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Michigan and Notre Dame: The Battle of the Helmets
UHND.com - Todd Carr
9/11/2003

I'm impressed with the Michigan Wolverine football program. I greatly respect their tradition. They are winners. Lloyd Carr seems like a decent guy. The kind of fella you could probably head out with for a T-bone steak (as long as it was on him) and be no worse for the wear. But, what the hell is up with their helmet's "wing design"? It's not pretty. It looks really weird. What is it, exactly? Is it a supposed to be a flying wolverine?

I've heard of a flying squirrel.

Matched against the helmet of our beloved Irish, Michigan seems to be a serious underdog in the logic department. Let's see. Notre Dame University Fighting Irish. Golden Dome. Gold helmets. Makes sense. No flying squirrels, or leprechauns. Just gold. Like the dome. Now, the University of Michigan Wolverines. The wolverine is a state symbol for Michigan (like the Wisconsin badgers). So, given that, one would think they might put a ferocious wolverine, or a paw with big 'ol claws on their helmet. Or, maybe a big maize M? Big house. Big M. That would be logical. But, what do they put on their helmet?

An indecipherable "winged" maize symbol.

History of Michigan's Helmet: How it Became So Weird, Ugly, and Illogical

According to the University of Michigan (they actually adore this helmet like a parent adores their ugly baby--even though everyone else knows that it's ugly), way back when helmets were made of animal hide, the football team's helmet used to be black. So, from the very beginning their helmet made no sense. How about dark blue? Maize and blue. Blue helmet. That would have been a bit boring, but easy to follow. But, no, they went with black.

Then Herbert Crisler showed up, and things helmet-wise got even worse.

After winning national titles in 1932 and 1933, Michigan had gone four years without a winning season and team morale was lower than a cow's udder at milking time. One of incoming coach Crisler's first tasks was to instill a new attitude in the team. Crisler thought the best way to motivate the troops was to introduce a fresh helmet design to mark the beginning of a new era. Not a bad idea in theory.

As it turns out, though, Crisler was not personally responsible for the new design--only the choice of a new kind of helmet from Spalding. Back then, Spalding was marketing a number of models that featured the, then, innovative "wing" design (which actually served a functional, not aesthetic purpose). The wing provided additional padding and helped bind the earpieces to the crown. While certainly inventive at the time (kind of like parachute pants in the eighties), it was a trend that would not last long--most likely due to the football world coming to their visual senses.

Well, except for one team.

Still, despite its meaningless correlation to the school and optical shortcomings, the new helmet made a successful debut in the 1938 opener against Michigan State. The Wolverines defeated the Spartans 14-0 to gain their first win over Michigan State in four years. (Ironically, Michigan State was also wearing a Spalding 'wing" design helmet as well--just different colors). Crisler's first team went on to record a 6-1-1 season and finish tied for second in the conference.

While other schools ditched the hideous "wing" design immediately when they switched from the leather helmet, Michigan actually was the only team who stuck with it. U of M simply painted the wings and stripes on the new plastic helmet, refusing to part with its unsightly child.

Whether this was due to superstition, or a drunken equipment manager may never be known.

Other Ugly, Weird, or Disconnected or Seemingly Uninspired Designs

To be fair, these days, Michigan isn't the only Division I-A team with a confusing, or unattractive helmet. Have you seen San Diego State's two-tone helmets? No wonder their attendance stinks. People probably have to wear protective glasses just to watch. How about Iowa State? Their symbol is a cardinal rising out of a cyclone. Are they the cyclones, or the cardinals? The cardclones? How about the Air Force Academy? A lightning bolt? Aren't they the Falcons? Is there some kind of electrified falcon we don't know about? Oregon State has a beaver on the side of their helmet. Oooh, a beaver. That strikes fear in the hearts of men. Maybe it's a rabid beaver! The Clemson Tigers have a paw on the side of their helmet with no claws. Did a stuffed animal leave a footprint on the side of their helmet and not tell them?

Some would also argue, "Hey, at least Michigan's helmet is distinctive!" It's true. There are some plain helmets out there. Penn State, Alabama, Nebraska --ND's helmets don't exactly exude creativity. But, that's a good thing. They don't try to make a statement that doesn't make sense. They don't put a non-ferocious animal, or some two tone paint job that makes you feel like you're looking at an eclipse, or, a "winged", maize entity on their helmets. People don't have to go searching the internet to find out why Notre Dame's helmets are gold, or Penn State has a single stripe on theirs. It needs no explanation. Besides, Michigan actually owes Spalding all the credit for their design. How sad is it that you had to rip off your confusing, ugly design from the helmet maker?

Answer: pretty damn sad.

The Score is In

Who can really predict what will happen on the gridiron this Saturday when the guys with the gold helmet face the guys with the winged thingamabob on theirs? Over the years it has always been an exciting, down to the wire, slugfest between two tradition rich, honorable football programs.

But, no matter the outcome--know this much, Irish fans. The battle of the helmets has already been won.

Todd Carr

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