Mid-American Conference
Eastern Division
 |
 |
 |
| AKRON |
BOWLING GREEN |
BUFFALO |
| "Zips" |
"Falcons" |
"Bulls" |
| Akron, OH |
Bowling Green, OH |
Buffalo, NY |
 |
 |
 |
| KENT STATE |
MIAMI |
OHIO |
| "Golden Flashes" |
"RedHawks" |
"Bobcats" |
| Kent, OH |
Oxford, OH |
Athens, OH |
Western Division
 |
 |
 |
| BALL STATE |
CENTRAL MICHIGAN |
EASTERN MICHIGAN |
| "Cardinals" |
"Chippewas" |
"Eagles" |
| Muncie, IN |
Mount Pleasant, MI |
Ypsilanti, MI |
 |
 |
 |
| NORTHERN ILLINOIS |
TOLEDO |
WESTERN MICHIGAN |
| "Huskies" |
"Rockets" |
"Broncos" |
| De Kalb, IL |
Toledo, OH |
Kalamazoo, MI |
Historical Helmets
AKRON
 |
 |
 |
| c.mid 1960s |
1966 |
1967 - 1969 |
| |
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| c.1975 - 1978 |
1979 |
1980? - 1982 |
| |
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| 1983 - 1985 |
1986 - 1987 |
1988 - 1994 |
| |
|
|
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 |
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1995 -
September 8, 2001 |
September 22, 2001 -
end of 2001 |
2002 |
| |
*see note 1 below |
|
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|
'A' |
'B' |
| November 24, 2005 |
2003 - 2013 |
2013 |
|
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| 'C' |
'D' |
'E' |
| 2013 |
2013 |
2014 |
| |
|
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| 'F' |
'G' (and 'G1') |
'H' |
| 2014 - 2015 |
2015 - |
2015 |
| |
*see note 2 below |
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'I' |
'J' |
'K' |
| 2015 |
2016 - |
2016 - |
| |
*see note 3 below |
*see note 3 below |
|
 |
 |
| 'L' |
'M' |
'N' |
| 2016 - |
2016 - |
2016 - |
| |
*see note 3 below |
*see note 3 below |
 |
 |
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| 'O' |
'P' |
'Q' |
| 2016 - |
2016 - |
2017 - |
| |
|
 |
 |
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| 'R' |
'S' |
'T' |
| 2017 - |
2017 - |
2017 - |
| *see note 3 below |
*see note 3 below |
*see note 3 below |
|
 |
 |
| 'U' |
'V' |
'W' |
| 2017 - |
2017 - |
2017 - |
| |
*see note 3 below |
*see note 3 below |
 |
 |
 |
| 'X' |
'Y' |
'Z' |
| 2017 - |
2017 - |
2017 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AA' |
'AB' |
'AC' |
| 2018 - |
2018 - |
2018 - |
| *see note 3 below |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AD' |
'AE' |
'AF' |
| 2018 - |
2018 - |
2019 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AG' |
'AH' |
'AI' |
| 2019 - |
2019 - |
2019 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AJ' |
'AK' |
'AL' |
| 2019 - |
2019 - |
2021 - |
| |
|
|
During recent years Akron has used the following sequences of helmet designs:
- 2022: AM-AN-AN; AN-AN-AM; AM-AN-AM; AM-AM-AM
- 2021: AI-AL-AI; AI-AI-AI; AI-AI-AI; AI-AI-AI
- 2020: AI (entire season)
- 2019: AF-AG-AH; X-I-AI; AJ-AJ-P; P-AI-AK
- 2018: W-W-T; L-T-AA; AB-AC-AA; AD-AE-X
- 2017: N-Q-R; S-T-U; V-V-N; W-X-Y; Z-S
- 2016: G1-J-G1; J-K-L; M-M-J; N-O-P
- 2015: G-F-H; H-H-G; H-H-G; G-G-I; H (the last game being vs Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Boise, ID)
- 2014: E-E-E; F-F-F; E-F-F; F-F-E
- 2013: A-B-C; C-D-D; D-D-D; D-D-D
The 1979 Akron helmet design had a gold shell, a white/blue/white stripe sequence, and a logo on the sides of the team name "Zips" (photograph below). I would appreciate a larger and clearer photograph from the 1979 season.
*1 This design was first used during Akron's game at Purdue on September 22, 2001, which was the team's second game of the 2001 season. The red central stripe was added "in support of the 'Fire Truck Fund', an effort to raise money...in the Greater Akron area to purchase a new fire truck for the City of New York", following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (source: the Official Athletic Site of the University of Akron, Sep. 20, 2001). The red stripe was to remain for the rest of the 2001 season, according to the article.
*2 Designs 'G' and 'G1' are identical on their left sides, but appear different as seen from the right side. 'G' has a large "kangaroo head" logo at the back of the helmet, off-centered somewhat towards the right side of the helmet. ,'G1' has the 'Z' logo on its right side; below are representations of these two.
 |
 |
| 'G' |
'G1' |
*3 The right side of each of these designs differs from the left as represented below.
