OT: The Top 10 College Football Helmets
After reading Coach Schiano's MGoWords diary entry, it occurred to me that we need an off-season weigh in on the best college helmets. With no further ado, I present:
TIE 10. Washington State. One of the (very!) few logos that morphs the school’s name and mascot into a logo and doesn’t strain credulity. I like the WSU Cougar – and it’s the only scarlet and gray combo worthy of a top-10 ranking.
TIE 10. Kansas State. Kentucky, Northwestern, Weber State, Arizona, and Villanova all have Wildcat mascots. None of their helmets match up with the silver helmet and the purple Power Cat.
8. Florida State. Solid gold with a garnet and white spear and tomahawk feather. Not very PC. But definitely cool.
7. Virginia. Love the V-sabres logo, with the classic V sitting atop the two crossed sabers. Neat, sharp and very cavalier.
6. Georgia. Which came first: the Georgia “G” or the Green Bay “G”? It matters not to me, for the Georgia “G” is superior -- primarily because of its colors. The red helmet with the black Oval G bordered in white, even looks better when the dog bone decals are added. Love the sight of these helmets when the crowd joins the Redcoat band in "Glory Glory" and Uga takes the field.
5. Michigan State. I almost hate myself for admitting this, but I love little brother's helmet. And they did the world a favor when they abandoned the Block “S”. The Spartan is classic and would inspire an appropriate amount of fear and terror if only the heads under the lids weren't filled with mush.
4. Miami. The mascot mystifies but the helmet – with with the orange and green U – is memorable, distinctive, and classy.
3. Notre Dame. Love the solid gold helmets -- no logo, no letters, no names. Polished and elegant; no frills, all business.
2. Texas. Solid white with the burnt orange longhorn logo branded into the helmet. The silhouette even shouts, “Hook ‘em Horns!”
1. Michigan. Not only THE classic winged helmet, but it tops the list in every category: tradition, uniqueness, and style. I’m not even sure how one would go about improving this helmet.
Your thoughts?
Extra credit: If you had to pick the best helmet in each conference, which would you choose?
I have always liked the SMU pony (better in blue and forget the association with Craig James) and the Nevada helmet.
1) UM
2) PSU
3) Texas
4) Bama
5) SMU
6) Clemson
7) Nevada
8) UCLA
9) Oregon (any version)
10) Virginia
Not going to make anyone's list but I thought the helmet was pretty cool when they wore them against Navy.
http://blogs.suntimes.com/sportsprose/army_navy_2008.jpg
*Sorry don't know how to post the image itself.
1. Michigan
2. Miami
3. Oregon
4. Texas
5. Auburn
6. Florida State
7. Clemson
8. USC
9. LSU
10. Alabama
11. Air Force
10. Michigan St.
9. Georgia
8. Texas A&M
7. USC
6. Texas
5. Clemson
4. Miami
3. Alabama
2. Florida St.
1. Michigan
I think in order to claim "best helmet" it should cover the following categories:
- Recognizable across the country / outside of the country
- Creates memories of watching college football as a youth
- Looks friggin cool
That being said, I'd have to include:
1) Michigan (of course)
In no particular order:
- Alabama
- USC
- FSU
- Miami
- Clemson
- Texas
- UCLA
- Tennessee
- Penn State
- Michigan
- Notre Dame
- Penn State
- Wisconsin
- Iowa
- SMU
- Nebraska
- UCLA
- Alabama
- Florida State
- UVA
- many others that I can't think of.
How can you say that State's helmet is one of the best? It has a picture of a helmet on it. A picture of a helmet, on a helmet! It's like saying, "hey, don't forget that this is a helmet!" Now pretend this was a thread on who has the best pants in college football. Would you pick a pair of pants that had a picture of pants on it? I don't think so.
I like USF's helmet alot.
I love the way the U is also the Bull's head & horns.
1. Michigan
2. Penn State
3. Alabama
4. Notre Dame
5. USC
6. Wisconsin
7. Clemson
8. Auburn
9. Iowa
10. Michigan State