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New “gold standard” used for Irish helmets

Oct 19, 2011, 6:50 PM EDT

34 Comments
Irish helmet Golden

It won’t just be the lights making the Irish helmets sparkle brighter on Saturday night.

The Irish will be unveiling a new helmet color, with a luster that better matches the Golden Dome that towers over Notre Dame’s campus. In a week where many people were expecting a uniform “surprise,” a new shade of helmet coloring certainly counts as something just about nobody saw coming.

According to Notre Dame football’s official Facebook page, here are the particulars of the new helmet.

  • Helmet has created a new “Gold Standard” for helmets with reflective gold coloring.
  • As you can see in the photo, color is much closer to the Golden Dome than any other helmet worn at Notre Dame.
  • There’s still 23.9 karat gold flake in the paint of every helmet.
  • There’s a better consistency from helmet to helmet on the roster.
  • The tradition of student managers painting the helmets will end, as the coloring process is too complex.

Obviously, losing the tradition of student managers painting helmets isn’t ideal, but I can’t tell you how many emails I’ve received from readers over the past couple seasons complaining about the helmet color. This should seemingly end that debate, as the brilliance and match of the helmets and the Golden Dome is pretty impressive.

No word yet on how they’ll look with green jerseys, but if you’re wondering what the difference is between the old gold helmets and the new ones, the side-by-side shot is pretty startling.

With TechFit jerseys and new painting procedures, the Irish continue to update their uniforms while still holding onto the traditional aspects that make them one of college football’s most recognizable teams.

 

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  1. borromini - Oct 19, 2011 at 7:05 PM

    Dude…what is it with your fascination with the constant inuendos and sexual remarks?

    KA…hasn’t he been warned enough?

    • txbeej - Oct 19, 2011 at 8:38 PM

      I only regret that I have but one thumbs up to give for your post.

      It is time. Let the great axe fall.

    • jerseyshorendfan1 - Oct 19, 2011 at 9:12 PM

      I second the motion.

  2. bernhtp - Oct 19, 2011 at 7:25 PM

    Very nice. I really like the change.

    • tradertrik - Oct 19, 2011 at 8:16 PM

      Indeed. They look great.

  3. txbeej - Oct 19, 2011 at 8:33 PM

    Awesome. Can’t wait to see the new helmet under the lights. It really does match the Dome now.

  4. 9irish - Oct 19, 2011 at 8:44 PM

    wow…that’s pretty, er, GOLD! I’ve noticed that they were much more dull than what I thought they used to be 15-20 years ago. Can’t wait to see them

    Go Irish

  5. ndfanwabashman - Oct 19, 2011 at 8:55 PM

    The only thing I do not like is that they seem to have that glitter effect like the Ohio State helmets and new Raider helmets do. Gold=good, glitter=bad.

    • 9irish - Oct 20, 2011 at 12:39 AM

      kind of thinking the same thing, I think it might just be the texture that gives it that look in pictures. I hope

      • 9irish - Oct 20, 2011 at 5:31 PM

        just to clarify….I am not being Debbie Downer on this thing….I like it. Just waiting to see them for real before the final verdict. Everything about ND reminds me of the Marine Corps. Back in about 2001 the Marines went from the old woodland cammies to the new digital MARPAT, gradually…everybody HATED it. “There’s nothing wrong with what we have…gotta go buy new ones now!” Then we got them…wore them in wars for 10 years, most comfortable uniform ever. Plus you don’t have to starch and iron them everyday now….kinda like not having to paint helmets every week. Traditional institutions are very resistant to change, but when they do it they do it in a very wise way.

    • hihochopsuey - Oct 20, 2011 at 3:37 AM

      I think the only color deserving of shimmer, shine and glitter is gold

    • alsatiannd - Oct 20, 2011 at 7:00 AM

      Me too. The glitter reminds me of cheap kiddie car rides at the County Fair.

  6. 1notredamefan - Oct 19, 2011 at 9:11 PM

    BAD-ASS helmets!! The championship trophy will look good next to those………………….

  7. irishking - Oct 19, 2011 at 10:02 PM

    Great looking helmets. I can hardly wait for the big game against USC.

  8. kiopta1 - Oct 19, 2011 at 10:22 PM

    Login the new helmet look. When can we buy one?

  9. hihochopsuey - Oct 20, 2011 at 3:39 AM

    All it took was Swarbricks wife for him to take notice, maybe that tells us something about getting his wife to notice the absence of a jumbotron!

  10. norcalirish - Oct 20, 2011 at 7:58 AM

    I created an account just to comment on this story. The loss of one of the most unique traditions in college football (and one of the oldest at ND, according to our own athletic site) is disgraceful, and totally unnecessary. Everybody knows the helmets have looked pretty bad over the last few years, but most would also agree that they looked amazing 20 or so years ago. What gives? Did gold dust get a little too expensive for one of the richest schools in the world? There HAS to be a way to keep the manager tradition alive.

    • notredamegrad - Oct 20, 2011 at 10:43 AM

      norcalIrish, they’re still using gold dust from the dome in the helmets, and the student managers are still deeply involved with the helmets and all the other uniform prep before games. I know this tradition was a poignant one, but the net gain is pretty compelling. Check out the post “New Golden Domes” at HLS (http://www.herloyalsons.com/blog/2011/10/20/new-golden-domes/) by a former student manager who used to paint the helmets. He makes a very good case for the new helmets by taking a realistic look at what it is the student managers had actually been tasked with doing in the helmet painting.

