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USA Today
12-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Ranking all 16 Southeastern Conference football helmets heading into the 2025 campaign
Ranking all 16 Southeastern Conference football helmets heading into the 2025 campaign The Southeastern Conference is the most iconic league in college football, with a history dating back to 1932 when 13 members of the then-recently defunct Southern Conference joined together to form what is now known as the SEC. Over the 90-plus years of existence, the league has boasted some of the best teams of all time. The SEC has also carried a reputation for sporting some of most iconic helmets on the collegiate gridiron. With the additions of the Texas Longhorns and Oklahoma Sooners to the league last season, the conference is now truly stacked, as even the weaker offerings are still among the best the sport has to offer. Below is a look at Gators Wire's updated rankings of all 16 member schools' helmets ahead of the 2025 campaign, including the Florida Gators. No. 16: Ole Miss Rebels Even though Ole Miss's helmets are last in this ranking, their toppers are not terrible. It just lacks the oomph one looks for in a sport that is fueled by violence. The script university nickname just does not inspire much fear or excitement — it makes me want to drink a mint julep in a calm grove. No. 15: Tennessee Volunteers The shade known as Tennessee Orange is an abomination and the T logo's font just does not work for me. The design and color scheme are far outdated, making it difficult for me to take the team seriously sometimes while watching the games. No teeth at all to it. Read more at Vols Wire No. 14: Mississippi State Bulldogs There is simply nothing remarkable about Mississippi State's football helmet. The logo is dated as is the primary color; on the other hand, that vintage shade is rarely seen, giving it a bit of novelty. That said, the overall design is the epitome of mid. No. 13: Vanderbilt Commodores Commodores have a tough act to follow in the SEC, but their helmets are fairly solid. The star and capital V logo is admittedly tidy, as is the black-on-gold color theme, but it is a little bit bland. Perhaps if they were better on the field, I would have a rosier view of them. No. 12: Georgia Bulldogs Sure, the 'Dawgs have been a powerhouse program this past half decade but face it, the logo is pretty generic: Grambling State uses it as well as does the Green Bay Packers. The red, black and white color scheme is robust but just not enough to overcome the lack of originality. These helmets could be ranked lower if the program were less successful. Read more at UGA Wire No. 11: South Carolina Gamecocks Something just does not sit well with me when I look at the logo enclosed within a weirdly fonted capital C. The fighting cock does look formidable despite what appears to be a broken neck but the color scheme draws away from it a bit. It is a 3.6 Roentgen design overall: not great, not terrible. No. 10: Missouri Tigers The visage of the Tiger is an improvement over the old block M logo, but it still lacks a little oomph — not to mention there might be too many tiger mascots in the conference. The color scheme is strong and the roaring cat does get you amped, so it is nothing to be ashamed of. Alabama's signature helmet would be ranked even lower if they were not so iconic. Sure, simplicity is an important factor in getting the aesthetics correct but the player numbers on the plain red background is just too generic to land too high on this list. Read more at Roll Tide Wire No. 8: Oklahoma Sooners The Sooners also benefit from the iconic nature of their design, but like some of the previous entries, the excitement stops there. The crimson and cream color scheme works, but the block letter logo just lacks some pizazz. Still, not a bad landing spot in the grand scheme of things. Read more at Sooners Wire No. 7: Kentucky Wildcats Kentucky's overall design is clean with a blue and white palette to work with. The interlocking letters of the logo are somewhat of an overused design, but the execution is very well done, giving the Wildcats a fresher look than some of their SEC peers. Read more at UK Wildcats Wire No. 6: Auburn Tigers Auburn gets credit for its burnt orange and navy color scheme plus some iconic points as well. The logo design with the two colors used as outline and fill really pops off the white helmets and represents one of the better abbreviations seen on helmets. Read more at Auburn Wire I have to hand it to TAMU, their helmet design is one of the better ones in the SEC. The symmetry of the A and M underneath the larger T is top-notch, and while I do not particularly love the color maroon, it just works for them. Read more at Aggies Wire No. 4: LSU Tigers The highest-ranked Tigers on this list land in this spot due to a convergence of its iconic nature — particularly the old-school tiger visage — as well as its royal colors of purple and gold. These helmets look like they mean business, and while they do lack a more modern feel, they still are among the best in the SEC. Read more at LSU Wire No. 3: Arkansas Razorbacks The running razorback gets me, to be perfectly honest — anyone who knows anything about feral hogs knows that they are formidable threats when disturbed. Then add the