THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Seahawks should go back to the 'throwbacks'

Do yourself a favor and avoid the bathroom scale today.

Yeah, I know you bought about three tons of little candy treats (Reese’s, maybe?) and then only handed out a dozen or so to some neighborhood trick-or-treaters.

So, you’ve now stashed enough goodies to feed the next Gonzaga graduating class.

And you probably gobbled down plenty before bedtime, getting such a sugar rush that you could have slept on the ceiling.

Or just floated there, wide awake, staring at a world of beige paint.

OK.

Now.

I didn’t just mention Gonzaga by accident.

What’s more, your current sugar stress was just a device to open a “Notes and Quotes” column.

You’ve unwittingly contributed to the news business, more or less.

Feel better?

ITEM: The Zags open their most intriguing season in years on Friday night, hosting Lewis Clark State in an exhibition game at The Kennel.

We’ll be having a long look at the roster, and the players Mark Few plans to use (and where), in a column for Friday morning.

In the meantime, though, the Zags played one of those “secret scrimmages” last Saturday in Phoenix.

This one was against Baylor, and I suppose the only reason Few and his pal Scott Drew insist that it’s “secret” is so they can fiddle with unplanned timeouts, conduct impromptu coaching sessions and so forth.

The score probably means nothing, but Gonzaga won 81-78 after shooting 50 percent and holding Baylor to 38 percent.

What I found interesting was that, for this outing at least, Few clearly wanted his projected starters to get a lot of work.

The obvious first five – Anton Watson, Graham Ike, Steele Venters, Ryan Nembhard and Nolan Hickman – all scored in double figures, and Nembhard played the full 40 minutes.

Apparently, Ben Gregg got some time and Braden Huff bagged a little, but the only other bench players even mentioned in a short recap by Sports Illustrated were freshman Dusty Stromer and Koren international star Jun Yeo.

Perhaps we’ll get a peek at more of the depth players for the 11th-ranked Zags on Friday.

ITEM: I have a question that may come across as a bit naïve.

It seemed like there was almost unanimous approval of the gorgeous throwback uniforms that the Seahawks wore on Sunday.

So.

Why did the organization change to one of the most blah uniforms in the NFL in the first place?

Following that question to a logical conclusion, why not go back to those stunning blue threads right now?

Not as a “throwback,” but as the regular home uniform.

Who exactly would object to that?

Among other things, there would be a huge run on merchandise.

It’s silly to change an iconic look for something boring and forgettable — as the Chargers did when they abandoned that beautiful sky blue jersey with the shoulder thunderbolts.

The Seahawks are entering what appears to be a window of opportunity for a run at the Super Bowl.

Why not do it in their most stunning uniforms?

ITEM: With the help of analytics and heaven knows what other super-smart AI gadgetry, CBS Sports now provides its own college football rankings.

Except.

This isn’t simply a top 25, where you just move around the usual suspects and nobody pays attention.

Nope.

This is a ranking of all 133 teams in the FBS classification (what I still call Division I-A).

Among other things, this list gives you some perspective on a team like Washington State, which has lost four straight after opening the season 4-0.

The Cougs’ loss to Arizona State dropped them 16 spots to No. 54.

Another interesting number involves USC and embattled coach Lincoln Riley.

The Trojans are No. 26 in this ranking, right behind James Madison (24) and Fresno State (25).

Analytics don’t care about cheating scandals, either, because Michigan is No. 1 with Georgia in the second spot.

And.

I know you’re going to ask: Kent State (1-7) is dead last, just behind Sam Houston State, which somehow is “up” at 132nd despite being the only winless team in FBS.

Don’t ask me.

Talk to the computer.

ITEM: Despite what you “think” you see in the standings, the Kraken are actually alive and humming after their first playoff appearance a year ago.

Jared McCann’s overtime goal in Tampa on Monday night gave Seattle a 4-3 win over the Lightning, wrapping up a 2-1-1 road trip against Detroit, Carolina, Florida and Tampa Bay — all teams with winning records.

In fact, the Kraken are 3-5-2 overall in their first 10 games, a gauntlet that has included the leaders in three of the NHL’s four divisions (Colorado, the Rangers and Stanley Cup champion Vegas), along with two teams that are second in their divisions (Detroit and the Hurricanes).

The schedule begins to ease up in the next couple of weeks — but the Kraken have been competitive in almost all of the tough 10 so far.

Notable: The win in Tampa was sparked by Spokane native Kailer Yamamoto, who chipped in with his second goal and an assist.

Yamamoto, who was taught to skate by the mother of NHL player Tyler Johnson, is enjoying his first season playing in his home state.

The Kraken snapped up right winger Yamamoto (5-8, 153 pounds) following a strange situation in which he was traded from Edmonton to Detroit, but then became a free agent without ever playing for the Red Wings.

Yamamoto notched 50 goals and 68 assists in six seasons with the Oilers, registering a steady pace of a point every other game.

He’s on that level already in Seattle with two goals and two assists while playing in all 10 games.

“This (Tampa game) was his best yet,” said coach Dave Hakstol. “He’s a guy who gives us a real spark.”

Home cooking.

Welcome back, Kailer.

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”