NOT OT: Get your pitchforks - We won't be the only winged helmets in FBS anymore!!!
OUTRAGE!!! (???)
The Blue Hens of Delaware -- yes, the schools that stole our colors and helmets, well, a lighter blue and actual yellow/gold or whatever they call it ... is joining the C-USA.
(Non-ESPN link. But it's all over the news.)
I, for one, think this requires some combination of legal action, mass protests, mail campaigns, and a general sense of outrage. It was cute when they were in FCS--awww, look at that, mini-Michigan in the minor leagues. Now... ok, now it's not acceptable, they will be in the FBS with our (basically) our helmets.
Or, ok, it probably is, but, still, this feels like I should be outraged.
I'm sure it's Ryan Day's fault. Or Paul Neverfinebumm's. Or Dick Petite's.
November 27th, 2023 at 12:43 PM ^
There's only one thing to do...
Schedule them for a spring game scrimmage.
November 27th, 2023 at 12:43 PM ^
Joe Flacco says "hi" - and probably a bunch of other past NFL dudes that I can't be bothered to look up
November 27th, 2023 at 2:02 PM ^
also rich gannon, if i recall correctly.
November 27th, 2023 at 12:44 PM ^
Lighten Up, Francis
November 27th, 2023 at 1:02 PM ^
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. FWIW the winged helmets were invented by former Princeton head coach Fritz Crisler.
November 27th, 2023 at 1:41 PM ^
No he didn't, they were a stock item produced by Spaulding. He was definitely the first to paint them alternating team colors and Princeton really popularized them, but sadly it does seem that Michigan State was the first school to wear them in general
November 27th, 2023 at 12:48 PM ^
I want, nay, NEED to schedule them for a September buy game.
November 27th, 2023 at 12:49 PM ^
Everyone can copy it. But there is only one and everyone knows who that is. Go Blue!
November 27th, 2023 at 12:49 PM ^
Everyone can copy it. But there is only one and everyone knows who that is. Go Blue!
November 27th, 2023 at 12:51 PM ^
OK, but you know they have the winged helmets because David Nelson played for Crisler and brought the idea with him to Newark? And then Tubby Raymond, who was a member of the Mad Magicians teams and former Michigan baseball captain, kept it going.
It is a full Michigan homage.
November 27th, 2023 at 1:10 PM ^
Indeed, I was about to post the same. Per wikipedia's entry on Winged Helmets:
When David M. Nelson, a former Michigan player, became the head coach of the University of Delaware's football team in 1951, Delaware began using a blue and gold winged helmet, which they use to this day.[5]
The first sentence of that paragraph:
Princeton abandoned the design after Crisler left in 1938, but in 1998, resurrected the winged design (in orange and black) for the Princeton Tigers.
November 27th, 2023 at 1:24 PM ^
The vintage winged helmet design appears to be a registered trademark:
https://brand.umich.edu/trademarks-permissions/trademarks/
The following registered marks are only available on a limited, exclusive-use basis by approved vendors:
- Block M with Seal
- Block M with Wolverine
- “Split” Block M
- Seal with red accents
- Vintage Block M
- Vintage football helmet graphics
- Vintage wolverine graphics, including the “retro Wolverine”
November 28th, 2023 at 12:19 PM ^
If Delaware was already using the winged helmet, the trademark restrictions would not apply (though they could possibly get a trademark of their own based on the change in colors).
November 27th, 2023 at 12:52 PM ^
Will become the 42nd state with an FBS program.
Remaining 8: Alaska, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire (Dartmouth used to play at the D-1A level), North Dakota, Rhode Island (Brown: see Dartmouth note above) South Dakota, and Vermont.
November 27th, 2023 at 2:51 PM ^
You forgot Minnesota... ha!
November 27th, 2023 at 12:54 PM ^
Imitation is flattery, or something. To me it looks cheap (cheep?).
November 27th, 2023 at 12:54 PM ^
Honest question, not that it really matters much in the grand scheme of things but, is there not some sort of copyright on the winged helmet design? Or is that not something you could really trademark?
November 27th, 2023 at 1:02 PM ^
Copyright, no. Fashion is incredibly hard to copyright to begin with, but given the origins are functional (Crisler did it to make it easier to ID our players), that likely nullifies any ability to copyright (you can't copyright something functional--your only option is to try and patent it, which even if they did would have expired decades ago). Not to mention that the copyright rights would have been owned by Crisler himself, not Princeton/M.
Trademark, maybe? It does look like we have a trademark on it, though it's not clear just how far it would stretch. But my guess is there's some kind of licensing scheme already in place; think about how many teams use the Green Bay/UGA G on their helmets...
November 27th, 2023 at 1:54 PM ^
We're letting Missouri use our block M.
