Purdue Football Helmets

[TheBoris]

There are only a handful colleges that have truly iconic football helmets, meaning both representative of the school's tradition and highly distinctive as the school's brand. Probably the only schools that are in that category are:

1. Michigan
2. Notre Dame
3. Penn State (for its simplicity)
4, Clemson
5. Miami
6. Michigan State
7. Texas

I propose a highly traditional and unique design for Purdue's football helmets. It is nothing more than reproducing the image of our old leather helmets of the 1920-30 era onto the hard polymer helmets that we use today. That design can be readily seen in several of the posters shown in the link below.

http://www.bugladyconsulting.com/genealogy wainwright_football.htm

There is a black cross on top of an old gold cross at a 45 degree angle. Air holes are prominent between these stripes. There is a wide band across the forehead and large egg-shaped pads over the ears. We could even reproduce the sutures on the edges of the leather bands.

And they would be leather bands. We'd fabricate paper-thin leather and glue it onto the the polymer shell so that it had the look and feel of helmets of that era.

 

[PUQBMan.]

There are only a handful colleges that have truly iconic football helmets, meaning both representative of the school's tradition and highly distinctive as the school's brand. Probably the only schools that are in that category are:

1. Michigan
2. Notre Dame
3. Penn State (for its simplicity)
4, Clemson
5. Miami
6. Michigan State
7. Texas

I propose a highly traditional and unique design for Purdue's football helmets. It is nothing more than reproducing the image of our old leather helmets of the 1920-30 era onto the hard polymer helmets that we use today. That design can be readily seen in several of the posters shown in the link below.

http://www.bugladyconsulting.com/genealogy wainwright_football.htm

There is a black cross on top of an old gold cross at a 45 degree angle. Air holes are prominent between these stripes. There is a wide band across the forehead and large egg-shaped pads over the ears. We could even reproduce the sutures on the edges of the leather bands.

And they would be leather bands. We'd fabricate paper-thin leather and glue it onto the the polymer shell so that it had the look and feel of helmets of that era.

I don't see numbers 4-7 as having iconic helmets, but I would definitely add Alabama to that list.

 

[nat100]

I don't see numbers 4-7 as having iconic helmets, but I would definitely add Alabama to that list.

I would think

1) Michigan
2) ND
3) PSU
4) SC
5) Bama

 

[echs86]

When they make a documentary about your school 2X, then your helmet is iconic!!!! #Miami

The Texas helmet is instantly recognizable!

 

[Ataylor1989x]

I would think

1) Michigan
2) ND
3) PSU
4) SC
5) Bama

I would add Texas, OU and Nebraska .....and even Miami.


I've always thought that Florida has the ugliest helmet that people seem to like.


When it comes to Purdue, the only question is whether or not they will re-adopt Old Gold. There was little or no vegas gold on the campus Pre-1995.....but back then a lot of merchandise was the bright yellowish gold. But nowadays you can replicate old gold rather easily.

 

[nat100]

I would add Texas, OU and Nebraska .....and even Miami.

Agree

 

[TheBoris]

Agree

Read it again. Texas and Miami were on the original list.

 

[nat100]

Read it again. Texas and Miami were on the original list.

Msu was the one I disagreed with. Also surprised you left off bama and sc

 

[Cleanface]

When it comes to Purdue, the only question is whether or not they will re-adopt Old Gold. There was little or no vegas gold on the campus Pre-1995.....but back then a lot of merchandise was the bright yellowish gold. But nowadays you can replicate old gold rather easily.

We definitely need the real Old Gold.

RE the helmets; Forgot the Buckeyes.

No logos are the iconic ones. OSU, UM, ND, AL, NEB (simple N), PSU, etc. Maybe TX and USC.

MSU, Clem, are run of the mill. Helmet with a logo, just like 549805730938567 others (including our own)

(((imo)))

 

[Bob the Boiler]

Bring back the bumble bee uni's too. I'm a Steelers fan and love the old uni's. Everyone (non-Steelers) that I know hates them. More reason to bring them back.

 

[Dakota Girl]

We definitely need the real Old Gold.

RE the helmets; Forgot the Buckeyes.

No logos are the iconic ones. OSU, UM, ND, AL, NEB (simple N), PSU, etc. Maybe TX and USC.