 |
| 'AA' |
BALL STATE
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 |
 |
| 1957 - 1960 |
1961 - 1967 |
1968 |
| |
|
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 |
 |
| |
'A' |
'B' |
| 1985 - 1989 |
1990 - 2014 |
2014 |
| |
|
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| 'C' |
'D' |
'E' |
| 2015 |
2015 |
2015 - |
| |
|
*see note 1 below |
 |
 |
 |
| 'F' |
'G' |
'H' |
| 2015 |
2015 |
2015 |
| *see note 1 below |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'I' |
'J' |
'K' |
| 2016 |
2016 - |
2016 - 2018 |
| *see note 1 below |
*see note 1 below |
*see note 1 below |
 |
 |
 |
| 'L' |
'M' |
'N' |
| 2016 - 2017; 2019 - |
2016 |
2016 - |
| *see note 1 below |
*see note 1 below |
*see note 1 below |
 |
 |
 |
| 'O' |
'P' |
'Q' |
| 2016 - |
2016; 2018 |
2017 |
| *see note 1 below |
*see note 1 below |
*see note 1 below |
 |
 |
 |
| 'R' |
'S' |
'T' |
| 2017 - |
2017 |
2017; 2019 - |
| *see note 1 below |
*see note 1 below |
*see note 1 below |
 |
 |
|
| 'U' (and 'U1') |
'V' |
'W' (and 'W1' & 'W2') |
| 2017 - |
2019 - |
2020 - |
| *see note 1 below |
*see note 1 below |
*see note 1 below |
 |
 |
 |
| 'X' |
'Y' |
'Z' |
| 2020 - |
2021 - |
2022 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AA' |
'AB' |
|
| 2022 - |
2022 - |
|
| *see note 1 below |
*see note 1 below |
|
During recent years Ball State has used the following sequences of helmet designs:
- 2022: Y-Z-X; Z-X-Z; W-AA-W; W1-AB-W2
- 2021: U-U1-U1; X-X-Y; Y-X-U1; Y-U1-U1; U1 (the last game being vs Georgia State in the Camellia Bowl at Montgomery, AL)
- 2020: W-U-U; W-X-U1; U1-X (the last two games being vs Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference championship game at Detroit, MI, and vs San Jose State in the Offerpad Arizona Bowl at Tuscon, AZ)
- 2019: N-T-R; J-U-L; L-O-O; V-U-U
- 2018: P-J-U; U-O-R; K-O-N; N-U-K
- 2017: L-Q-K; R-S-O; N-T-K; J-U-U
- 2016: I-J-K; L-M-N; K-O-E; P-O-O
- 2015: C-H-G; G-G-G; D-E-E; F-F-E
- 2014: B-A-A; B-A-A; A-A-B; B-B-A
Ball State's 1999 media guide listed the following information for helmets used by the team prior to the period covered by this web site: leather helmets were used from 1924 through 1955, and in 1956 the team used red helmets, each with a single white stripe. The designs shown above are believed to be the complete set for the period covered by this site (1960 to present).
*1 The right side of each of these designs differs from the left side as represented below.
BOWLING GREEN
 |
 |
 |
| 1960 |
1963 |
1961; 1964 - 1967 |
| |
*see note 1 below |
*see note 1 below |
 |
 |
 |
| 1962; 1971 - 1975 |
1977 |
1978 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
'D' |
| 1976; 1979 |
1980 |
1981 - 2003; 2014 |
| |
|
|
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 |
 |
|
|
'F' |
| 2004 - 2006 |
2007 - 2010 |
2012 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'B' |
'C' |
'E' |
| 2014 |
2014 |
2014 - |
| *see note 2 below |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'G' |
'H' |
'I' |
| 2015 - |
2015 - |
2015 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'J' |
'K' |
'A' |
| 2015 |
2015 |
2011 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'L' |
'M' |
'N' |
| 2015 |
2016 - |
2016 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'O' |
'P' |
'Q' |
| 2016 - |
2017 - |
2018 - |
| |
|
|
 |
|
 |
| 'R' |
'S' |
'T' |
| 2019 - |
2020 - |
2021 - |
| |
|
|
During recent years Bowling Green has used the following sequences of helmet designs:
- 2022: S-S-I; I-S-I; I-S-S; I-S-S; I (the last game being vs New Mexico State in the Quick Lane Bowl at Detroit, MI)
- 2021: I-T-I; S-S-S; S-I-I; I-I-I
- 2020: S-I-I; I-S
- 2019: I-I-I; I-R-D; R-I-I; I-I-I
- 2018: G-Q-A; G-A-A; A-A-I; Q-Q-I
- 2017: A-A-E; E-P-E; E-A-I; P-I-N
- 2016: E-M-G; G-E-N; H-O-M; M-H-H
- 2015: H-G-H; I-E-E; J-A-K; A-K-L; K-A (the last two games being at Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship Game, and vs Georgia Southern in the GoDaddy Bowl at Mobile, AL)
- 2014: A-C-A; B-A-E; A-D-E; A-A-E; A-E (the last two games being vs Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship Game at Detroit, MI, and vs South Alabama in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl at Montgomery, AL)
- 2013: A-B-B; A-B-B; B-A-A; A-B-B; B-A (the last two games being vs Northern Illinois in the MAC Championship Game at Detroit, MI, and vs Pittsburgh in the Little Caesar's Bowl at Detroit, MI)
- 2012: B-A-B; A-B-A; A-B-B; B-B-A; F (the last game being vs San Jose State in the Military Bowl at Washington, DC)
To the best of my knowledge the above are all of the different helmet designs used by BGSU since 1960.
*1 These two designs are among the more unusual helmet designs I have encountered while working on this website. From the photographs of these that I have seen, it appears that an irregular area of white spray paint was applied to each helmet, and then a template was used to apply an orange falcon over the white area (or, just as likely, perhaps a template in the falcon shape was applied to the helmet first, then peeled off after the white paint was sprayed over it). The white areas had "blurry edges" and varied in size and shape considerably from one helmet to the next, but were placed in approximately the same region on each helmet.
