A Helmet Schedule….Literally

As we near the start of the 2019 football season, it is important to remember that things have changed greatly over the 150 years that this wonderful game has been around. This particular list grew out of a discussion with some friends over what helmets we’d like to see if Troy did throwbacks for every home game.

Unfortunately, with all of my newfound helmet knowledge over this past summer, I couldn’t stop there. What follows is how the Trojans would look if we played every game of the 2019 schedule wearing the helmet we wore at the first meeting between Troy and their opponents.

Week 1 – Campbell

 

On August 31st, Troy faces the Campbell Fighting Camels of the Big South Conference. While unfortunate for Troy, they’ve not had the pleasure of playing the dromedaries before. Therefore, we would see the Trojans face their first opponent while wearing their classic cardinal lids, complete with the black and white Northwestern stripe down the middle.

Week 2 – Southern Miss

Week 2 begins on September 14th for the Trojans and if I had it my way with these helmets, the NCAA might come calling. The first meeting between the Trojans and Southern Miss was way back in 1935, a 14-13 win for the Men of Troy. The closest Palladium I can find from that era was a 1937 edition, which featured leather helmed players for Troy. One can safely assume that would’ve been the case two years earlier.

While the NCAA would probably have LOADS of reasons to protest Troy’s use of leather helmets, Adidas would most likely provide the team with leather styled helmets in much the same way they did for A&M back in 2014.

Week 3 – Akron

 

 

 

The Trojans travel north to face off against the Akron Zips on September 21st. These two teams first faced off back in 2017 during Troy’s Military Appreciation Game, resulting in a tight 22-17 win for Troy.

This means that Troy would have to break tradition and wear their white helmets with the stars and stripes logos on the road instead of at home.

Week 4 – Arkansas State

While almost all of Troy’s games versus Arkansas State have come whilst in the Sun Belt, there were a few in the years while both schools were moving up to the FBS. The first matchup was a 27-0 loss for Troy way back in 1950.

This would mean the Trojans would don a white helmet with a single cardinal stripe, much like our current white helmet, when the two teams meet on September 28th. The key differences between this and the modern version being the 1950 helmet would have no logo or numbers on it and it wouldn’t have a facemask. I think the Trojan Equipment managers could simply remove the Power T from our current white helmet and meet NCAA regulations.

Week 5 – Missouri

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Missouri welcomes the Trojans on October 5th for their first meeting since 2005. Troy’s changed a lot since the last time these two squads met. Specifically, the school name which has changed from Troy State since the 44-7 beatdown back in 2002.

The Trojans would be back in black for this matchup wearing the TSU helmets made famous by Coach Larry Blakeney’s late 90s and early 2000s Troy State teams.

Week 6 – South Alabama

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That other Alabama team only started playing football back in 2009. Their first game against the Trojans was a 31-10 win for the good guys. While the teams have changed styles since 2012, the Trojans would be repping their classic Sun Belt helmet, the Cardinal Shield, when the Battle for the Belt commences on October 16th.

While the last few years of it weren’t its best, that helmet did win 5 straight Sun Belt Titles.

Week 7 – Georgia State

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Much like South, Georgia State didn’t start playing football until 2009, therefore Troy would be forced into their first repeat of the year, donning the Cardinal Shield helmet once again during their October 26th matchup.

The first meeting between the two squads was a 35-28 win for Troy in 2013 and the 2015 game stands as the only loss for Troy to the Panthers.

Week 8 – Coastal Carolina

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Troy will face off against Coastal Carolina on November 2nd. In the Trojans’ first meeting with the Chanticleers, they went to Conway wearing white helmets with the digi-camo Power T and single stripe down the middle.

These helmets were made more memorable than others by Marcus Jones’ two kickoff return TDs, as well as, Jordan Chunn setting the school rushing TD record.

Week 9 – Georgia Southern

Troy has had a back and forth relationship with winning when it comes to Georgia Southern, going streaky between both teams after Georgia Southern’s program was revived.

The first game with the Eagles was in 1934, a 19-12 win which started a 9 game win streak from that year until 1983. This means the Trojans would again break out their faux leather helmets to do battle on November 9th.

Week 10 – Texas State

Way back when Troy and Texas State first faced off in 1996 as opponents in the Southland Conference, they did so as Troy State and Southwest Texas State. The first meeting was a 24-13 win for the Trojans, while the 1997 matchup has thus far been the only loss for the Trojans in the series history.

For this game the Trojans will bring back the original Blakeney Black TSU lids from the 90s. These looked similar to the ones worn against Missouri, but only feature the white outline of the Trojan Helmet.

Week 11 – Louisiana-Lafayette

In the third oldest series the Trojans have on this schedule, Louisiana-Lafayette has faced off against the Trojans all the way since 1946, a 64-0 beating of the Trojans. Troy took 1943-45 off for WWII, so it’s understandable that the Trojans wouldn’t be back to full strength in that first year.

The Trojans would again don the white helmet with a single red stripe, which they wore against Arkansas State. I am taking a leap of faith with this particular helmet as the closest evidence from a Palladium I have is from 1948. I’ve found no way to know for certain what they wore in 1946, but it stands to reason it would be the white with red stripe.

Week 12 – App State

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Trojans and the Mountaineers have traded wins over the years, some like 2000 in the same year. The first meeting between these two foes happened in 1970, resulting in a 42-0 win for Troy. They wouldn’t meet again on the field until that 2000 season. Since the regular season win in 2000, the Trojans have only beaten the Mountaineers once, in 2016.

For this trip back to the groovy land of 1970, the Trojans would have to bring back one of the best looks they’ve ever worn. 1970 was two years removed from the 1968 NAIA Championship season in which the Red Wave, as it was then, wore a cardinal helmet with a white/black stripe down the middle. On the sides would be an interlocked TS.

Conclusion

If this history is any indication and assuming a win vs Campbell, Troy is in for a great season. Based on first games against this schedule, the Trojans would go 9-3, losing only to ULL and Arkansas State. This would be Troy would represent the Sun Belt East in the 2nd Sun Belt Championship Game.

While it would be a lot of work for the equipment managers, i think this plan could make the 2019 season a walk through Trojans’ history and a fun way to celebrate college football’s 150th anniversary.