Something needs to be done about the helmet stickers (pic)
I'll admit that when coach Harbaugh announced the return of helmet stickers I was lukewarm about the idea because a) I grew up in an era where Michigan did not wear them and b) I prefer the clean and classic look of the winged helmet.
As the season has gone on they have grown on me a bit, however it's becoming clear (just take one look at Jabrill Peppers helmet) that the criteria for the stickers is either too lax or that the stickers themselves are too big. I mean this looks ridiculous and cluttered no?
Yes, I realize life is good when this is what we have to complain about, but can we get some smaller stickers next year so our beautiful helmets don't look so busy? I don't think that's too much to ask. Perhaps something like this (EDIT: for Firstbase's idea for helmet stickers)
November 11th, 2015 at 12:49 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 11th, 2015 at 1:02 PM ^
supposed to be a reply to the OP. anyway point still stands
November 11th, 2015 at 1:29 PM ^
If this helps motivate players to win those games, then let it be so.
November 11th, 2015 at 1:35 PM ^
So I certainly understand the argument that having helmet stickers motivates the players more than no helmet stickers. Don't know if I agree, but obviously people who know more about that than I do have said that.
But...do you really think these oversized helmet stickers that we went with this season are more motivating than normal sized helmet stickers?
November 11th, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^
Harbaugh is an old school, throwback kind of guy. And these are the same stickers they used in the 80's/early 90's. But that's not really the point. I'm sure Harbaugh makes it a motivational tool. Probably has a nice presentation set up for those that earn stickers. And he's going to do things his way. And if his way leads to players being motivated to earn those stickers and perform in games, I'm all for it.
November 11th, 2015 at 2:37 PM ^
I think that's false: did they have a case of the old stickers sitting around after 25 years? I am certain that the design is the same as one of the several designs used back in the '70s and '80s; I am not certain that the size is the same. Mr. Harbaugh never had to place the stickers he earned in between the helmet stripes, nor did any other player in Michigan's history.
Again, I agree that only Mr. Harbaugh knows how to properly motivate his players. That is not the dispute. The only dispute here is between the oversized stickers they are using now, and a regular sized sticker with the same design (or a different design). I do understand that it might be possible that today's helmets are smaller than those in Mr. Harbaugh's day. If so, a proportional shrinking of the stickers would be logical.
November 11th, 2015 at 8:29 PM ^
coach harbaugh or JH, or most commonly and simply, harbaugh.
helmet size hasn't changed much if at all. their interior padding has, air bladders, things like that, but fairly similar over the last 30-40 yrs.
November 11th, 2015 at 8:19 PM ^
November 11th, 2015 at 1:18 PM ^
Just wait until next year when he doesn't wait until the second half of the season to play on offense. His jersey is going to be all stickered up by the time he hits game #15...
November 11th, 2015 at 5:31 PM ^
Sounds like one of them good problems.
November 11th, 2015 at 8:26 PM ^
I think part of it is psychological for the opponents as well -- what goes through your head when you line up across from a guy with a helmet full of stickers that says basically "I am a playmaker"
November 11th, 2015 at 12:50 PM ^
Just my 2 pennies
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 11th, 2015 at 12:55 PM ^
Well, I think we should be aware of how we present ourselves. It's clear in today's era of college football uniforms, helmets, etc matter to recruits. We have a beautiful helmet, the best in football, and I'm proud of our kids who earned their stickers. I just don't think it should take up the entire helmet and distract from the legendary wings.
November 11th, 2015 at 6:51 PM ^
Agree that unis, helmets, looks matter to recruits. But other things that matter to recruits are winning, and coaches... So I will happily take Harbaugh and the stickers over Hoke/Rodriguez/Carr and no stickers any day.... Both for my sanity and recruiting purposes..Plus we have Jumpman uniforms coming.. I think recruits will be happy with uniforms... The first time I hear a recruit say "I chose Oregon over Michigan and Harbaugh because of the uniforms" I will retract all of this.
November 11th, 2015 at 8:07 PM ^
That's all well and good, but we don't have to choose between the two, so why you are presenting the idea of smaller helmet stickers vs having Brady Hoke or RR as coach as an either/or I have no idea.
