Ugly Helmet Hall of Shame

Please make it stop…my eyes are bleeding!!

In an attempt to top Maryland’s assault on our senses last fall (pictured at left), now Virginia Tech (pictured below right) has joined in, creating a simpler yet equally abysmal attempt at creating a helmet anyone would want to wear or watch.

And when the Canadian Football League is jealous of awful looking helmets and uniforms, that’s not a good thing.

Yes, I know I’m old school, and I do subscribe to the marketing revenue and what’s cool that kids like to wear these days, but isn’t there a limit? Some of these helmets (and uniforms) are just going over the top. Oregon started it a few years back with Nike, and uber booster Phil Knight, but now it’s gotten out of control.

Even Penn State is reportely going to drop their traditional uniforms, and that brings up yet another point. It’s not generally been the traditional powerhouses making these changes, but the bad teams and the above average ones that want to get to the next level.

The problem is that there has been more news about many of these teams uniform changes than their success on the field. Ugly helmets don’t necessarily make changes on the field, and if you don’t win few outside your traditional fan base are going to buy the new gear that comes with it.

I haven’t seen Alabama, LSU, Oklahoma, Ohio State or USC make many helmet changes (except for Throwback Days), and last I checked their merchandise sales still were among the nations leaders, far surpassing the newer, uglier merchandising schemes.

The one exception would probably be Notre Dame (see above left), but they haven’t been nationally relevent in two decades. Just give me the old-school, yet terrific helmets that Michigan (at right) and others wear.

To quote the late, great Al Davis, “Just win, baby”, and the rest will take care of itself. Al never said anything about ugly helmets, and the Raiders have one of the best looks in the business.