What do the Buckeyes have on their helmets?

Asked by: Gary Ferguson

Designed in 1950 by comic artist Milton Caniff, the Buckeye Leaf stickers were placed on Ohio State football helmets starting in 1968 as a reward system for big plays on the field. Legend has it, the idea for the helmet stickers was developed by athletic trainer Ernie Biggs, and Woody Hayes put it into effect.

What do buckeye stickers on helmet mean?

motivational purposes

According to ESPN, legend has it that in 1968, Ohio State’s trainer, Ernie Biggs, thought of the idea to award players with helmet stickers resembling buckeye leaves. It would be used for motivational purposes, as players got them for making big plays.

What leaf is on the Buckeyes helmet?

buckeye leaves

The Ohio State Buckeyes decorate their players’ helmets with buckeye leaves. If a player does really well, his lid will be covered in those stickers. It’s a longtime tradition. It’s this, from a tree common in the Midwest and the state tree of Ohio.

What are the sticker on Ohio State’s helmets?

Sharp-eyed viewers may see stickers on the back of Ohio State’s helmets when they play. Those stickers depict buckeye leaves and are awarded to players for exceptional play.

How do you get a buckeye sticker on your helmet?

Ohio State Buckeye Helmet Stickers



If the defense racks up at least five three-and-outs, players will get one. Or if the offense executes ten plays in which 12 or more yards are gained, each player will also be awarded. Ohio State nowadays focuses more on team performance than individual performance.

Why do Michigan helmets have wings?

The origin of arguably the most famous helmet in college football began when coach Fritz Crisler arrived at Michigan in 1938, bringing the look with him from Princeton. Crisler believed the distinctive winged helmet would help quarterbacks better see open receivers on pass plays.

Are buckeye nuts edible?

They can be collected in late summer after they turn a leathery tan color and begin to split open exposing the three large black seeds. Seeds are removed by peeling the capsule apart. Seeds resemble edible chestnuts, but Ohio buckeye fruits are not edible and can be toxic.

What are the stickers on Michigan’s helmet?

The stickers, which Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh brought back to the helmets during his first season in 2015, used to feature a wolverine in blue and could be awarded for any number of in-game achievements. Players accumulated helmet stickers each season and would start over the next with a clean helmet.

What are the stickers on Clemson helmets?

The Tigers for Saturday night’s season-opener at Wake Forest wore helmet decals that read “Love,” “Equality,” “Black Lives Matter” and “Put a Stop to Racism.” The team’s official Twitter page, @ClemsonFB, put out a photo showing all for with the words “Playing with a purpose.”

What is a buckeye good for?

Medicinal Uses



Native Americans once used buckeyes for both nutritional and medicinal purposes. These tribes would crush and knead the nuts into a salve for rashes and cuts. Today, some believe that buckeyes can relieve rheumatism and arthritis pain. Prescription opioids were first created exclusively for pain relief.

Do college players keep their helmets?

NCAA Rules Reminders:



Student-athlete may retain athletics apparel and equipment items at the end of their intercollegiate participation. Equipment may also be retained over vacation periods and returned.

How do you get buckeye leaves?

Players receive one Buckeye leaf for each win, two for a conference win and three for a win against Michigan, plus additional leaves for individual accomplishments. No helmet stickers are given out after a loss.

Is a buckeye a chestnut?

Buckeyes and horse chestnuts belong to the same tree family and are unrelated to true chestnuts. They bear similarities in fruit, but horse chestnuts carry larger seeds. The nuts of both buckeyes and horse chestnuts appear shiny and attractive, yet both are highly poisonous and must never be eaten.

How do Ohio State football players get the stickers on their helmet?

Each player gets a sticker for a win, two stickers for a win in conference and three stickers for a win over Michigan, per Eleven Warriors. Those add up throughout the season, assuming the Buckeyes are winning games.

Who has the best helmet in college football?

Texas football

Texas football tops the list of the top helmets in college football in 2022.

How much does a NCAA football helmet cost?

Helmets and shoulder pads represent the largest price tags, coming in at an average of around $500 each. “The cost of the helmet 15 years ago was around $125,” Reed said. “The cost of some helmets now is up to $1,500, with a minimum of $300.”

What does the black stripe mean at Ohio State football?

It’s a rite of passage within the Ohio State football program for every newcomer to the program. A kid might officially sign a letter of intent with the program, but he’s not considered a part of the brotherhood until he has his black stripe removed.

Do college football teams paint their helmets?

But on that day, they were ready to go. “That’s when we started looking at the helmet. They’re paint jobs. That’s all they’ve ever been.”

Do college football teams get new helmets every game?

In 2013, the league’s Head, Neck and Spine Committee and the Player Safety Advisory Panel recommended that players no longer be given new helmets to match alternative uniforms. Any aesthetic alterations of the helmet can only be made with decals.

How long do college football helmets last?

Assuming there are no cracks or other internal damage, The National Athletic Equipment Reconditioners Association (NAERA) states that football helmets must be reconditioned and recertified every two to ten years. The NFL takes safety to the next level.

How are college football helmets painted?

Football helmets didn't always look like this they weren't shiny or complex. And they didn't come with options. They were always painted the same paint. Play a game repaint.

What is green sticker on NFL helmets?

If you’ve ever watched an NFL game, you’ve probably noticed a green dot on the back of select players’ helmets. That green dot indicates the player is receiving radio communication from coaches to relay play-calls. For the offense, the quarterback will always have the voice of his coaches and coordinators in his head.

Do NFL helmets have decals?

That includes the team logos on the sides of the helmet, the league and American flag icons on the back, commemorative and memorial decals, even the stripes. Basically, if you can see it on an NFL player’s hat, chances are Willis and his company manufactured it.

Do NFL helmets have stickers?

The NFL, however, has not used stickers on the helmet, mostly because of their strict uniform policy. Unless they allow the stickers to be universal or team-specific, don’t expect to see it anytime soon!

What is the yellow O on NFL helmets?

According to NFL rules, this is a sticker that marks the helmet that is linked up with a two-way microphone radio set, so the coaching staff can communicate with an on-field player. The quarterback on offense and the defensive captain or play-caller are linked up with communicators in their helmets.

What is written on the back of the NFL helmets?

The six messages players can choose from as part of the helmet decal program are: “End Racism,” “Stop Hate,” “It Takes All of Us,” “Black Lives Matter,” “Inspire Change” and “Say Their Stories.” The end zone stencils will be placed on field for all clubs in all home games, except when another cause is being recognized.