MSU, Clem, are run of the mill. Helmet with a logo, just like 549805730938567 others (including our own)

(((imo)))

I'D like to see an old gold helmet with a single black stripe down the center and the jersey number on one side, nothing on the other.
Reverse it with flat tones for a modern alternate helmet.

 

[Cream&Crimson]

Texas A&M
USC
Cal

 

[Courthouse Carp]

I would add Texas, OU and Nebraska .....and even Miami.
I've always thought that Florida has the ugliest helmet that people seem to like.

When it comes to Purdue, the only question is whether or not they will re-adopt Old Gold. There was little or no vegas gold on the campus Pre-1995.....but back then a lot of merchandise was the bright yellowish gold. But nowadays you can replicate old gold rather easily.

You have that right, AT! It's well past time for it, and we need to be vocal about NOW!! It's a bolder, richer color compared to Vegas gold (beige), which conversely looks pale, bland and washed out, especially on electronic and print media. Furthermore, it's NOT our school color!

Did you see the Saints throwback uniforms that they wore yesterday? Manufactured by Nike no less:

Reminds me so much of great times in Ross-Ade:

Nov. 6, 2011:

1978:

Here's our school (lack of) color:

UGH!! I think it looks terrible compared to our OLD GOLD!

 

[Courthouse Carp]

We definitely need the real Old Gold.

RE the helmets; Forgot the Buckeyes.

No logos are the iconic ones. OSU, UM, ND, AL, NEB (simple N), PSU, etc. Maybe TX and USC.

MSU, Clem, are run of the mill. Helmet with a logo, just like 549805730938567 others (including our own)

(((imo)))

Right on, Clean!

The "P" on our helmet was developed by a Purdue art professor in 1971 on request by Coach DeMoss and staff; it's iconic in its own right and has been around for 46 seasons now! It's by us, for us, and it's unique to us; it looks "Old School" as can be (even did in 1971) and, most importantly, people any where identify it as Purdue.

We need to keep it and make it more prominent as ever.

 

[BoilerBulldog]

I would love to see the Old Gold come back. But i think we are limited by what Nike thinks is "cool".

 

[Courthouse Carp]

I would love to see the Old Gold come back. But i think we are limited by what Nike thinks is "cool".

No, that's not true at all; it's been these know-nothing bozos at Purdue Athletic Department and trademark licensing who have been lazy and downright complacent about sticking with Vegas beige.

They all deserve to be sent packing for not listening to us for the past 20 years!

Nike manufactured this:

 

[TheBoris]

Helmet and socks should look like this.....

 

[ghostoffatjack]

Said this before and I'll say it again 1) Old Gold CAN be done and it looks good 2) Slant P is great but the school and the band still does their own thing and has never adopted it while the Athletic Department has on it's uniforms and facilities!

 

[TMA62]

I would love to see the Old Gold come back. But i think we are limited by what Nike thinks is "cool".

We should tell Nike what we want otherwise we will hire another provider.

 

[TMA62]

Right on, Clean!

The "P" on our helmet was developed by a Purdue art professor in 1971 on request by Coach DeMoss and staff; it's iconic in its own right and has been around for 46 seasons now! It's by us, for us, and it's unique to us; it looks "Old School" as can be (even did in 1971) and, most importantly, people any where identify it as Purdue.

We need to keep it and make it more prominent as ever.

I agree. I love the 1978 pic!

Its hard for Purdue (or any other team) to have iconic uniforms when we change them every season, sometimes mid-season. Lets go back to the Old Gold uniforms like what was so iconic in the 1970's and 1980's. How do we convince the Athletic Department to do this? The time to influence them is now. Letter writing campaign? Petition? How do we get Purdue to go back to Old Gold?

Also, enough of the "special" uniforms that support a certain cause like cancer, Armed Forces, Veterans, etc. Purdue can fully support these causes on game day WITHOUT changing the uniforms. IMO, these special uniforms only further cheapen the tradition of uniforms and creates a slippery slope where we are now.

 

[ghostoffatjack]

Personal list of iconic helmets...not total uniforms.

1. Michigan
2. Miami
3. Oregons with the "O"
4. MSU
5. Texas
6. USC
7. Oklahoma's white/ Penn State/ Alabama
10. Purdue Gold with slant P

All are easily recognizes and associated with the respective school!