BUFFALO
 |
 |
 |
| c.1960 - 1962 |
1963 - 1965 |
1966 |
|
|
|
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| 1981 - 1983 |
1984 - 1989 |
1990 - 1994 |
| |
|
|
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| 1995 - 1996 |
1997 |
1998 - 1999 |
| |
|
|
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|
|
'B' |
| 2000 |
2001 - 2005 |
2014 - |
| |
|
|
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| 'C' |
'D' |
'A' |
| 2014 - |
2015 - |
2006 - |
| |
|
|
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| 'E' |
'F' |
'G' |
| 2015 - |
2015 - |
2015 - |
| |
|
|
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 |
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| 'H' |
'I' |
'J' |
| 2015 - |
2015 - |
2016 - |
| |
|
|
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 |
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| 'K' |
'L' |
'M' |
| 2016 - |
2016 - |
2016 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
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| 'N' |
'O' |
'P' |
| 2016 - |
2016 - |
2016 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
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| 'Q' |
'R' |
'S' |
| 2016 - |
2016 - |
2017 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
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| 'T' |
'U' |
'V' |
| 2017 - |
2017 - |
2017 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
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| 'W' |
'X' |
'Y' |
| 2017 - |
2017 - |
2017 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
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| 'Z' |
'AA' |
'AB' |
| 2018 - |
2018 - |
2018 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
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| 'AC' |
'AD' |
'AE' |
| 2018 - |
2018 - |
2018 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AF' |
'AG' |
'AH' |
| 2019 - |
2019 - |
2019 - |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
| 'AI' |
'AJ' |
'AK' |
| 2019 - |
2019 - |
2019 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AL' |
'AM' |
'AN' |
| 2020 - |
2021 - |
2022 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AO' |
'AP' |
'AQ' |
| 2022 - |
2022 - |
2022 - |
| |
|
|
During recent years Buffalo has used the following sequences of helmet designs:
- 2022: AK-AI-AI; AG-AI-AL; AN-AO-AK; AP-AQ-AN; AQ (the last game being vs Georgia Southern in the Camellia Bowl at Montgomery, AL)
- 2021: AI-AG-AG; AI-AI-AG; Z-AK-AM; Z-AI-AG
- 2020: AG-AI-AI; AK-AL-AI; AK (the last game being vs Marshall in the Camellia Bowl at Montgomery, AL)
- 2019: AF-Z-AG; Z-AG-Z; AF-AH-AH; AI-AH-AJ; AK (the last game being vs Charlotte in the Bahamas Bowl at Nassau, Bahamas)
- 2018: Z-Z-AA; Z-Q-AB; Z-AC-AD; AE-AB-Z; AD-Z (the last two games being vs Northern Illinois in the Mid-American Conference championship game at Detroit, MI, and vs Troy in the Dollar General Bowl at Mobile, AL)
- 2017: Q-S-T; U-T-V; R-W-X; Q-Q-Y
- 2016: J-K-K; L-M-N; O-K-P; Q-R-O
- 2015: A-B-D; E-F-A; B-G-D; H-D-I
- 2014: A-A-B; A-B-B; A-A-B; C-A
Buffalo discontinued its football program following the 1970 season, at which time the team was classified as a "major" one by the NCAA. The program was reinstated at the Division III level in 1977; it moved to Division II in 1988, to Division I-AA in 1993, and to Division I-A in 1999.
As for the "missing" helmets, I have partial information for each of these:
- 1969-1970: the team appears to have used plain gold or silver helmets with a dark/white/dark sequence of stripes (the dark stripes were almost certainly blue);
- 1977: plain dark-colored helmets with a single lighter stripe (very probably blue helmets with a white stripe);
- 1978-1979: helmets have been described as being royal blue with a white script "Buffalo" logo on the sides;
- 1980 only?: white helmet shells with a cartoon "running bull" logo on the sides, and a single dark stripe; facemask color is unknown;
- 1981? - 1983: like 1980 but stripe sequence changed to red/blue/red (or maybe red/white/blue/white/red).
Below are photos of these designs:
Additional information about the missing helmets would be appreciated. I would need only color photographs in order to add these to the website (other than the 1978-1979 design, for which I would also need the intricate logo). The cartoon buffalo used from 1980 to 1983 is apparently very similar to the one shown below.
CENTRAL MICHIGAN
 |
 |
 |
| 1960 - 1961 |
1965 |
1962 - 1964; 1966 |
| |
|
|
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 |
 |
| 1967 - 1972 |
1973 - 1979 |
1980 - 1988 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1989 |
1990 - 1996 |
2006 - 2008 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| September 8, 2012 |
September 21, 2013 |
1997 - 2005; 2009 - 2014 |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
| 'A' |
'B' |
'C' |
| 2015 - |
2015 - 2016 |
2016 - 2018 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'D' |
'E' |
'F' |
| 2016 |
2017 |
2017 |
| |
*see note 1 below |
|
 |
| 'G' |
| 2018 |
| |
During recent years Central Michigan has used the following sequences of helmet designs:
- 2019 - 2022: A (all games)
- 2018: G-A-C; A-A-A; A-A-A; A-C-G
- 2017: C-A-C; A-A-A; A-E-C; C-F-A; C (the last game being vs Wyoming in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Boise, ID)
- 2016: A-B-A; A-C-A; C-A-A; C-D-C; D (the last game being vs Tulsa in the Miami Beach Bowl at Miami, FL)
- 2015: A-A-A; A-A-B; B-B-A; A-A-A; B (the last game being vs Minnesota in the Quick Lane Bowl at Detroit, MI)
Some photographs from the 1964 season show some CMU players wearing a simple "C" logo on their helmets, as in the photograph below. It is unclear if this logo was ever used by most of the team simultaneously, so I have not (for now) included it in the list of helmet designs above. Otherwise this is to the best of my knowledge the complete set of historical helmet designs for CMU for the period covered by this web site (1960 to present).
