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There is something impressive about someone (or someones) that can come up with a creative and comical Halloween costume. It's something I've never been able to grasp no matter how hard I try. Being creative on Halloween just isn't in my DNA. Take this year for example. I spent weeks trying to come up with something, anything that wasn't store bought and somewhat topical -- be it in Pop Culture or sports. The best thing I came up -- and ran with-- was an 8-0 Hawkeye football fan.
Aka, I wore a t-shirt and baseball hat and defended our schedule deep into the night to anyone that was willing to listen.
In all honesty, my most creative get-up ever was when I dressed as Mario Cart last year. That's right, my best costume of all time was stolen from thousands that had already done it before me. I just can't do it.
So when I started flipping through different social media outfits Sunday morning and saw what some of the Big Ten players donned for their nights out on their respective towns, I couldn't help but show my immense appreciation for their creativity and ability to pull off the impossible.
Best Couples Costume- Iowa's Mike Gesell and his "Boo"
Being a taken man myself -- and living in Orlando, Florida -- I have a soft spot for an original "Disney" couples costume idea. Do you know how hard it is to come up with something that's not Popeye and Olive Oil or the Plug and the Outlet? That's why I love this costume set so much. Going as James P. "Sulley" Sullivan and his adorable human energy source "Boo" is purely genius and something I haven't seen before. It's cute, it's cuddly and just down right heart melting.
Bonus points to Gesell for finding a cozy blue onesie and adding his own polkadots. Homemade costumes are the best costumes.
Best Group Costume- Michigan State Spartans
Straight outta East Lansing!
I can't begin to tell you how much I love this. As if guys like Denzel Valentine, Bryn Forbes and Tum Tum Nairn weren't already walking into any party on campus to instant fervor; but then they gotta roll through as N.W.A? If I set the over/under at 100 pictures taken with random students rolling around Michigan State, we'd have to pound the over right? There has got to be a ton of #SpartanHalloween pictures floating all over with Izzo's crew in the background mean mugging in their gold chains and Raiders swag.
What I appreciate the most though (outside of pulling off a six man group costume) is that it's uber relevant after the success of this past years movie. If only Izzo walked around with them dressed up as Jerry Heller.
No need to check yo-self Sparty... nothing but love over here.
Best 1992 Reference of All Time- Michigan's Spike Albrecht and Caris LeVert
If you have a creative, out of the box costume, i'll surely find a category for you to win and this by far is my favorite "1992 Pop Culture and Sports crossover costume" ever. I don't think it can ever be topped.
The only thing I can hope happened with excellent costume idea is that these two were in character the entire night, throwing out quotes like "You can put a cat in an oven, but that don't make it a biscuit" and "You are so stupid. It would take your mother one, no two hours to watch 60 Minutes".
YOU CANNOT HEAR JIMI! Love it.
Best Adam Sandler- Michigan's Sean Lonergan
Another Michigan player and yet another movie classic! For those that may be wondering, we have Happy Gilmore and one of the best jeering fan's in sports movie history (second only to the one and only Russ Tyler and his patented Knuckle Puck). I only wish Sean was wearing a Bruins jersey and that they at least got one (or three) of those fresh, delicious, tasty, meaty, turkey filled, cold cut combo's from Subway to throw into the picture.
Best Ninja- Michigan State's Eron Harris
It was a toss up between Harris and Nigel Hayes, but at the end of the day, he got me with the video.
The dedication to his character is simply stunning. While I'm sure Izzo wouldn't be all too thrilled with Harris running around dorm room halls doing Chuck Norris spin kicks and Bruce Lee karate chops, he has to respect the hustle. I've watched this video somewhere between three and two hundred times, and it still makes me laugh. The way he runs through the halls like he's some sort of video game ninja with a giant katana is amazing. I also enjoy that he's wearing sagged sweatpants while mastering these feats of strength, speed, agility, power and concentration.
I bow back in respect and honor, Eron.
Best Use of their Own Wardrobe- Northwestern's Bryant McIntosh
The Chuckie T's thoooooo!
Overall
Well there you have it folks, the 2015 BT Powerhouse Spooktacular Costume Contest Winners. It was a strong showing this year for the state of Michigan, bringing home four total trophies, featuring my two personal favorites in Spike/LeVert's White Men Can't Jump ensemble and Sparty's Straight Outta East Lansing attire. I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween weekend and I expect more from the states of Ohio and Indiana next year.