 

[Courthouse Carp]

Bring back the bumble bee uni's too. I'm a Steelers fan and love the old uni's. Everyone (non-Steelers) that I know hates them. More reason to bring them back.

Yes, and even some Steeler fans don't care much for them, HOWEVER nearly all of the critics fail to realize that is the uniform that Pittsburgh first wore in 1933; it's about honoring your past, you know, YOUR TRADITION!!

The day Purdue's Athletic Department and Promotions and Marketing realizes that the biggest draw and allure of college football for all fans is the COLOR, EXCITEMENT and TRADITION of the sport, well that will be the day we finally see the much needed IMPROVEMENT from them... because right now our image is terrible.

IT'S ABOUT COLOR, EXCITEMENT...

TRADITION!!

--------------- NOW GET ON BOARD!! ------------------

 

[Courthouse Carp]

Helmet and socks should look like this.....

I LOVE that painting!! Yes, our socks could/should look like that because that is what we wore back in the day! It's all about TRADITION!!

And when cold weather hits, wear striped sleeves that match the socks; it's not like it burdens our budget with added costs either.

I think we should stick with our current helmet (OLD GOLD color though!), however in 2019 we can honor our only outright conference championship team of 1929 by decaling our helmet with the black cross on top of the
gold helmet:

 

[Courthouse Carp]

We should tell Nike what we want otherwise we will hire another provider.

Again, it's not Nike, it's Purdue that has made this poor choice -- for too long now.

I agree. I love the 1978 pic!
Its hard for Purdue (or any other team) to have iconic uniforms when we change them every season, sometimes mid-season. Lets go back to the Old Gold uniforms like what was so iconic in the 1970's and 1980's. How do we convince the Athletic Department to do this? The time to influence them is now. Letter writing campaign? Petition? How do we get Purdue to go back to Old Gold?

Also, enough of the "special" uniforms that support a certain cause like cancer, Armed Forces, Veterans, etc. Purdue can fully support these causes on game day WITHOUT changing the uniforms. IMO, these special uniforms only further cheapen the tradition of uniforms and creates a slippery slope where we are now.

We should email or write a PUR-DOER, someone who will listen, act and get something done about it!! I have to say that I have been more than fed-up with the arrogance, conceit and downright dismissiveness of our athletic department over the years... it's appalling, inexcuseable and unforgiveable!! It has cost Purdue University millions of dollars and it's past time for them to do an about-face NOW!!

We are the customers, we have the final say! Let them know that and let's put a stop to the LAME EXCUSES NOW!! And, by all means, VOTE with your wallet...

 

[TheBoris]

I sent the OP as an email to Calvin Williams several weeks ago. Never got a response.

 

[TMA62]

This is under "Traditions" on Purduesports.com:

OLD GOLD & BLACK

Members of Purdue's first football team in 1887 felt that the squad should be distinguished by certain colors, and since Princeton was at the time the most successful gridiron unit, its colors were considered. Though actually orange and black, the Princeton colors were known by many as yellow and black. Purdue gridders opted for old gold over yellow, kept the black, and began flying the colors that endure today.

There is not only tradition with old gold but significance. Purdue choose Old Gold to distinguish itself from Princeton's yellow and black. That is the tie with history. Regardless of what uniforms we choose, I think that going back to OLD GOLD is priority number 1 and not negotiable. The current Purdue 'gold' looks beige...a light tan. When you see it in person or on TV, you really can't see the luster. Old Gold had luster and everyone saw it.

 

[Professor Emeritus]

OLD GOLD & BLACK

Members of Purdue's first football team in 1887 felt that the squad should be distinguished by certain colors, and since Princeton was at the time the most successful gridiron unit, its colors were considered. Though actually orange and black, the Princeton colors were known by many as yellow and black. Purdue gridders opted for old gold over yellow, kept the black, and began flying the colors that endure today.

There is not only tradition with old gold but significance. Purdue choose Old Gold to distinguish itself from Princeton's yellow and black. That is the tie with history. Regardless of what uniforms we choose, I think that going back to OLD GOLD is priority number 1 and not negotiable. The current Purdue 'gold' looks beige...a light tan. When you see it in person or on TV, you really can't see the luster. Old Gold had luster and everyone saw it.[/QUOTE]
Exactly. Old Gold is unique to Purdue. I have said this elsewhere on the forum, but the Vegas Gold is not only putrid, it is indistinguishable from Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, and even Army.