*1 Uniform numerals are worn on the left side only of this design; on the right side is the "C" logo (hence the right side looks like design 'G' above).
EASTERN MICHIGAN
 |
 |
 |
| c.1950s - 1965 |
1966 |
1967 - 1975 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1976 - 1978 |
1979 - 1983 |
1984 - 1990 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1991 |
1991 - 1992 |
1993 - 1995 |
| *see note 1 below |
*see note 1 below |
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1996 - 1998 |
1999 |
2000 - 2001 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
'B' |
| 2002 - 2003 |
2004 - 2009 |
2012 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'C' |
'F' |
'D' |
| 2012 - 2014 |
2012; 2014 |
2013 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'E' |
'G' |
'A' |
| 2013 |
2014 - 2015 |
2010 - 2014 |
| *see note 2 below |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'H' |
'I' |
'J' |
| 2015 |
2015 |
2015 |
|
*see note 3 below |
|
 |
|
 |
| 'K' |
'L' |
'M' |
| 2015 |
2016 - |
2016 - |
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
| 'N' |
'O' |
'P' |
| 2016 |
2016 |
2016 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
| 'Q' |
'R' |
| 2017 - |
2018 - |
| |
|
During recent years Eastern Michigan has used the following sequences of helmet designs:
- 2021: L-Q-L; Q-Q-L; L-L-Q; Q-L-L; L (the last game being vs Liberty in the Lending Tree Bowl at Mobile, AL)
- 2020: L-Q-L; Q-Q-L
- 2019: Q-L-Q; R-R-L; L-R-R; L-Q-L; L (the last game being vs Pittsburgh in the Quick Lane Bowl at Detroit, MI)
- 2018: L-Q-L; L-M-M; L-M-L; L-R-Q; L (the last game being vs Georgia Southern in the Camellia Bowl at Montgomery, AL)
- 2017: L-Q-L; M-L-M; M-Q-M; M-Q-L
- 2016: L-M-L; M-L-N; O-L-L; P-O-L; L (the last game being vs Old Dominion in the Bahamas Bowl at Nassau, Bahamas)
- 2015: H-B-G; I-J-G; J-K-K; G-G-K
- 2014: A-A-A; A-F-C; C-G-G; G-G-G
- 2013: A-D-A; C-C-E; E-A-E; E-E-E
- 2012: B-B-A; C-C-C; A-A-F; F-F-F
Through the 1990 season EMU's teams were known as the "Hurons"; hence the logos on the pre-1991 helmets.
*1 During 1991, the "100" logo was worn on the left side of the helmet for the entire season in recognition of the university's 100th season of football. The big "E" was used on the right side of the helmet during both 1991 and 1992; during 1992, the left side of the helmet was left "blank".
*2 The "E" logo was worn only on the left side of this design; on the right side were green uniform numerals and a large pale gray outline of the state of Michigan (as depicted below).
*3 The "E" logo was worn only on the left side of this design; on the right side were white uniform numerals (as depicted below).
KENT STATE
 |
 |
 |
| 1960 - 1963 |
1964 - 1965 |
1966 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1967 - 1968 |
1969 - 1970 |
1973 |
| |
*see note 1 below |
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1971 - 1972; 1974 - 1975 |
1976 - 1978 |
1979 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1980 - 1986 |
1987 - 1988 |
1990 |
| |
|
*see note 2 below |
 |
 |
 |
| 1990 |
1989 - 1992 |
1993 |
| *see note 2 below |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1994 - 1997 |
1998 - 1999 |
September 4, 2004 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| January 6, 2013 |
October 5, 2013 |
November 2, 2013 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| |
|
'A' |
| October 10, 2015 |
2000 - 2015 |
2016 - |
| |
*see note 3 below |
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'B' |
'C' |
'D' |
| 2016 - |
2016 - |
2016 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
|
| 'E' |
'F' |
'G' |
| 2016 - |
2016 - |
2016 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'H' |
'I' |
'J' |
| 2017 - |
2017 - |
2017 - |
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
| 'K' |
'L' |
'M' |
| 2017 - |
2017 - |
2017 - |
| |
|
|
|
 |
 |
| 'N' |
'O' |
'P' |
| 2017 - |
2018 - |
2018 - |
| |
|
*see note 4 below |
 |
 |
 |
| 'Q' |
'R' |
'S' |
| 2018 - |
2018 - |
2018 - |
| |
*see note 4 below |
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'T' |
'U' |
'V' |
| 2018 - |
2018 - |
2018 - |
| |
*see note 4 below |
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'W' |
'X' |
'Y' |
| 2018 - |
2018 - |
2019 - |
| |
|
*see note 4 below |
 |
 |
 |
| 'Z' |
'AA' |
'AB' |
| 2019 - |
2019 - |
2019 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AC' |
'AD' |
'AE' |
| 2019 - |
2020 - |
2020 - |
| *see note 5 below |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AF' |
'AG' |
'AH' |
| 2020 - |
2021 - |
2021 - |
| *see note 4 below |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AI' |
'AJ' |
'AK' |
| 2021 - |
2021 - |
2021 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AL' |
'AM' |
'AN' |
| 2021 - |
2021 - |
2021 - |
| |
*see note 4 below |
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AO' |
'AP' |
'AQ' |
| 2021 - |
2021 - |
2022 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AR' |
'AS' |
'AT' |
| 2022 - |
2022 - |
2022 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AU' |
'AV' |
'AW' |
| 2022 - |
2022 - |
2022 - |
| |
|
|
 |
|
|
| 'AX' |
'AY' |
|
| 2022 - |
2022 - |
|
| *see note 4 below |
*see note 4 below |
|
During recent years Kent State has used the following sequences of helmet designs:
- 2022: AD-AQ-AR; AS-AT-AU; AV-AW-AX; AI-AE-AY
- 2021: AG-AH-AI; B-U-AJ; AK-AL-AM; AN-AO-AA; AP-U1 (the last two games being vs Northern Illinois in the Mid-American Conference championship game at Detroit, MI, and vs Wyoming in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Boise, ID)
- 2020: B-AD-AE; AF
- 2019: Y-B-P; A1-S-Z; U-AA-AB; A-R-Q; AC (the last game being vs Utah State in the Frisco Bowl at Frisco, TX)
- 2018: H-H-O; P-Q-R; S-T-U; V-W-X
- 2017: A-H-A; H-I-I; J-J-K; L-M-N
- 2016: A-B-B; A-C-D; E-F-E; G-F-G
During three games in 2017 Kent State used a new helmet logo, a large "K" with a "lighting bolt" across it bearing the school name (as in the photograph below). Other versions of this logo were worn on blue and yellow helmets (accounting for helmet designs 'K', 'M', and 'N'). I have been unable to locate the artwork for this helmet decal, so I would greatly appreciate a copy of the artwork for it from anyone who has access to it.