November 27th, 2023 at 1:00 PM ^
New non-conference schedule with Delaware and Missouri, heck throw in West Virginia just for fun too
November 27th, 2023 at 1:05 PM ^
Some good history from the Bentley Historical Library:
https://bentley.umich.edu/athdept/football/helmet/mhelmet.htm
November 27th, 2023 at 1:08 PM ^
maybe we pay them some money to go yellow with blue wings
November 27th, 2023 at 1:11 PM ^
Wishing the Blue Hens well in C-USA. But, this does provoke a question.
If Michigan and Delaware face each other on the field - either in an OOC matchup - OR - in the CFP in a future year - will one team be required to change their helmet for that game?
I would assume the answer is "yes" - but, don't know if that is an NCAA rule, or not.
November 27th, 2023 at 1:29 PM ^
I'm curious about this too. It would be almost impossible for the Michigan QB to distinguish between his receievers and the defense without looking at the uniform also.
November 27th, 2023 at 1:36 PM ^
The answer is actually "no."
Teams can have the same helmets; the only thing that needs to contrast with the opposing team is the uniform shirt color.
November 27th, 2023 at 1:17 PM ^
Think in this case imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Welcome Hens
November 27th, 2023 at 1:20 PM ^
I'm a U of Delaware and U of Michigan grad. Even though I spent 4 years at Uof D and only 2 at Michigan, I care much more about the Wolverines..... as my voice can attest after being in the stands Saturday.
I follow Delaware somewhat and my best friend is the color man for Delaware football and basketball. I'm surprised that Delaware would move up to FBS. They have been a large notch below the Dakota powers forever and are likely in for a major stomping this week in Missoula, Montana. Delaware's AD is a woman named Chrissy Rawak, who learned under the tutelage of Dave Brandon, at Michigan. I think she has delusions of grandeur.
I assume people know that Dave Nelson took the winged helmet from Michigan to Delaware when he became head coach and that Tubby Raymond, who won over 300 games at Delaware, was a Michigan man.
November 27th, 2023 at 1:49 PM ^
Delaware's AD is a woman named Chrissy Rawak, who learned under the tutelage of Dave Brandon, at Michigan. I think she has delusions of grandeur.
My sympathies to the fans and alumni of Delaware. This isn't going to go well.
November 27th, 2023 at 2:25 PM ^
I'll disagree here ---- I think Delaware should have moved up years ago. They're a bit late.
State flagship University, relatively good academics, in a good geographical location, and fan support has been there in the past (though it's waning).
And most importantly: the CAA is just not a good home anymore. JMU and ODU were geographic and athletic peers: they moved up and found success. In their wake, the CAA has taken in a bunch of schools (Campbell, Elon, Monmouth, Hampton, NC A&T) where Delaware's ties are weak and they aren't really athletic or cultural peers.
I agree, they are going to get stomped at Montana next weekend. And they would get blown out at the FBS level right now. But things change quick: Georgia State was awful in joining FBS and they became credible and were beating SEC teams like Tennessee fairly quickly.
I think Delaware has a fairly bright future ahead of them.
November 27th, 2023 at 2:49 PM ^
Came here to say the same thing. Lots of Michigan ties to their program, both current and in the past.
November 27th, 2023 at 1:31 PM ^
Ohio State should schedule them.
November 29th, 2023 at 12:55 AM ^
They are afraid to.
November 27th, 2023 at 1:39 PM ^
Harbaugh will be suspended for this i am sure of it
November 27th, 2023 at 1:47 PM ^
I imagine Ryan Day will schedule them so he can pretend their us while he beat them 50-0. 😂
November 27th, 2023 at 1:51 PM ^
I think it's an honor to have them using our helmet design, and I've also cheered for them because of it. One of my best friends is a U-Delaware alum, and he cheers for U-M for the same reason (but in reverse, obviously). As the saying goes, "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." Or something like that.
GO BLUE!
GO HENS!
November 27th, 2023 at 2:41 PM ^
non-conference schedule please. That would look so wild
November 27th, 2023 at 4:03 PM ^
At least there will be a blue/yellow with winged helmets FBS team that Ohio State can actually beat. Maybe it'll make them less annoying.
November 27th, 2023 at 6:39 PM ^
My high school alma mater wears the winged helmet, and the colors are almost identical.
November 29th, 2023 at 12:57 AM ^
Virtually every city in America has a high school wit the "Michigan' winged helmet. Even in Ohio it's common.
November 29th, 2023 at 12:57 AM ^
Virtually every city in America has a high school wit the "Michigan' winged helmet. Even in Ohio it's common.
November 28th, 2023 at 1:04 AM ^
When I was with the Daily decades ago, I recall hearing Delaware could use the helmets, but if they were to play Michigan, they had to use other helmets. BTW, I also believe that during the now pretty much forgotten RichRod era, the UD-UM matchup almost came to pass, but Michigan wound up scheduling Delaware State instead.
November 28th, 2023 at 1:27 AM ^
I like it.