A Visual History of the Ole Miss Football Helmet
By Peter | August 24th, 2008
If you’re a football fan of any sort, you’re well aware of the transformations a college uniform goes through over the years. An extra stripe here, a swoosh there, color change this, different hue that.
Of the uniform, helmet alterations always intrigue me most, as their design, color, and logo seem to define each university.
Now, I’m biased in thinking Ole Miss has the best college uniform, yes. But our uniforms – most specifically, our helmet, has changed many times over the years. So many times, I wasn’t quite sure of every iteration it’d been through over the years. So I decided to task myself with a project. Dig around and attempt to uncover each football helmet design we’ve used over the years. Find them, and share them here on the site.
And, so, that’s what we did.
And so, like the old saying goes, “you don’t quite know where you’re going unless you know where you’ve been”, let’s take a quick peek at each helmet.
1949-1954
The royal/powder blue, the red stripe. Classic Ole Miss. And a classic helmet.
No facemask though, and no logo icon.. a bit bare in our opinion.
1955-1957
The facemask appears, and as small as the addition is, it begins to complete the helmet’s identity.
1958-1968
1958 introduces number insignias on each helmet. Facemask remains the same.
Tidbit: this is the helmet used when the Rebels won their 3 National Championships (1959, 1960 and 1962)
1969
The 1969 season celebrated the 100 year anniversary of college football. Ole Miss, along with several other Universities like Purdue, Alabama, Nebraska, and UCLA, altered their helmet to celebrate the occasion.
Our thoughts?
It could draw negative remarks cause it makes no mention to Ole Miss or the University, but it’s hard to ignore the fact that it’s a simply great looking helmet.
1970-1974
The introduction of Colonel Reb on the helmet, along with the advancement of the facemask.
Royal/powder blue and red stripe are still around, but not for long..
1975-1978
Base navy blue color introduced..
Colonel Reb and red stripe remain the same.
1979-1982
Red facemask introduced, unceremoniously.
Considered at large as the least favorite helmet designs we’ve used.
1983-1994
Royal/powder Blue helmet returns (with cheers). Introduction of the ‘Ole Miss’ signature logo along with gray facemask. A great looking helmet in our opinion.
1995-Present
Navy blue base color re-introduced, along with matching facemask. Helmet logo remains the same.
Summary
So, what’s our favorite? Our current helmet, I have to admit. Although I’d love it even more with a gray facemask. Second would be 1969, and third 83-94.
so..what’s your favorite?
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great piece..
but you can’t argue, 58-68 is the best..
No, but I will argue the 83 – 94 is the best. [As I am biased because it was the helmet during my freshman year (93)].
I think the second one is classic. the third one is nice, but it looks too much like Alabama. Great Idea! I’d love to have that info framed on my wall.
I grew up with the navy blue with Col. Reb. So I hated when Brewer changed back to Robin’s Egg Blue (that’s the official color name) and the Ole Miss logo. That being said, I now look back wistfully at the lighter blue helmets, particularly how great the look with the navy jerseys (which seems illogical since they do not match). The whole reason we had the Robin’s Egg Blue color in the first place is because Vaught ordered helmets and they got the wrong color blue back, and back then there was no FedEx and they didn’t have time to swap before the season started. So the color stuck.
I love the ‘79 – ‘82 helmet. I would love to see the Rebels bring these back for a throwback game.
a throwback jersey game would be great..
1983-1994 is by far the best. Of course, I got to Ole Miss in 86 and lingered around until the early 1990’s, so I’m biased a bit.