University of Oklahoma Athletics
History of the Helmets
June 11, 2008 | Athletics
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When we originally uncovered these helmets in an old equipment closet inside Memorial Stadium, it was like opening up a time capsule and reliving a part of Sooner football history.
Perhaps more than any other piece of athletic equipment, football helmets capture the essence of their sport and signify the era in which they were used. This got us thinking about the stories behind some of these helmets, the players who wore them and the evolution of football helmets overall.
Evolution of the Helmet
First off, here are a couple of interesting websites that trace the evolution of the OU football helmet:
NationalChamps.net - View a complete history of the evolution of the OU football helmet, along with those of every other Big 12 school.HelmetHut.com - An online helmet museum that provides historical information and pictures related to professional and college football helmets that were worn from the 1950s through the 1970s. Actual game worn helmets are featured along with authentic reproductions.A Deeper Look
Advanced technology and safety concerns have played the biggest role in the evolution of football helmets. Here is a deeper look at the history behind the helmets in our vintage auction series.
The oldest helmets we uncovered can be traced back to the early 1970s. The sporting goods company MacGregor, which primarily manufactures golf equipment today, produced a popular helmet in the 1960s but quit making helmets in the early-1970s.
Billy Kelly acquired the rights from MacGregor to produce the same style of helmet in the mid 1970s. However, Kelly closed his helmet company for good in 1984 due to the high cost of product liability insurance which resulted from the prevalence of concussions in football. More...
The most prominent feature of the MacGregor and Kelly helmets is its paint application. The base coat and logo are painted on the inside of a uniquely laminated outer shell which covers the helmet. This was done to minimize degradation from wear on the outer shell. More...
The more recent helmets available in our vintage auction series were worn by the Sooners during the late 1990s. During this time, Riddell and Schutt were, and still are today, the primary manufacturers of football helmets.
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