*1 Kent State used the college football centennial "100" logo during at least part of the 1969 season. The decal was placed at the bottom rear of the helmet and consisted of a dark-colored football shape with a white outline and with the numerals "100" in white.
*2 At least three different stripe variations were used during the 1990 season. Photographs from game #2 vs Akron show helmets with no stripes; two yellow stripes bordered by very narrow blue stripes can be seen on the helmets in photographs from game #7 vs Ohio; and for game #3 vs Western Michigan, the helmets appear to be the same as those used in 1989, 1991, and 1992 (with a single blue stripe). I would appreciate hearing from anybody who can clarify which design was used during Kent State's other games in 1990.
*3 During the entire 2014 season Kent State wore the number "54" on the right side of each helmet (as shown below) in memory of team member Jacob Bitsko, who died unexpectedly of natural causes on August 20, 2014. 54 was Bitsko's uniform numeral.
*4 The right side of each of these designs differs from the left as depicted below.
*5 Uniform numbers are worn on the left side only of design 'AC', on the right side is the oversized "K"/bird logo (hence the appearance is like that of design "H" above).
MIAMI
 |
 |
 |
| 1966 - 1971 |
1972 - 1973 |
1974 - 1977 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1983 - 1985 |
1986 |
1987 - 1989 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1990 - 1992 |
1978; 1993 |
1994 - 1996 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1997 |
January 6, 2011 |
1998 - 2010 |
| |
*see note 1 below |
|
 |
 |
 |
| |
'A' |
'B' |
| 2011 - 2012 |
September 21, 2013; 2015 - |
2013 - 2015 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'C' |
'D' |
'E' (and 'E1' & 'E2') |
| 2015 |
August 30, 2014; 2015 - |
2016 - |
| |
*see note 2 below |
*see note 3 below |
 |
 |
 |
| 'F' |
'G' |
'H' |
| 2016 - |
2016 - |
2017 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'I' |
'J' |
'K' |
| 2017 - |
2018 - |
2019 - |
| |
|
*see note 4 below |
 |
 |
 |
| 'L' |
'M' |
'N' |
| 2019 - |
2019 - |
2019 - |
| *see note 5 below |
*see note 5 below |
*see note 5 below |
 |
 |
 |
| 'O' |
'P' |
'Q' |
| 2019 - |
2020 - |
2020 - |
| *see note 5 below |
|
*see note 6 below |
|
 |
 |
| 'R' |
'S' |
'T' |
| 2021 - |
2021 - |
2021 - |
| |
|
*see note 6 below |
 |
 |
 |
| 'U' |
'V' |
'W' |
| 2021 - |
2021 - |
2021 - |
| |
|
*see note 7 below |
During recent years Miami has used the following sequences of helmet designs:
- 2021: R-S-R; S-T-T; T-T-U; V-V-U; W (the last game being vs North Texas in the Frisco Football Classic at Frisco, TX)
- 2020: P-P-Q
- 2019: J-J-E; J-E-J; K-K-L; M-L-L; N-O (the last two games being vs Central Michigan in the Mid-American Conference championship game at Detroit, MI, and vs Louisiana in the LendingTree Bowl at Mobile, AL)
- 2018: J-E-J; J-E-E; E1-J-E1; E2-J-E2
- 2017: G-G-G; G-H-E; G-G-I; G-E-G
- 2016:E-F-E; E-F-F; E-F-F; G-G-G; G (the last game being vs Mississippi State in the St. Petersburg Bowl at St. Petersburg, FL)
- 2015: A-B-B; B-A-B; A-B-B; C-D-D
Miami's team nickname was "Redskins" prior to the 1997 season.
*1 Worn vs Middle Tennessee State during the 2011 GoDaddy.com Bowl game in Mobile, AL. The 'M' logo is present on the left side only of this design; uniform numerals are worn on the right side (as represented below).
*2 The large "hawk head" logo is worn on the left side only of this design; on the right side are red uniform numerals (as depicted below).