cardinal red color which gives a feel of both anger and blood and you have a recipe for a great football helmet. No. 2: Texas Longhorns Originally, the 'Horns were the top of this list, but I had a change of heart when it came to this update. Texas and its Longhorn logo in burnt orange on a background of white is the perfect mix of clean, iconic and fearsome for a football helmet. The slight iridescence of the modern logo adds a nice final touch to an already near-perfect look. Read more at Longhorns Wire No. 1: Florida Gators Florida's strength in these rankings comes from a combination of its epic orange and blue color scheme as well as the iconic script Gators logo. Unlike Ole Miss' script-based design, these bad boys mean business, especially considering the success the program has seen since implementing it. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Country Star's Puzzling Reaction at the 2025 AMAs Left Fans Screaming
Did you catch Shaboozey's reaction at the 2025 American Music Awards? Country music fans certainly did. Shaboozey's now-viral moment took place during the May 26 ceremony, when he and fellow country star Megan Moroney presented the award for Favorite Country Duo or Group to the eventual winners, Dan+Shay. Both Shaboozey and Moroney represent the new generation of country music. Megan's breakout success came in 2022, when 'Tennessee Orange' reached the top 10 on the Billboard Country charts. Shaboozey (born Collins Chibueze) had the biggest hit of 2024 with 'A Bar Song (Tipsy),' going 19 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. While these two represent country music's future, something Megan said about its past left Shaboozey briefly speechless. In the lead-up to presenting the award, Shaboozey honored Charley Pride, who won the inaugural American Music Award for Favorite Male Country Artist in 1974. 'That same year,' said Megan, 'Favorite Female Artist went to Lynn Anderson, and this award [Favorite Country Duo or Group] went to The Carter Family, who basically invented country music.' Shaboozey then paused and let out a laugh. While this could have been him reading the next part on the teleprompter, the pause was all the Internet needed. 'Shaboozey's face when she said the Carter Family 'created country music' is frying me!' wrote one fan on X. 'The way his soul left his body from cringing,' said another, while a third wrote, 'his reaction is everything.' The Carter Family rose to fame in the 1920s and is considered highly influential in the development of country music as a genre. In 1974, the era Megan referenced, the Carter Family was two generations older, according to The Tennessean, with 'Mother' Maybelle Carter and the Carter Sisters (June and Anita) operating under the 'Carter Family' name. The Tennessean notes that 'traditional' country music comes from African, English, German, and other folk traditions, and that a Black artist named Lesley Riddle taught many of the Appalachian folk songs to A.P. Carter and the rest of the Carter Family. Maybelle's daughter, June Carter, was a member of the group. She retained her maiden name when she married Johnny Cash, going by June Carter Cash until her death in Star's Puzzling Reaction at the 2025 AMAs Left Fans Screaming first appeared on Parade on May 27, 2025
Perth Now
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
My songwriting is painfully honest, says Megan Moroney
Megan Moroney believes her songwriting is "painfully honest". The 27-year-old singer has enjoyed a meteoric rise since releasing her debut album, 'Lucky', in 2023, and Megan believes that her popularity stems from the honesty of her songwriting. Speaking to People, she explained: "There's definitely strength in being painfully honest, even if it's hard to talk about whatever it is. And I feel like I've got a fan base of younger girls that really look up to me. So if I can be the one that tells them it's going to be okay, or I once felt this way and now I don't - I think it's brave, and I don't feel weaker for it." Megan's music is a reflection of her "life experiences". The singer is currently in the midst of penning her new album, and she insists that her songwriting "strategy" hasn't changed in recent years. She said: "I'm always writing. I mean, I would say that my next album is probably like 80 percent written. "I just try to live my life and write about it. So that's kind of how this next album is shaping up, too. Just like the last ones — I was writing about my life experiences. So the strategy behind it hasn't changed. It's still the same." Despite this, Megan revealed that her new record will be more "light and carefree and happy". She shared: "I would say I've still got the emo cowgirl staples on there because it wouldn't be a Megan Moroney album without some heart-wrenching thing, but I do think it's lighter and it's really fun. "I've got so many songs on my phone right now that I'm just like ... I know my fans are just going to freak out." Meanwhile, Megan previously admitted to feeling inspired by Kacey Musgraves. The 'Tennessee Orange' hitmaker admitted to being wowed by Kacey's songwriting talents. Speaking to NME about her musical inspirations, Megan explained: "Anything with Kacey next to it freaks me out, because she's the reason I wanted to write songs. She's such a smart writer and I fell in love with it."
