Not 100% sure, but it looks like next year's helmets are keeping the numbers & grey facemasks

If I were Hoke, I'd:



1. Point at stuff

2. Start with a normal helmet every year and let the seniors choose whether to add numbers, gray facemasks and/or stickers (no numbers and stickers though). Nothing else is an option.

Didn't the practice helmets last year have grey facemasks?  

These are not the helmets for the 2012 season. I worked for the team back during undergrad. Helmets and pads are thrown into storage after the bowl game and taken back out for spring ball. It's not until the summer that they're sent out to be re-painted.

with those numbers, and facemask's this year so I say rock on with your badselves.

I like both the numbers and the grey facemask, but it's not a huge deal to me either way.

Just end the helmet numbers please. Those small numbers look awkward and out of place below the winged pattern.

Another option would be to switch to Nike and get all black jerseys with blue chrome helmets and bright, bright maize winging, as well as a fluorescent "M" across the chest and neon blue numbers on the back.

I like the blue facemasks better. Looks more sharper. Grey is just an ugly color. Yuck!

Can someone create a maize helmet with blue stripes, and a white face mask. That would be a bad ass Nike combat uniform helmet. I'd appreciate it if someone would utilize their skills and share.

I think the numbers on the helmets with the gray facemasks are fine.  When Michigan had the numerals on the helmets in the mid-60s, the away uniforms had a block M on the shoulders rather than a number.  In that sense, having the numbers on the helmet with those particular jerseys made sense.  See the picture of Mel Anthony at:

my eyes and brain dont like adjusting to the numbers. it takes attention away from the wings and like the block M its just something that shouldnt be messed around with... plus i really dont think it serves any function or improves branding.

I for one am not a fan at all of the numbers on the side of the helmets. I am hoping that they just go back to the traditional helmets and no crazy throwback uniforms. Fergodsakes there uniforms are already throw back uniforms!

...I'm just glad we got Joe Bolden wearing it!

Personally, if we have to have throwbacks I'd like to throw back to the days when teams wore the same uniform the whole season and no one cared about nostalgia in uniforms.

for the same reason players wear eyeblack.

I dont like the numbers or the grey facemask. Numbers clutter the helmet and the grey on the facemask just looks straight up terrible. Dont screw with the best uniform.

The numbers can stay or go, I don't really care one way or the other on that.  I do care about the facemasks though, and they need to be blue.  I do not like the gray masks at all.  Not because gray is an ohio color, because they don't look good.

blue" Hey David Brandon, KEEP THE FUCKING FACE MASKS BLUE!!!!

No facemasks! Im sick and tired of this shit. If you think were going to have an 8-3 record and lose to fucking Purdue you are fucking crazy. I will fucking run you guys until your dead. I am not going to lose to fucking Purdue in this goddamn conference.....oops went into a Bobby Knight dream.

+1 on the Grey Facemasks.  Love the gritty, tough look ...and also the QBs can see the WRs a little bit better, especially under the lights...when the WR has a grey facemask.

IMO the darker maize numbers look better than matching those to the wings... when matched to the wings they dont stand out as much and are weakend-pussified.  We dont want that.  Helmets look the best right now.  Very cool.

Times must and always do change. With that being said lose the grey face masks.

Anywhere near the helmet. The 'Riddel' is in red. Given Hoke's aversion, and Brandon's power over the universe, how does red get within 50 miles?

Honestly, wtf are they doing with all the uni/helmet changes? Jebus, we had the best look in football. Brandon clearly feels the need to keep up with the joneses of the marketing world, but I think this just shows reflexive thinking on his part. True leadership? Screw the trends and have the courage to say we won't f@ck with the best uni's in football.

Imagine how awesome it would feel the first time you see that in your locker.

Maybe this makes me a bad Michigan football fan, but I honestly never really noticed the color of the facemasks. 

I did, however, like the numbers on the helmets.  I thought that was a really unique look (sans Alabama).  Last year, anyways, I felt like it kind of sent a message like, "We are back to traditional Michigan football."

What about this?  Take or leave the numbers, doesn't really matter either way.  There is a historical precedent for them or just leave them off.  Keep the home Jersey, helmet, blue facemask intact.  Use the gray facemasks on the road w/ the jersey shown above that is simple w/ blue numbers and block Ms on the sholders. 

Don't mess with the home jerseys.  Use the road jerseys to tinker with and roll out some new looks

"We talkin' 'bout practice, man."

These helmets might be practice or spring game only... there's still 172 days until Bama.

DO NOT LIKE.