      He writes, “Believe me, managers put in loads and loads of work that are far more important than helmet painting. They are still a very important part of the program and that won’t be changing anytime soon. Furthermore, there are still many other great traditions managers partake in and describing them all would take up quite a few posts. At times, some traditions need to be laid to rest in order to give birth to new and better ones. In this case, I think ND made the right decision.”

      • ndgiants11 - Oct 20, 2011 at 11:26 AM

        I particularly agree with that last sentence: “At times, some traditions need to be laid to rest in order to give birth to new and better ones. In this case, I think ND made the right decision.”

        It’s unfortunate that the students can no longer paint the helmets, but as a program based on tradition, ND will continue to have to find a balance between tradition and making changes to keep up with the modern world. It’s the same thing we see in the game day experience/jumbotron discussion. The school must find a balance between maintaining it’s storied traditions and making the necessary updates to improve the program.

  11. norcalirish - Oct 20, 2011 at 8:05 AM

    Hopefully the above link works…I’ve checked it twice but you never know from this iPad. And hopefully this reminds those that might have forgot just what we’re losing.

  12. irishfan2791 - Oct 20, 2011 at 8:57 AM

    Anyone think with all this Uniform talk the Notre Dame pulls a U of M and wears they’re “home” legacy Jersey’s for this game? Kelly Green with White Number and the Gold pants and Sock? I think It would look awesome with the new Helments, I don’t think we have another opportunity for a green shirt game except USC right?

    • irishfan2791 - Oct 20, 2011 at 8:58 AM

      Helmets* my apologies guys

      • lsk82mom - Oct 20, 2011 at 2:46 PM

        BK sidestepped the question yesterday. Would
        not surprise me at all. They will go all out this
        weekend!

  13. NDfan1224 - Oct 20, 2011 at 9:59 AM

    Hopefully the dont look to slilver or white on the tv screen the light is going to reflect big time of those, but digging the new look LETS GO ND
    GO ND!!!
    ndandhuskers.wordpress.com

  14. NDfan1224 - Oct 20, 2011 at 10:00 AM

    Hopefully the dont look to silver or white on the tv screen the light is going to reflect big time of those, but digging the new look LETS GO ND
    GO ND!!!
    ndandhuskers.wordpress.com

  15. alsatiannd - Oct 20, 2011 at 10:12 AM

    It’s hard to tell from the closeups, but is that a hammered finish or are the helmets wet and showing beads of water? If it’s not a water effect, it still reminds me of this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/23641763@N08/2869611466/

    • bernhtp - Oct 20, 2011 at 2:23 PM

      It appears to be a metal flake paint to give a texture and look similar to the separate gold-leaf sections that comprise the dome.

  16. sfnd - Oct 20, 2011 at 11:21 AM

    I dislike the sparkle. IMHO it looks gimick-y. UND.com has a video segment on the new color.

  17. goirish64 - Oct 20, 2011 at 11:51 AM

    It’s about time for the change of GOLD hue on the helmets. I’m partially colored blind and even I could see the difference. Kudos to who ever stepped up and made the decision to make the change. Looks so much better than helmets of old, especially when the helmets of past would peel and chip. Hopefully the new won’t be as bad.

    I agree with NDFANWABASHMAN about the OSU helmets, the glitter in the silver looks stupid, and the helmets should be GRAY in color not silver. I think the glitter on the GOLD is OK, might help our QB’s.

    Sorry to the Managers, but there are other things to help prep the team.

    While were on the uniform subject, what about the LEGGINGS? The last time I saw them was last year against Army. Did I miss something somewhere? Has BK forgot about that tradition? If someone out there can give some clarification on the Leggings it would be appreciated!

    GO BLUE and GOLD, beat USC. Show the Killer instinct!!!!!
    BK release the HORSEMEN!!!!!

  18. joeschu - Oct 20, 2011 at 2:26 PM

    The helmets are evolution, not revolution. I’m really impressed. We don’t run Rockne’s playbook anymore, but we’re still ND. It is sad to see the nostalgia of the painting go away, but the modern athletic manager has a lot of other critical tasks on their plate.

    The fact they still have the gold is the critical thread of that tradition that we’re sustaining. I’m thrilled.

  19. 10of14 - Oct 20, 2011 at 9:22 PM

    Helmets look good, but please tell me that we have grown up and won’t “come out” in some crazy uniforms. It is time to act like you belong there. When has Alabama, LSU or Oklahoma come out gimmicky for a game? Didn’t think so! Do NOT wear green (not our school colors), just stay with the standard home garb….quit the cheesy crap!

    • 9irish - Oct 21, 2011 at 3:44 AM

      eh…kind of agree, kind of disagree. The green jerseys go way back (I tried the Johnny Lujack pic, couldn’t get it on here….google Lujack Life magazine 1947). But I don’t like the gimmicky part of it, either. That cat went out of the bag in 1977. But they do have a history and I would like to see them as a either/or with the blue….but with white numbers…and not trying to wear them to make some grand statement that might smack you in the face!

  20. growthceo - Oct 21, 2011 at 2:20 PM

    I was a student manager in the early 90′s that did the helmet painting. It was great the first time, after that it was laborious and worrisome. I think it is great to move on. The new helmets look great. The student managers painting them isn’t the right tradition to protect, the real gold still being in the paint is.

  21. cmack21 - Oct 28, 2011 at 3:56 AM

    lmao @ student managers…. it must have sucked to be you… but anyway ND wont even sniff the top 25 anytime this decade. Still hiding behind “tradition” they should be playing D-2 football at best

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