[BostonCard]

I got the sense that early on, we picked games we should win for the black unis, for the same reason that homecoming is often on a winnable game.  You want the "special" experience to be associated with a good outcome.  The last few years, we've deployed the black unis for more important games.  For example, I got the sense that the original plan was to use the black uniforms for Notre Dame, but that it was switched up for the Conference Championship when the Notre Dame became irrelevant.

BC

[BostonCard]

I got the sense that early on, we picked games we should win for the black unis, for the same reason that homecoming is often on a winnable game.  You want the "special" experience to be associated with a good outcome.  The last few years, we've deployed the black unis for more important games.  For example, I got the sense that the original plan was to use the black uniforms for Notre Dame, but that it was switched up for the Conference Championship when the Notre Dame became irrelevant.

BC

[Rally]

Well, there can be a placebo effect, or a "Dumbo's crow's feather" illusion.  A little like baseball players who pull one of their back pockets out or wear their socks a certain way.  It'll feel like it has an effect (like my new sneakers) until it doesn't.  Then I guess we will need to find some new totem.

Gotta say though, ferrari, I too shaved all extremities, chest and back (even where I really had no hair) for the state meet every year.  I will testify that there is an incredible sensation when one dives in the first time.  I felt slippery in the extreme.  I feel pretty certain, however, that it had no more effect on my performance than did my sneakers.

Oh yes, slippery.  Then there is the ritual of shaving arms and legs, building the anticipation of great things.  The first time a coach told me to shave I didn't know what he was talking about, so asked.  I have always been naive.  A friend of mine took coach literally.  He walked around for a week afterwards with his arms and legs spread wide as hair grew back, bristly, in certain areas. :)

[Rally]

Well, there can be a placebo effect, or a "Dumbo's crow's feather" illusion.  A little like baseball players who pull one of their back pockets out or wear their socks a certain way.  It'll feel like it has an effect (like my new sneakers) until it doesn't.  Then I guess we will need to find some new totem.

Gotta say though, ferrari, I too shaved all extremities, chest and back (even where I really had no hair) for the state meet every year.  I will testify that there is an incredible sensation when one dives in the first time.  I felt slippery in the extreme.  I feel pretty certain, however, that it had no more effect on my performance than did my sneakers.

Oh yes, slippery.  Then there is the ritual of shaving arms and legs, building the anticipation of great things.  The first time a coach told me to shave I didn't know what he was talking about, so asked.  I have always been naive.  A friend of mine took coach literally.  He walked around for a week afterwards with his arms and legs spread wide as hair grew back, bristly, in certain areas. :)

[CornFed]

[quote author=CornFed link=topic=14322.msg152545#msg152545 date=1452637569]
...I feel pretty certain, however, that it had no more effect on my performance than did my sneakers.

You swam in sneakers? I posit that they did have an effect.
[/quote]

Iowa high school swimming is a lot like some horse racing.  Faster swimmers were burdened by having to wear sneakers to make the competition more fair.  I was really fast, but not when I was swimming with sneakers.  I think it is safe to say that I would have won my event by even more in an open competition.

[CornFed]

[quote author=CornFed link=topic=14322.msg152545#msg152545 date=1452637569]
...I feel pretty certain, however, that it had no more effect on my performance than did my sneakers.

You swam in sneakers? I posit that they did have an effect.
[/quote]

Iowa high school swimming is a lot like some horse racing.  Faster swimmers were burdened by having to wear sneakers to make the competition more fair.  I was really fast, but not when I was swimming with sneakers.  I think it is safe to say that I would have won my event by even more in an open competition.

[Rally]

[quote author=Robbie link=topic=14322.msg152576#msg152576 date=1452644344]
[quote author=CornFed link=topic=14322.msg152545#msg152545 date=1452637569]
...I feel pretty certain, however, that it had no more effect on my performance than did my sneakers.

You swam in sneakers? I posit that they did have an effect.
[/quote]

Iowa high school swimming is a lot like some horse racing.  Faster swimmers were burdened by having to wear sneakers to make the competition more fair.  I was really fast, but not when I was swimming with sneakers.  I think it is safe to say that I would have won my event by even more in an open competition.
[/quote]

I'll take your sneakers over my ratty old sweats any day, CornFed.  Are you the guy who set records at CalTech?

[Rally]

[quote author=Robbie link=topic=14322.msg152576#msg152576 date=1452644344]
[quote author=CornFed link=topic=14322.msg152545#msg152545 date=1452637569]
...I feel pretty certain, however, that it had no more effect on my performance than did my sneakers.

You swam in sneakers? I posit that they did have an effect.
[/quote]

Iowa high school swimming is a lot like some horse racing.  Faster swimmers were burdened by having to wear sneakers to make the competition more fair.  I was really fast, but not when I was swimming with sneakers.  I think it is safe to say that I would have won my event by even more in an open competition.
[/quote]

I'll take your sneakers over my ratty old sweats any day, CornFed.  Are you the guy who set records at CalTech?