*3 Helmet design 'E' has the "M" logo on both sides; 'E1' and 'E2' have the "M" on the left side only. On the right side, 'E1' has a "ribbon" logo in one of nine different colors; these ribbons were chosen by each player and recognize those affected by different types of cancer. Below are representations of these designs.
 |
 |
 |
| Blood cancers |
Leukemia and
kidney cancers |
Breast cancer |
 |
 |
 |
Liver, ovarian, and
cervical cancer |
Leiomyosarcoma,
pancreatic Cancer,
& testicular Cancer |
Colon and esophageal
cancer |
 |
 |
 |
Bladder and sarcoma/
bone cancer |
Melanoma |
Lung cancer |
'E2' has uniform numerals on its right side (as represented below).
*4 Miami again used a set of "cancer awareness" decals during the team's October 19, 2019 home game against Northern Illinois. Nine different colors were used, each chosen by the player wearing the helmet and recognizing victims of a different type of cancer. Below are representations of these nine variations; the number in parenthesis is the number of players on the team who elected to use that version, per an announcement on the team's website. The cancer awareness ribbons were worn on the left side only of each helmet; uniform numbers were worn on the right side.
|
 |
 |
| Breast cancer (43) |
Colon cancer &
esophogeal cancer (19) |
Lung cancer (12) |
 |
 |
 |
Leiomyosarcoma,
pancreatic cancer,
& testicular cancer (9) |
Kidney cancer &
leukemia (8) |
Melanoma (6) |
 |
 |
 |
| Blood cancers (4) |
Liver cancer, ovarian
cancer, and cervical cancer (4) |
Bladder cancer,
sarcoma/bone cancer (3) |
 |
| right side of 'K' |
*5 Designs 'L', 'M', 'N', 'O', 'Q', 'U' and 'V' have logos on their left sides only; uniform numbers are worn on the right side of each of these (as represented below).
*6 Uniform numbers are worn on the left side only of design 'T'; on the right side is one of presumably nine different "cancer awarness ribbons" like those worn on the right side of design 'E2' (shown in note 3 above).
*7 Uniform numbers are worn on the left side only of this design; on the right side is an "M" logo (as depicted below).
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
 |
 |
 |
| ? - 1968 |
1969 |
1970 - c.1975 |
| *see note 1 below |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| c.1975 - c.1976 |
c.1976 - 1979 |
c.early 1980s |
| |
*see note 2 below |
*see note 3 below |
 |
 |
 |
| c.late 1980s |
1997 |
? - 1996; 1998 - 2000 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 2001 |
November 13, 2013 |
November 26, 2013;
December 6, 2013 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| |
'A' |
'B' |
| 2002 - 2013 |
2014 - 2015 |
2014 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'C' |
'D' |
'E' |
| 2014 - 2016 |
2014 - 2016 |
2014 - 2015 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'F' |
'G' |
'H' |
| 2015 |
2015 - 2016 |
2015 - 2016 |
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
| 'I' |
'J' |
'K' |
| 2015 - |
2015 |
2015 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'L' |
'M' |
'N' |
| 2016 |
2016 |
2016 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'O' |
'P' |
'Q' |
| 2017 - 2018 |
2018 |
2018 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'R' |
'S' |
'T' |
| 2019 |
2019 |
2022 - |
| |
|
|
During recent years Northern Illinois has used the following sequences of helmet designs:
- 2022: T-I-I; I-I-I; I-I-I; I-I-I
- 2020 & 2021: I (all games)
- 2019: I-A-I; A-I-A; I-A-I; A-R-S
- 2018: O-I-I; O-O-O; P-O-I; Q-I-O; O-I (the last two games being vs Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference championship game at Detroit, MI, and vs UAB in the Boca Raton Bowl at Boca Raton, FL)
- 2017: I-I-O; O-I-O; O-I-O; O-I-O; I (the last game being vs Duke in the Quick Lane Bowl at Detroit, MI)
- 2016: G-J-C; L-L-D; H-D-I; M-D-N
- 2015: F-G-D; C-D-H; I-I-A; J-E-K; D-I (the last two games being the MAC championship game vs Bowling Green at Detroit, MI and vs Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl at San Diego, CA)
- 2014: B-A-A; A-C-A; C-C-D; D-D-E; D-E (the last two games being vs Bowling Green in the MAC Championship game at Detroit, MI, and vs Marshall in the Boca Raton Bowl at Boca Raton, FL)
The dates of use for several of the earlier designs shown above are uncertain - clarification would be appreciated for these.
*1 NIU used black helmets with white numerals on the sides by at least 1965; I do not have much information yet from the years before then.
*2 Gray facemasks may have been used with this design during the earlier years of its use.
*3 Some photographs that I have seen from the early 1980s suggest that NIU was using helmets of a darker shade of red than is shown here, perhaps a crimson color similar to that presently used by Oklahoma or Alabama.
