on College Colors Day, September 3rd.  Prizes will include $250 worth of  Original Retro Brand merchandise for 1st prize, $150 for 2nd, and $75 for 3rd.  THIS IS GOING TO BE OUR BEST CONTEST YET!  Be sure and check back Thursday for all the details!

FAVORITE GRAY UGA SHIRT @ COLLEGE COLORS DAY EVENT 2009

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I forgot to add one last thing……HASTA LA VISTA YOU LOUSY, (insert latest Mel Gibson rant here),  VUVUZELAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!