November 11th, 2015 at 11:57 PM ^
November 11th, 2015 at 12:58 PM ^
November 11th, 2015 at 1:02 PM ^
Harbaugh earned stickers from Bo. Your point is invalid.
November 11th, 2015 at 1:36 PM ^
Bo meants alot to this program but I swear people are obsessed with him. Bo may have wiped his ass only once, doest that mean we should all do the same?
November 11th, 2015 at 1:54 PM ^
November 11th, 2015 at 2:12 PM ^
... easy for a koala to say.
November 11th, 2015 at 1:51 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
November 11th, 2015 at 5:01 PM ^
"obsessed" with Bo were around when he was around. Count me in that crowd. Bo was awesome and people LOVED him. You can't get that feeling from watching a few YouTube videos on a smartphone.
November 11th, 2015 at 1:04 PM ^
And there went all your hard earned mgopoints
November 11th, 2015 at 1:11 PM ^
Our current head coach, and our most iconic head coach disagree with you. Therefore, I disagree with you.
November 11th, 2015 at 2:35 PM ^
The last two national championship winning coaches, including the man credited with the design of the actual helmet, seem to agree on no helmet stickers.
I've got no problem with people arguing tradition, but it's not like helmet stickers disappeared out of nowhere with RR or Hoke. There's plenty of tradition without them.
November 11th, 2015 at 2:49 PM ^
Crisler wasn't the last Michigan coach before Carr to win a national championship. Bennie Oosterbaan was (1948).
Anyway, Bo invented helmet stickers in the 1960s when he was at Miami (Oh.), so of course no one before him used them.
November 11th, 2015 at 2:56 PM ^
My mistake/oversight. Still, Crisler, Oosterbaan, Elliot, Carr, RR and Hoke all fielded Michigan teams with winged helmets and no stickers, regardless of whether the first three were aware of the concept.
Neither Tom Harmon nor Charles Woodson ever had stickers, and they're as big tradition wise as anyone who did.
November 11th, 2015 at 3:24 PM ^
I don't have a strong preference on the matter. It's just that to say that everyone before Bo opposed stickers is like saying that everyone before Crisler opposed the winged helmet.
November 12th, 2015 at 12:12 AM ^
November 11th, 2015 at 3:43 PM ^
Feel we should we be careful about the "Bo invented helmet stickers" statement. Think I've heard grumblings from folks about them being around even before him.
November 11th, 2015 at 1:13 PM ^
Kindergartners*
November 11th, 2015 at 1:28 PM ^
Michigan Difference!
November 11th, 2015 at 1:18 PM ^
And warriors collect scalps. Use that metaphor (it's more apt than kindergardners anyway) and it may appeal to you more.
November 11th, 2015 at 1:33 PM ^
I never received stickers for coloring and I am now a poor colorer. I NEEDED THOSE STICKERS! Damn you kindergarten teacher!
November 11th, 2015 at 2:09 PM ^
...I think the stickers should be 1/3 the size they are now. The current stickers are just horsey-looking monstrocities. Nasty.
It's all subjective, but my eye would prefer something more like this:
November 11th, 2015 at 2:14 PM ^
Absolutely. That looks far better than the shit they are using now.
November 11th, 2015 at 2:18 PM ^
November 11th, 2015 at 2:33 PM ^
This looks great Firstbase. Exactly what I was talking about.
November 11th, 2015 at 2:35 PM ^
Email that to Harbaugh.
November 11th, 2015 at 2:54 PM ^
I think the current stickers are fine individually, but if we're going to give out this many, yeah, they should be smaller.
November 11th, 2015 at 7:11 PM ^
The original stickers were just a maize oval. Then they added the snarling wolverine and later the football laces. What about getting rid of the oval and just using the wolverine?
Something like this:
November 11th, 2015 at 10:33 PM ^
oh, that's good
November 11th, 2015 at 11:14 PM ^
First base??? I'd call that a home run...
November 11th, 2015 at 3:45 PM ^
November 11th, 2015 at 8:17 PM ^
I get a sticker if I vote. Does not make it childish.
November 11th, 2015 at 12:50 PM ^
Don't care, Harbaugh
November 11th, 2015 at 12:52 PM ^
Agree - I'm cool with whatever Harbaugh wants.