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
How Megan Moroney Has Found Strength in Her 'Painfully Honest' Songwriting (Exclusive)
Megan Moroney's next album is "probably 80% written" She spoke with PEOPLE at Monday's American Music Awards The country star teases her next work as "light and carefree and happy"When it comes to her next album, Megan Moroney's strategy remains unchanged: She's going to open up about the good, the bad and the heartbreaking parts of her life. "I'm always writing. I mean, I would say that my next album is probably like 80% written," the country star, 27, told PEOPLE on the red carpet at the American Music Awards in Las Vegas on Monday, May 26. "I just try to live my life and write about it. So that's kind of how this next album is shaping up, too. Just like the last ones — I was writing about my life experiences. So the strategy behind it hasn't changed. It's still the same." The upcoming album, though, will be more "light and carefree and happy." "I would say I've still got the emo cowgirl staples on there because it wouldn't be a Megan Moroney album without some heart-wrenching thing, but I do think it's lighter and it's really fun,"the "Tennessee Orange" singer said. "I've got so many songs on my phone right now that I'm just like..." Moroney affects an evil laugh. "I know my fans are just going to freak out." . Since her debut album, Lucky, which was released in 2023, Moroney has had a meteoric rise to stardom, somewhat due to her willingness to be vulnerable in her songs. "There's definitely strength in being painfully honest, even if it's hard to talk about whatever it is," she said. "And I feel like I've got a fan base of younger girls that really look up to me. So if I can be the one that tells them it's going to be okay, or I once felt this way and now I don't — I think it's brave, and I don't feel weaker for it." Moroney is currently on her Am I Okay? tour, continuing through the summer. Get info on tickets here. Read the original article on People
USA Today
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Shaboozey side-eyes Megan Moroney at American Music Awards over 'invented country' comment
Shaboozey side-eyes Megan Moroney at American Music Awards over 'invented country' comment Show Caption Hide Caption Shaboozey is the No. 1 artist on SiriusXM's Galaxy 50 roundup for 2024 Breakout artist Shaboozey came in at No.1 on SiriusXM's Galaxy 50 list, curated by programmers at the satellite radio company. Shaboozey is speaking out after his side-eye of fellow country star Megan Moroney during the American Music Awards raised some eyebrows. During the Memorial Day telecast, the "A Bar Song" hitmaker presented the favorite country duo or group award alongside the "Tennessee Orange" crooner. He told the audience in-person and at home that "country music has been an important part of AMA history." "The very first year of this show, the award for favorite male country artist went to the great Charley Pride," Shaboozey said, in reference to the late Black country music pioneer who died of COVID-19 in 2020. "That same year, favorite female artist went to Lynn Anderson. And this award went to the Carter Family, who basically invented country music," Moroney said, reading off a teleprompter. Then, Shaboozey side-eyed the statement. The AMAs sizzled with a kiss from JLo, a flip from Benson Boone and a tribute to Rod Stewart In a series of X posts May 27, Shaboozey addressed the comments and told fans to "Google, Lesley Riddle, Steve Tartar, Harry Gay, Defoe Bailey, and The Carter Family..." and added that "when you uncover the true history of country music, you find a story so powerful that it cannot be erased." "The real history of country music is about people coming together despite their differences and embracing and celebrating the things that make us alike," wrote Shaboozey, who is Black. The moment, too, marked another chapter in country music's complicated intersection with race in America. In recent years, Nashville has become increasingly polarized as the insulated industry reckons with its own handling of racial issues that have affected the careers of Morgan Wallen, Maren Morris, Beyoncé and Jason Aldean. The Carter Family didn't invent country music, despite Megan Moroney remarks Considered foundational country icons, the Carter Family were among the genre's early breakout stars, but they did not invent the genre. Many tie country music's roots back to the banjo being a West African musical instrument that, as far back as the 17th century, gained renown when Black Africans were first brought to the Americas as enslaved people. Three centuries of