OHIO
 |
 |
 |
| 1960 - 1961 |
1962 |
1963 - 1965 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1966 |
1967 - 1972 |
1973 - 1976 |
|
*see note 1 below |
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'F' |
'B' |
'C' |
November 8, 2008;
2018 |
November 3, 2011;
2012 - 2013 |
2012 - 2013 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
|
| 'D' |
'E' |
'A' |
| 2014 - 2017 |
2014 - 2017 |
1996 - 2002; 2004 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'G' |
'H' |
'I' |
| 2018 |
2018 |
2019; 2021 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'J' |
'K' |
'L' |
| 2020 |
2022 - |
2022 - |
| |
*see note 2 below |
|
 |
 |
|
| 'M' |
'N' |
|
| 2022 - |
2022 - |
|
| *see note 2 below |
|
|
During recent years Ohio has used the following sequences of helmet designs:
- 2022: K-D-D; A-D-L; A-A-M; A-A-M; M-N (the last two games being vs Toledo in the Mid-American Conference championship game at Detroit, MI, and vs Wyoming in the Arizona Bowl at Tuscon, AZ)
- 2021: I-A-A; A-A-A; A-A-I; A-I-A
- 2020: A-A-J
- 2019: A-A-A; A-A-A; A-A-A; I-A-A; A (the last game being vs Nevada in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Boise, ID)
- 2018: A-A-A; F-A-A; A-G-G; G-G-G; H (the last game being vs San Diego State in the Frisco Bowl at Frisco, TX)
- 2017: A-A-D; D-A-A; D-A-E; E-A-A; A (the last game being vs UAB in the Bahamas Bowl at Nassau, Bahamas)
- 2016: A-A-D; A-D-A; D-D-D; E-D-A; E-A (the last two games being vs Western Michigan in the Mid-American Conference Championship game at Detroit,MI, and vs Troy in the Dollar General Bowl at Mobile, AL)
- 2015: A-D-A; A-D-A; E-D-D; A-E-A; A (the last game being vs Appalachian State in the Camellia Bowl at Montgomery, AL)
- 2014: A-A-A; A-D-D; A-D-D; D-E-D
- 2013: C-B-C; A-C-A; A-A-C; A-B-C; C (the last game being vs East Carolina in the Beef O'Brady's Bowl at St Petersburg, FL)
- 2012: C-A-C; A-A-A; C-C-C; B-A-C; C (the last game being vs Louisiana-Monroe in the Independence Bowl at Shreveport, LA)
To the best of my knowledge the above are the complete set of historical helmet designs for Ohio for the period 1960 to present.
*1 During the 1969 season, a version of the "100"/football shaped-logo was worn on the back side of Ohio's football helmets. The football shape was some dark color, and the numerals were apparently white.
*2 Clarification of differences: design 'K' has a green middle stripe between two black outer stripes; design 'M' has a black middle stripe between two green outer stripes. On both these designs narrow white stripes seperate and border the three wider stripes.
TOLEDO
 |
 |
|
| 1964 - 1966 |
1967 - 1972 |
1973 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| c.1977 - 1980 |
1981 - 1996 |
1997 - 2008 |
| |
|
|
 |
|
 |
| |
|
'C' |
| December 28, 2011 |
2009 - 2011 |
2012 - 2013; 2017 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'B' |
'A' |
'D' |
| October 6, 2012 |
2012; 2014 - |
2012 - 2013 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'E' |
'F' |
'G' |
| 2013 |
2013 - 2014 |
2013 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'H' |
'I' |
'J' |
| 2013 |
2014 - |
2014 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'K' |
'L' |
'M' |
| 2014 |
2014 |
2014 |
| |
|
*see note 1 below |
 |
 |
 |
| 'N' |
'O' |
'P' |
| 2015 |
2015 |
2015 - 2016 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'Q' |
'R' |
'S' |
| 2016 |
2016 - 2017 |
2016 - 2017 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'T' |
'U' |
'V' |
| 2016 - 2017 |
2016; 2020 - |
2017 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'W' |
'X' |
'Y' |
| 2017 |
2019 |
2020 - |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'Z' |
'AA' |
'AB' |
| 2021 - |
2021 - |
2021 - |
| |
|
|
|
 |
|
| 'AC' |
'AD' |
'AE' |
| 2022 - |
2022 - |
2022 - |
| |
|
|
During recent years Toledo has used the following sequences of helmet designs:
- 2022: AC-AD-AC; AC-AE-C; AE-C-C; AF-C-AE; AE-AC (the last two games being vs Ohio in the Mid-American Conference championship game at Detroit, MI, and vs Liberty in the Boca Raton Bowl at Boca Raton, FL)
- 2021: A-Z-AA; AA-AA-X; C-C-C; X-C-C; AB (the last game being vs Middle Tennessee State in the Bahamas Bowl at Nassau, Bahamas)
- 2020: A-U-A; C-C-Y
- 2019: I-A-C; C-X-I; C-I-I; C-A-A
- 2018: A-A-C; X-A-C; A-A-C; C-A-A; C (the last game being vs Florida International in the Bahamas Bowl at Nassau, Bahamas)
- 2017: C-C-V; R-T-T; W-W-C; C-C-S; C-R (the last two games being vs Akron in the Mid-American Conference championship game at Detroit, MI, and vs Appalachian State in the Dollar General Bowl at Mobile, AL)
- 2016: Q-P-R; R-S-T; T-S-R; Q-U-U; R (the last game being vs Appalachian State in the Camellia Bowl at Montgomery, AL)
- 2015: N-A-I; A-O-I; I-O-I; A-P-I (the last game being vs Temple in the Boca Raton Bowl at Boca Raton, FL). 'A' was also in use during the September 3 home game vs Stony Brook which was canceled at halftime following a lengthy lightning delay; this game is offically a "no contest".
- 2014: A-A-F; F-I-I; I-F-J; K-L-A; M (the last game being vs Arkansas State in the GoDaddy Bowl at Mobile, AL).
- 2013: E-E-C; C-C-F; F-F-G; G-H-D
- 2012: A-A-A; A-C-B; C-D-D; D-C-A; A (the last game being vs Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Boise, ID)
Toledo's helmet history is unclear for the earliest years covered by this web site (early 1960s). The team apparently used white helmets from at least 1960 through 1966. Judging from a very small number of photographs it would appear that these white helmets had a single dark stripe in 1960 and 1961 (probably blue, if the school colors have not changed); a single photograph from 1962 shows numbers on the sides of the helmet (otherwise like 1961); and in 1963 what was apparently a "rocket" logo different from the 1964-1966 one was used (photo below). Numerals of unknown color are also visible at the back of the helmets in all available clear photos from 1963 through 1966.
