Bringing Back the Look of Champions: Troy’s Throwback Helmets
The post-Blakeney era of Troy football brought a slew of changes, from the design of Veterans Memorial Stadium down to the logo on the helmet.
In fact, the lids themselves became a testament to the rich history of past Trojan teams and players. In 2018, Troy wore its first official “throwback” helmet design against FAMU, honoring the 1968 NAIA Championship team.
Since then, the Trojans have worn a throwback helmet nearly once a season, honoring the three national championship seasons, or in one case, possibly the winningest stretch of teams in Troy history.
Thing is, that’s not the first time Troy wore an official “throwback” or “tribute” look.
Actually, that happened in height of the Blakeney era.
2005: The Al Lucas Game
We’ve told you about the career of the great Al Lucas, winning the Buck Buchanan award in 1999 and his tragic death after a collision in an AFL game in 2005.
That fall, Troy immediately organized a quasi-throwback game to honor him. In the October 10 game against FIU, Troy managers dug out the black jersey, silver pants and black helmets from Lucas’ time at TSU.
Troy hadn’t worn them for six seasons; in fact, the Trojans were just a year removed from dropping “State,” which resulted in a unique, mixed-up uniform look. Furthermore, Troy became an Adidas school in 2002, and the old outfits were made by Russell.
Troy managers kept one piece of the new Trojan identity, placing the shield and sword-stripe directly onto the black helmets, creating the first unique helmet since the Trojans went with blank shells against Marshall in 2003.
Troy won 18-13, held FIU to 28 rushing yards, recovered four fumbles and picked off the quarterback for good measure, honoring Lucas’ legacy with a stout defensive effort. Never mind the 247 passing yards.
We’ve discussed how that was the only change to the basic Trojan uniform for another seven years, but it took 13 years for the next tribute look.
2018: NAIA Champions 50th Anniversary
The first true “Throwback” helmet honored the 1968 National Championship team, bringing back the interlocking TS logo and officially accepting “Troy State” as part of the team’s historical identity.
The helmet design reintroduced the triple stripe with the logo, a look that became standard for Troy for two years, and made its return on an occasional basis.
In Neal Brown’s last year, the reigning Sun Belt champions welcomed Florida A&M and crushed them 59-7, once again putting on a performance worthy of the team it honored. Kaleb Barker channeled Sim Byrd himself, passing for four touchdowns and rushing for a fifth.
This began a trend with Troy football. Unfortunately Neal Brown didn’t stay much longer, but the tradition did: honoring a championship team nearly every year.
2019: 35th Anniversary of the First Division II Title
The next year, Troy honored the 1984 Division II Championship with the same Cardinal/Cardinal/Black uniform, this time getting the Michigan State blessing to wear its logo once again.
Again Troy brought out the triple stripe, somewhat matching the helmet of old (Mike Turk’s actual helmet didn’t have chrome or matte finish, but I’m honestly not complaining) and again, Kaleb Barker put on a show, throwing for 504 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Unfortunately, the Southern Miss squad that showed up made it a shootout for the ages, and back-to-back kickoff returns punctuated a 42-point fourth quarter. The Trojans couldn’t withstand the onslaught, losing a close but electric game to the Golden Eagles.
The next year, pandemic restrictions likely impacted the plans for another throwback, but the year after that one of the most beloved pieces of Troy lore made its return.
2021: Marvin the Martian Returns
I often joke that the coach who followed Neal Brown did one thing right, and that’s keeping the win streak alive against the team from Mobile.
Truth is, his tenure had two bright spots: never losing to the team in Mobile, and bringing back the 1990s logo.
The Trojan Smoke helmets were the basis for this throwback look, accurately rejecting a stripe and again including chrome, but the negative feelings around this colorway (whether genuine or tied to the head coach) should be given this one pass.
For the first time since 2005, Troy used the same colors for the throwback uniform as the team of that day. Troy looks good in black, and it works well in moderation.
This is just one of Troy’s best looks, and arguably the best throwback look. (Again, putting aside any disdain you may have for the Trojan Smoke helmets.)
If nothing else, the TSU logo got its revenge for the 1995 I-A playoff game where Georgia Southern derailed Troy’s only undefeated, untied regular season in history.
The Eagles tied the game with six minutes left, but two drives later Troy picked off a pass. The Trojans drove down and Brooks Buce kicked the go-ahead field goal to give Troy the lead.
Another interception sealed Troy’s third win of the season, the third win for the throwback looks and the Marvin logo’s reputation as Troy fans’ favorite logo. We even did a poll to prove it.
That year, Troy moved on to the next coach, Jon Sumrall, and he didn’t just bring back championship ways on the field. His players wore championship logos.
2022: 35th Anniversary of the Second Division II Title
Troy stuck to black jerseys to honor the 1987 team, possibly setting up a visual difference between 1984 and 1987 tributes, but the Spartan logo returned for the 35th anniversary of the other title… also in a game against Southern Miss.
This time, the tri-stripe was long gone, with a single chrome stripe and facemask. The look was replicated in the 2024 game, but we’ll get to that.
The Spartan logo was the first throwback logo to be reused, and with given that years ending in 4,7,9 and 2 will all get Division 2 celebrations, it will likely be the most popular throwback logo moving forward.
That said, the 2022 game against Southern Miss was everything the 2019 edition was not. It was a defensive, turnover-laden game, with five picks either way and a fumble to Troy’s advantage.
What’s more, Troy held the Golden Eagles to 157 yards passing, a fraction of the amount put up in the last meeting.
Troy won 27-10, building back the winning tradition that goes with these throwback games. It didn’t necessarily stay much longer, though.
2023: NAIA Champions 55th Anniversary
Troy brought back the black and white look for the game against JMU, using the interlocking TS with a single white stripe and facemask. It’s a diversion from the typical Cardinal-based helmet, but I have to admit it looks good in person and in the game.
If you wanted to spin it, this look also plays off the “Black and white” media we have from that time, both for photos and video.
Regardless, the game was more black and blue than black and white, with both defenses refusing to surrender. Sun Belt Player of the year and now-Texas State quarterback Jordan McCloud threw for 187 yards, but Troy only gave up one touchdown.
JMU gave up two, but the Dukes’ three field goals made the difference. The battle of Sun Belt giants was lost by Troy 16-14.
Troy ultimately won the conference a second time, but the Dukes claimed the Eastern Division and missed the title game because of strict NCAA laws.
Both teams lost their coaches, and with that turnover brings us to this week.
2024: 40th Anniversary of First Division II Title
The Trojans are pulling from several wells in this look: the Spartan helmet from the 1987 throwback game, the Cardinal/Black uniform from the first 1984 throwback game, and the opponent from the first 1968 throwback game.
The Trojans are looking for their first win under Gerad Parker, and maybe a bit of championship magic will help them get over the hump. Florida A&M isn’t a good team, but the Rattlers are the reigning black college champions.
Unfortunately for them, they too lost their coach in the offseason. It’s a rebuilding year all around, but I think the trends bode well for the reigning two-time champions.
After all—for the most part—Troy has a tendency to play like the champions it honors.
Here’s the stats to back that up.