intertwining this tradition with English, German, Latin and Scotch-Irish folk traditions ultimately created the root of what is popularly regarded as "traditional" country music. The Carter Family: Country music group helped put genre on the map Lesley Riddle, a Black artist familiar to the nearby Appalachian hollers, taught the area's best songs to the Carter Family members A.P. Carter, his sister-in-law "Mother" Maybelle Carter and Maybelle's sister, Sara. He once told the Birthplace of Country Music Museum that he "was (A.P.'s) tape recorder." Notably, in the roughly dozen or so trips in a half-decade that A.P. Carter took alongside Riddle, he was taught songs including "The Cannonball," "Let the Church Roll On" and "Coal Miner's Blues." Not content to stop there, Riddle also helped Maybelle Carter develop her renowned "Carter Scratch" guitar style, featured in many Carter Family songs, including "Wildwood Flower." Beyoncé fans are tying 'Cowboy Carter' to country music's Carter Family. Here's why By the 1974 era referenced at the 2025 American Music Awards, the Carter Family was two generations into their legacy. Following A.P.'s death in 1960, "Mother" Maybelle Carter and the Carter Sisters began using the name "the Carter Family" for their act. Though instrumental in the Carter Family's legacy, Lesley Riddle left music in the 1940s. "There was no career in music in those years, and Lesley didn't try to make a career in music," Black author, singer-songwriter and ethnomusicologist Don Flemons told The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network, for a 2019 story. However, in 1965, at the behest of folklorist Mike Seeger, who documented Riddle's songs and stories before his 1980 death, the legendary performer began playing again. Race issues in Nashville have affected Beyonce, Morgan Wallen In recent years, Nashville has dodged its own reckoning surrounding the issue of race. While accepting the biggest CMA Award of her career in November 2020, Maren Morris paid tribute to Black women in country music, dedicating her female artist of the year win to Rhiannon Giddens, Yola, Linda Martell, Rissi Palmer, Mickey Guyton and Brittney Spencer — all generational Black women who have helped shift narratives in Nashville. "There are so many amazing Black women that pioneer and continue to pioneer this genre," Morris said. "I know they're gonna come after me. They've come before me. You've made this genre so, so beautiful. I hope you know that we see you." In May the following year, Morris criticized fellow country star Morgan Wallen after he shook the country music world – and the country – when a video surfaced of him using a racist slur in leaked home security footage. Morgan Wallen used a racist slur but his popularity is skyrocketing. How did we get here? In the summer of 2023, Morris foe Jason Aldean released "Try That in a Small Town" which topped the Billboard Hot 100. Its music video showed clips from protests in recent years and was quickly pulled from CMT after the criticism online, with some claiming the visual was a "dog whistle" aimed at Black people as others labeled the tune "pro-lynching." That September, the "My Church" singer announced that she was leaving the structural elements of country music behind as Taylor Swift and Kacey Musgraves did before her. "The stories going on within country music right now, I've tried to avoid a lot of it at all costs. I feel very, very distanced from it," she told the Los Angeles Times. "I had to take a step back. The way I grew up was so wrapped in country music, and the way I write songs is very lyrically structured in the Nashville way of doing things." While Beyoncé received the most Grammy nominations of any artist in November, last fall she was snubbed from the CMAs, which reignited cultural conversations surrounding the award show. Her country-inspired album "Cowboy Carter" was nominated for 11 Grammys, including five in the country and American roots music field. In September, Beyonce didn't receive a single CMA award nod while Wallen received the most nominations with a total of seven nods. Eight years earlier, the "Texas Hold 'Em" hitmaker was greeted with an icy reception while performing with The Chicks at the 2016 CMAs. "The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me. Act ii is a result of challenging myself and taking my time to bend and blend genres together to create this body of work," she wrote last year. One of the most lauded collaborators on "Cowboy Carter," which won album of the year at the 2025 Grammys? Shaboozey. Contributing: Taijuan Moorman, Caché McClay, Naledi Ushe; Matthew Leimkuehler, Nashville Tennessean