The 1973 helmet design had a blue shell, a yellow/blue/yellow set of stripes, and a rather small yellow oval or football-shaped logo on both sides (photographs below found in opposing teams' yearbooks - Toledo did not publish a 1974 yearbook). No photographs have been found that are sufficiently clear to reveal what was inside the football-shape, but it is stated in the September 5, 1973 edition of the Toledo Blade that the team "will wear a commemorative decal on their helmets...in the shape of a football that will say 'A Tribute to Tony'" - this in reference to a freshman member of the team, Tony January, who died on August 30 after collapsing during a practice session.
*1 Worn January 4, 2015 during the GoDaddy Bowl at Mobile, AL (vs Arkansas State). Uniform numerals were worn only on the left side of each helmet; on the right side was a dark blue shape like that of the state of Ohio containing a yellow "rocket" logo (as represented below).
WESTERN MICHIGAN
 |
 |
|
| 1964 - 1968 |
c.early 1960s; 1969 - 1973 |
1974 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1975 |
1976 - 1977 |
1978 - 1983 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1984 |
1985 - 1992 |
1993 - 1996 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 1997 |
1998 - 2004 |
2005 - 2010 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'A' |
'B' |
'C' (and 'C1' & 'C2') |
| 2011 - 2012 |
2012 |
2013 - 2015 |
| |
|
*see note 1 below |
 |
 |
 |
| 'D' |
'E' (and 'E1') |
'F' |
| 2013 - 2015 |
2013 |
2013 |
| *see note 2 below |
*see note 3 below |
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'G' |
'H' |
'I' |
| 2013 |
2014 - 2015 |
2014 |
| *see note 4 below |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'J' |
'K' |
'L' |
| 2014 |
2014 |
2014 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'M' |
'N' |
'O' |
| 2014 |
2015 |
2015 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'P' |
'Q' |
'R' |
| 2015 - 2016 |
2015 - 2016 |
2015; 2017 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'S' |
'T' |
'U' |
| 2015 |
2016 |
2016 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'V' |
'W' |
'X' |
| 2016 |
2016 |
2016 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'Y' |
'Z' |
'AA' |
| 2016 |
2016 |
2016 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AB' |
'AC' |
'AD' |
| 2016 |
2016 |
2016 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AE' |
'AF' |
'AG' |
| 2016 |
2017 |
2017 - 2018 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AH' |
'AI' |
'AJ' |
| 2017 |
2017 |
2018 - 2019 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AK' |
'AL' |
'AM' |
| 2018 - 2019 |
2018 |
2018 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AN' |
'AO' |
'AP' |
| 2018 - 2019 |
2018 |
2019 |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AQ' |
'AR' |
'AS' |
| 2019 |
2020 |
2021 - |
| *see note 5 below |
*see note 6 below |
|
 |
 |
 |
| 'AT' |
'AU' |
'AV' |
| 2021 - |
2021 - |
2021 - |
| |
|
*see note 7 below |
During recent years Western Michigan has used the following sequences of helmet designs:
- 2021: AS-AT-AS; AU-AU-AU; AU-AU-AV; AS-AS-AS; AS (the last game being vs Nevada in the Quick Lane Bowl at Detroit, MI)
- 2020: AR (entire season)
- 2019: AJ-AK-AJ; AK-AP-AP; AJ-AK-AN; AJ-AP-AQ; AJ (the last game being vs Western Kentucky in the First Responders Bowl at Dallas, TX)
- 2018: AJ-AK-AG; AK-AG-AL; AJ-AF-AM; AN-AK-AL; AO (the last game being vs BYU in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Boise, ID)
- 2017: AF-AG-AH; AH-AG-AF; AI-AH-AG; R-AH-AG
- 2016: T-U-V; W-X-Q(?); Y-P-Z; AA-AB-AC; AD-AE (the last two games being vs Ohio in the Mid-American Conference championship game at Detroit, MI, and vs Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl at Arlington, TX)
- 2015: D-C-N; H-O-D; P-O-Q; R-O-S; D (the last game being vs Middle Tennessee State in the Bahamas Bowl at Nassau, Bahamas)
- 2014: H-C2-D1; D1-I-J; C2-J-J; K-C2-L; M (the last game being vs Air Force in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl at Boise, ID)
- 2013: C-D-D; C-E-C; C1-G-C; D-E1-F.
- 2012: A-A-A; A-B-A; A-A-B; A-A-B
In 1974 WMU's helmets were of some light color, apparently either yellow or gold, and had a stripe sequence of brown-white-brown. No decals are visible in any of the photographs that I have seen of this design.
*1 Design 'C2' has the bronco head logo on both sides; 'C' and 'C1' have different right sides as represented below.
 |
 |
| 'C' |
'C1' |
*2 Design 'D' has the bronco head logo on its left side only; on the right side are white uniform numerals (as depicted below). 'D1' has the bronco head on both sides.
*3 Design 'E' has the bronco head logo on its left side only; on the right side are gold uniform numerals (as depicted below). 'E1' has the bronco head on both sides.
*4 The bronco logo is present on the left side only of this design; on the right side are pink uniform numerals (as depicted below).
*5 The Michigan state outline is present on the left side only of this design; uniform numbers are worn on the right side (as depicted below).
*6 The bronco logo is worn on the left side only of this design; uniform numerbers adorn the right side (as depicted below).
*7 The Michigan state outline is present on the left side only of this design; uniform numbers are worn on the right side (as depicted below).