It drives me bonkers when the cheerleaders run out with the individual flags with "P," "U," "R,", etc. that are Iowa yellow, followed by the team in Vegas Gold. Why is it so difficult to coordinate?

 

[PaBoiler78]

OLD GOLD & BLACK

Members of Purdue's first football team in 1887 felt that the squad should be distinguished by certain colors, and since Princeton was at the time the most successful gridiron unit, its colors were considered. Though actually orange and black, the Princeton colors were known by many as yellow and black. Purdue gridders opted for old gold over yellow, kept the black, and began flying the colors that endure today.

There is not only tradition with old gold but significance. Purdue choose Old Gold to distinguish itself from Princeton's yellow and black. That is the tie with history. Regardless of what uniforms we choose, I think that going back to OLD GOLD is priority number 1 and not negotiable. The current Purdue 'gold' looks beige...a light tan. When you see it in person or on TV, you really can't see the luster. Old Gold had luster and everyone saw it.

Exactly. Old Gold is unique to Purdue. I have said this elsewhere on the forum, but the Vegas Gold is not only putrid, it is indistinguishable from Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, and even Army.

It drives me bonkers when the cheerleaders run out with the individual flags with "P," "U," "R,", etc. that are Iowa yellow, followed by the team in Vegas Gold. Why is it so difficult to coordinate?[/QUOTE]
screw any mention of Under Armour, their stuff is made in China.

 

[RDUBoiler]

We definitely need the real Old Gold.

RE the helmets; Forgot the Buckeyes.

No logos are the iconic ones. OSU, UM, ND, AL, NEB (simple N), PSU, etc. Maybe TX and USC.

MSU, Clem, are run of the mill. Helmet with a logo, just like 549805730938567 others (including our own)

(((imo)))

I'd add UGA. Their helmet was inspired by Lombardi's Packers' helmets way back in the 1960s. Very solid traditional helmets. Would love to see Purdue go back to the Brees era helmets or something similar.

 

[njm8845]

So who's a traditional powerhouse without an iconic helmet?

My point is that maybe Purdue's helmet would be considered classic if they had won a bunch more games in the last fifty years.

 

[Courthouse Carp]

There are only a handful colleges that have truly iconic football helmets, meaning both representative of the school's tradition and highly distinctive as the school's brand.
I propose a highly traditional and unique design for Purdue's football helmets. It is nothing more than reproducing the image of our old leather helmets of the 1920-30 era onto the hard polymer helmets that we use today. That design can be readily seen in several of the posters shown in the link below.

http://www.bugladyconsulting.com/genealogy wainwright_football.htm

There is a black cross on top of an old gold cross at a 45 degree angle. Air holes are prominent between these stripes. There is a wide band across the forehead and large egg-shaped pads over the ears. We could even reproduce the sutures on the edges of the leather bands.

And they would be leather bands. We'd fabricate paper-thin leather and glue it onto the the polymer shell so that it had the look and feel of helmets of that era.

I think you have a great idea TB, and are quite creative and using your imagination to promote a greater cause; I'd LOVE to see your excellent idea used very soon, but only once-in-awhile form, a one-off, per se.

I wanted to show you this because it really validates your brilliant idea:
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/10/texas-am-throwbacks-am-1939-leather-helmets-adidas

Merriam-Webster.com:
iconic
adjective icon·ic \ī-ˈkä-nik\
2a : widely recognized and well-established <an iconic brand name>

Well, we have that and have had it for nearly 50 years; let's get our Old Gold back and stick to what is truly unique to us:

Deviating away from it would ruin it, but I would love to see your idea come to fruition very soon as one-offs. We could use it in 2019 to honor our 1929 Conference Champions. I really do want to see it sooner though...

maybe pair your helmet with Throwback-A-Few jerseys and socks??

 

[TheBoris]

I think you have a great idea TB, and are quite creative and using your imagination to promote a greater cause; I'd LOVE to see your excellent idea used very soon, but only once-in-awhile form, a one-off, per se.

