The History and Legacy of the Idaho Vandals Silver Football Helmet

The History of the Idaho Vandals Football Helmet

The Idaho Vandals football team has a long and storied history that dates back to 1893. As one of the oldest football programs west of the Mississippi River, the Vandals have donned many different helmets and uniforms over the decades. Their iconic silver helmet is one of the most recognizable in college football. Let's take a look at the evolution of the Idaho Vandals football helmet.

The Early Years

In the early years of Idaho football, from 1893 to the early 1900s, the team wore simple leather helmets without any logos or decals. This was common during the sport's primitive era, as the focus was more on protective gear rather than style.

It wasn't until the 1920s that the Vandals started experimenting with their helmets. They often wore dark colored headgear with painted white stripes down the middle. The stripes were sometimes straight or curved. On either side of the stripes was a large white block "I" that stood for Idaho.

The Birth of the Silver Helmet

In 1937, the Vandals made a change that would define their program forever - the adoption of the silver helmet. Legend has it that head coach Ted Bank wanted his team to wear helmets that would reflect the shine from the sun and cause issues for opponents. The bright silver headgear was also easy to spot from a distance on the field.

The silver helmets had a painted green stripe down the middle and a green block "I" on each side, mirroring the 1920s design. This silver and green combination became Idaho's signature look for decades. Fans around the country associated the shining silver helmets with Vandals football.

New Looks, Same Silver

Over the next 50 years, the basic silver helmet remained but with some variations. In the 1960s, the Vandals switched to decals instead of painted logos and stripes. They also experimented with mask color, switching from green to white. In the 1980s, blue was added as an accent color.

During this time, the program achieved some of its greatest successes, including a run to the national playoffs in 1982. Fans were able to follow the shining helmets to postseason glory. The silver lid became a badge of honor that players strived to wear.

Joining the Big Sky

After years as an independent, Idaho finally joined an athletic conference in 1963 when they became a charter member of the Big Sky Conference. To honor this new affiliation, the Vandals tweaked their helmets again.

They enlarged the "I" decal and made it yellow and black to match the Big Sky's colors. On either side they added a smaller yellow Big Sky conference logo. This was another minor change that maintained the silver tradition.

New Millennium, New Look

In 1999, Idaho's administration decided the program needed a major aesthetic update. They unveiled a radical redesign that replaced the iconic silver with black helmets featuring a white metallic interlocking "UI" logo.

The change was wildly unpopular with fans and alumni. After just two difficult rebuilding seasons, the Vandals went back to their roots in 2001, bringing back the familiar silver helmets with green logos. Order had been restored in the Idaho football universe.

The 21st Century Silver Lids

Idaho retains the silver helmet tradition to this day, though they've continued tweaking the look and logos. In 2013, they swapped the interlocking "UI" for the word "Vandals" in black lettering over a green background decal on each side.

They've also experimented with different stripe styles and colors, including black, white and green. But the silver itself remains, a consistent thread throughout decades of football fashion changes. The helmets are a huge part of Vandal history and continue shining every fall Saturday in the Kibbie Dome.

The Legacy of the Silver Helmet

The Idaho Vandals silver helmet is one of college football's most iconic uniform pieces. For over 80 years it has represented a program, a university and a state. Generations of players have worn the silver lid with pride, knowing they were a part of something bigger and carrying on a legacy.

The helmet may have changed details and logos over the years, but the spirit has remained the same. Here's hoping the shining silver helmets continue to be a sight on football fields for years to come. Once a Vandal, always a Vandal!

FAQs

When did the Idaho Vandals first start wearing silver helmets?

The Vandals first wore silver helmets in 1937. Head coach Ted Bank wanted the shiny silver helmets to reflect sunlight into opponents' eyes.

What was the original logo on the silver Vandals helmet?

The original silver helmets featured a green stripe down the middle with a green block "I" logo on each side, representing Idaho.

Why did Idaho change the look of their silver helmets over the years?

The Vandals experimented with details like stripe styles, colors and logos over the years, but kept the iconic silver. They wanted modern looks while retaining tradition.

When did Idaho temporarily abandon the silver helmets?

In 1999, Idaho changed to black helmets with a metallic white logo. After fan backlash, the silver lids returned in 2001.

What is the current logo on the Idaho Vandals helmet?

Today the helmets feature the word "Vandals" in black lettering over a green background decal on each side.