[CornFed]

[quote author=CornFed link=topic=14322.msg152604#msg152604 date=1452649514]
[quote author=Robbie link=topic=14322.msg152576#msg152576 date=1452644344]
[quote author=CornFed link=topic=14322.msg152545#msg152545 date=1452637569]
...I feel pretty certain, however, that it had no more effect on my performance than did my sneakers.

You swam in sneakers? I posit that they did have an effect.
[/quote]

Iowa high school swimming is a lot like some horse racing.  Faster swimmers were burdened by having to wear sneakers to make the competition more fair.  I was really fast, but not when I was swimming with sneakers.  I think it is safe to say that I would have won my event by even more in an open competition.
[/quote]

I'll take your sneakers over my ratty old sweats any day, CornFed.  Are you the guy who set records at CalTech?
[/quote]

I can't say I've ever been to CalTech.  What kind of records?

[CornFed]

[quote author=CornFed link=topic=14322.msg152604#msg152604 date=1452649514]
[quote author=Robbie link=topic=14322.msg152576#msg152576 date=1452644344]
[quote author=CornFed link=topic=14322.msg152545#msg152545 date=1452637569]
...I feel pretty certain, however, that it had no more effect on my performance than did my sneakers.

You swam in sneakers? I posit that they did have an effect.
[/quote]

Iowa high school swimming is a lot like some horse racing.  Faster swimmers were burdened by having to wear sneakers to make the competition more fair.  I was really fast, but not when I was swimming with sneakers.  I think it is safe to say that I would have won my event by even more in an open competition.
[/quote]

I'll take your sneakers over my ratty old sweats any day, CornFed.  Are you the guy who set records at CalTech?
[/quote]

I can't say I've ever been to CalTech.  What kind of records?

[Rally]

[quote author=ferrari link=topic=14322.msg152637#msg152637 date=1452659679]
[quote author=CornFed link=topic=14322.msg152604#msg152604 date=1452649514]
[quote author=Robbie link=topic=14322.msg152576#msg152576 date=1452644344]
[quote author=CornFed link=topic=14322.msg152545#msg152545 date=1452637569]
...I feel pretty certain, however, that it had no more effect on my performance than did my sneakers.

You swam in sneakers? I posit that they did have an effect.
[/quote]

Iowa high school swimming is a lot like some horse racing.  Faster swimmers were burdened by having to wear sneakers to make the competition more fair.  I was really fast, but not when I was swimming with sneakers.  I think it is safe to say that I would have won my event by even more in an open competition.
[/quote]

I'll take your sneakers over my ratty old sweats any day, CornFed.  Are you the guy who set records at CalTech?
[/quote]

I can't say I've ever been to CalTech.  What kind of records?
[/quote]

Wrong swimmer.  'Scuse the ring.  Someone on here once posted about their swimming records at CalTech; thought it might be you.  Frosh year at Stanford, at the end of a hard workout, Coach Gaughren (I forget how he spelled his name just now) asked whose high school had the fastest 4 X 50 relay time.  Turned out to be mine, top 10 in the country the year before., 1:30.00.  He put together a team of 4 Olympians, including the world record holder in the 100 butterfly, the world record holder in the 200 free, and blew his whistle.  Demolished our time :)

[Rally]

[quote author=ferrari link=topic=14322.msg152637#msg152637 date=1452659679]
[quote author=CornFed link=topic=14322.msg152604#msg152604 date=1452649514]
[quote author=Robbie link=topic=14322.msg152576#msg152576 date=1452644344]
[quote author=CornFed link=topic=14322.msg152545#msg152545 date=1452637569]
...I feel pretty certain, however, that it had no more effect on my performance than did my sneakers.

You swam in sneakers? I posit that they did have an effect.
[/quote]

Iowa high school swimming is a lot like some horse racing.  Faster swimmers were burdened by having to wear sneakers to make the competition more fair.  I was really fast, but not when I was swimming with sneakers.  I think it is safe to say that I would have won my event by even more in an open competition.
[/quote]

I'll take your sneakers over my ratty old sweats any day, CornFed.  Are you the guy who set records at CalTech?
[/quote]

I can't say I've ever been to CalTech.  What kind of records?
[/quote]

Wrong swimmer.  'Scuse the ring.  Someone on here once posted about their swimming records at CalTech; thought it might be you.  Frosh year at Stanford, at the end of a hard workout, Coach Gaughren (I forget how he spelled his name just now) asked whose high school had the fastest 4 X 50 relay time.  Turned out to be mine, top 10 in the country the year before., 1:30.00.  He put together a team of 4 Olympians, including the world record holder in the 100 butterfly, the world record holder in the 200 free, and blew his whistle.  Demolished our time :)

[CornFed]

It was that sort of demonstration that caused great soul-searching for me as I began to realize how ordinary I was in an extraordinary environment.

[CornFed]

It was that sort of demonstration that caused great soul-searching for me as I began to realize how ordinary I was in an extraordinary environment.