I wanted to show you this because it really validates your brilliant idea:
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/10/texas-am-throwbacks-am-1939-leather-helmets-adidas

Merriam-Webster.com:
iconic
adjective icon·ic \ī-ˈkä-nik\
2a : widely recognized and well-established <an iconic brand name>

Well, we have that and have had it for nearly 50 years; let's get our Old Gold back and stick to what is truly unique to us:

Deviating away from it would ruin it, but I would love to see your idea come to fruition very soon as one-offs. We could use it in 2019 to honor our 1929 Conference Champions. I really do want to see it sooner though...

maybe pair your helmet with Throwback-A-Few jerseys and socks??

I sent the following email to Bobinski:

Howdy Mike: Kindly forgive some unsolicited advice as I'm sure you get plenty of that right now. I am writing as the self-appointed spokesman of an unruly assortment of Purdue football fans who congregate daily on Purdue's Rivals forum.

Now that we have a new coach and a new philosophy in Purdue's athletic department, I ask that you consider a return to our traditional uniforms and we want to go waaaay back. Please review the bumblebee stripe jerseys and socks that Purdue wore in 1892:

The Pittsburgh Steelers sometime wear bumblebee stripe uniforms but those didn't exist until 40 years later, in the 1930s when the team originated. We have almost half a century precedence on the Steelers.

Next, let's consider iconic helmets. There are only a handful colleges that have truly iconic football helmets, meaning both representative of the school's tradition and highly distinctive as the school's brand. Among the few schools that are in that category are:

1. Michigan
2. Notre Dame
3. Penn State (for its simplicity)
4, Clemson
5. Miami
6. Michigan State
7. Texas
8. Arkansas

We propose a highly traditional and unique design for Purdue's football helmets. It is nothing more than reproducing the image of our old leather helmets of the 1920-30 era onto the hard polymer helmets that we use today. That design can be readily seen in several of the posters shown in the link below.

However we propose using that distinctive design: black cross on top, gold cross at a 45 degree angle, egg-shaped pads over ear holes, broad band across the forehead, in real leather. We can't use leather helmets but we can fabricate paper-thin leather pieces to glue upon current polymer helmets so that the design of the 1920-30 era helmets is reproduced.

That helmet and those uniforms would distinguish Purdue football from all other schools in the nation.

Best regards,

 

[Dakota Girl]

Imag

Helmet and socks should look like this.....

imagine the sharp rise in concussion protocol numbers
I get what you're thinking Boris but when you try to put that look on a modern helmet with the various sticker applications it will look like a head 4x normal size...really bad proportions relative to the body.

 

[TheBoris]

Imag

imagine the sharp rise in concussion protocol numbers
I get what you're thinking Boris but when you try to put that look on a modern helmet with the various sticker applications it will look like a head 4x normal size...really bad proportions relative to the body.

Did you see this?
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/10/texas-am-throwbacks-am-1939-leather-helmets-adidas

 

[ghostoffatjack]

Maybe for one game but overall no, just no!

 

[themonarc]

Said this before and I'll say it again 1) Old Gold CAN be done and it looks good 2) Slant P is great but the school and the band still does their own thing and has never adopted it while the Athletic Department has on it's uniforms and facilities!

As a bandsman, I think this is mostly out of pure tradition than wanting to purposefully hold back progress on our logo or anything. We are old fashioned in a lot of respects.

 

[ghostoffatjack]

As a bandsman, I think this is mostly out of pure tradition than wanting to purposefully hold back progress on our logo or anything. We are old fashioned in a lot of respects.

I understand but it is very tough to form an national identity if everyone goes their own way on logos but I have noticed that some bands have not aligned with the schools change of logos so Purdue is not alone!

 

[themonarc]

I understand but it is very tough to form an national identity if everyone goes their own way on logos but I have noticed that some bands have not aligned with the schools change of logos so Purdue is not alone!

It also could be that uniforms are extremely expensive and are only replaced in their entirely once every 30 years or so (we get fresh ones, just not with new logos)

 

[ghostoffatjack]

Possible but the slant P has been around for quite awhile!

 

[Dakota Girl]

Did you see this?
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2014/10/texas-am-throwbacks-am-1939-leather-helmets-adidas

That is a hell of a lot better than thought it could be. They took hints of the old and made them into the modern shapes. You have convinced me. That would be a great alternate helmet.