Would like to see the lettering placed closer to the ear hole, like the old days, but with the modern shape of the helmet, face mask, and chin strap attachment, I guess that placement doesn’t work.
Illinois Football Uniforms
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Numbered helmet is the best.
I hope they are available to purchase
Would be interesting to see the underlined Illinois with our current jerseys.
I would also like to see how those helmets would look with solid color orange/blue jerseys and not those weird pinstripe/polo collars jerseys we had at the time.
So glad that we aren't paying attention to abomination uniforms that we're from the Beckman era. That metal sheen finish was BLEH
I would also like to see how those helmets would look with solid color orange/blue jerseys and not those weird pinstripe/polo collars jerseys we had at the time.
So glad that we aren't paying attention to abomination uniforms that we're from the Beckman era. That metal sheen finish was BLEH
TentakilRex
- Land O Insects between Quincy-Macomb-Jacksonville
Melt that garbage third helmet at 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit!
TentakilRex
- Land O Insects between Quincy-Macomb-Jacksonville
Unpopular opinion: I despise this helmet with every fiber of my being!!!!!! All it does reminds of 0-11, Ron Guenther, Lou Tepper, and a crap ton of trash football. It is a trash helmet, nothing but a knockoff of the 80s New York Giants, a helmet that was overrated as Bill Parcells himself! Screw this helmets. As a Cowboys I rather have an orange and blue version of any Redskins helmet or blue and orange version of the One Hit Wonder Eagles helmets complete with the Kingfisher as a mascot. Well a winged helmet or one with the Astros logo (I am a Rangers fan too) would just as insulting. Screw this helmet!
I’m not big on the numbers. Not bad, just not my favorite. I like how with “Illinois” they went all white lettering, with no blue outline. The helmet of the last conference championship. That style is back, and it looks good when the Giants do their version.
For the “illini” helmet, I do think orange face masks would’ve been cool, but gray is better. With those helmet stripes down the middle its placement is perfect for the shapes of the helmets today. Really hope either ‘Illini’ or ‘Illinois’ becomes permanent. ‘Illini’ would be my choice. We’ll see.
Only thing missing are the Chief helmet stickers. That’d be asking too much though
For the “illini” helmet, I do think orange face masks would’ve been cool, but gray is better. With those helmet stripes down the middle its placement is perfect for the shapes of the helmets today. Really hope either ‘Illini’ or ‘Illinois’ becomes permanent. ‘Illini’ would be my choice. We’ll see.
Only thing missing are the Chief helmet stickers. That’d be asking too much though
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I’d argue it’s far less generic than just the letter “I”
I’m fine with the “Illini” helmet being permanent. There’s none better, in my opinion.
chief illiniwek
It's an ILLINI thing...
I’m with you on that, was so happy to see them gone. I get it as a throwback, but they are just awful.
The funny thing is my kid’s high school uses the same slant underline, and I love their helmets.
I never been an underlined slant ILLINOIS guy, but that helmet looks pretty sharp. I like the curved Illini the most of the 3.
And bring back the little "Chief" stickers. That's all I ask.
i might be the only one that liked the anodized orange helmets of the 2014 rebrand. i think the white helmets from that set also really popped.
that being said, i think the arched illini are my favorite of the bunch. i feel like if one or two of the helmets take the world by storm there's a non-zero chance they could replace today's standard block I
that being said, i think the arched illini are my favorite of the bunch. i feel like if one or two of the helmets take the world by storm there's a non-zero chance they could replace today's standard block I
chief illiniwek
It's an ILLINI thing...
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
I am biased, but I definitely agree. I will admit that it is not the "coolest" helmet in the world. But I think it is charming and unique. If you see our current uniforms from afar with the "I" helmet, it could be confused from afar as a Syracuse uniform. But there is no mistaking the ILLINOIS helmet for another school, and I think that is something we should embrace.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
Two opinions I've never been able to wrap my brain around.
I continue to believe that the 2001-era unis are, taken all together as a coherent whole, the best the program has ever done aesthetically.
SampsonRelpenk
- Edwardsville, IL
Agreed, but I also know I feel that way because that was the era I became a fan.
redwingillini11
White and Sixth
- North Aurora
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
Speaking of, why do the people who say “I hate the Slant Illinois, it’s just copying the Giants!” also almost unanimously want numbers on our helmet?
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I can see and comprehend that the numbers on the helmets connote a "no, it's the children who are wrong" provocation against modernity that is always fan catnip for these sorts of things. That is the level on which it's operating.
But as you note, I so strongly associate numbers on the helmets as "Alabama" that I don't comprehend how it acquires that "vintage" appeal.
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