CBS writer slams Notre Dame’s new shamrock helmet - 'More like a St.Patrick’s Day craft project' than a helmet
Posted on Monday, November 07, 2011 at 07:52 PM
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| New Notre Dame helmet |
Notre Dame’s new shamrock logo on their helmet for their Maryland game is drawing criticism from CBS sports writer Adam Jacobi.
Referring to the new helmet Jacobi wrote”That? That doesn't look like a football helmet. It looks like a St. Patrick's Day crafts project -- and not a particularly good or tasteful one”
The game against Maryland is being called the Shamrock Series game but Jacobi says the helmet is all wrong.and just doesn’t make sense.
“What I don't understand about the Notre Dame alternate helmets so frequently using the shamrock is this: Notre Dame has its own set of iconography for its football team, and it's just about the most recognizable in the nation.
There's the interlocking "ND" logo, the "boxing leprechaun" logo, and to a lesser extent Touchdown Jesus*. But anyway, missing from all of those highly recognizable images is the shamrock. It's just not part of the look, and hasn't been since the Irish scrapped a three-year project with the helmet shamrock back in 1962.
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So when the Irish players slap a shamrock on their hats for the "sort of throwback but not really" game against Michigan this year, then do it again for the upcoming Maryland contest, it feels like an aggressive rebranding initiative by a program and school that have, in all other aspects, staked their reputation on sticking to tradition at all costs. It just doesn't make sense.
According to Notre Dame’s sports department release the Shamrock Series helmets are covered in 24-carat gold leaf and feature green shamrocks on each side and a leprechaun decal on the back.
Notre Dame says the shamrock decal will continue .”This marks the first in a series of uniform features that will be utilized for Notre Dame's Shamrock Series contests. After the 2011 game at FedExField, the Shamrock Series in 2012 moves to Soldier Field in Chicago for a game against Miami.
In 2013 the Shamrock Series match-up against Arizona State will be played at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Irish will showcase uniform variations in their annual Shamrock Series games but otherwise will wear their standard uniforms the rest of the season.”
11 comments
Page 1 of 1 pages
guiseppe | Nov 12, 2011, 12:14 PM EST
To falconflash: Yes, I'm liberal.........and yes I do like the shamroch helment. You are a bit mixed up with your labeling.
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mehaul007 | Nov 09, 2011, 08:12 PM EST
I think they could use small shamrocks to signify significant plays by each player that need to be earned.
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JimMcGarity | Nov 08, 2011, 11:30 PM EST
Is CBS still on the air. They must be late night after I go to bed!
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canadianirish | Nov 08, 2011, 07:25 PM EST
I love it!!
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jamieLM | Nov 08, 2011, 02:19 PM EST
The shamrock is too big. The Fighting Shamrocks?The whole thing doesn't do it for me. I think they could have come up with something a lot better. Just my opinion. What's important is how they play football.
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AengusOg | Nov 08, 2011, 01:47 PM EST
The helmet is gauche. That said, ever since the ESPN crews started calling the Celts the "Cs", I have been alert to an anti-Irish bias in the media. It takes no more time or effort to say Celts as to say Cs. Now if the commentators took offense to the 'Redskins' and started calling them the Rs, that I could understand. The Irish-American legacy is special. ESPN, don't mess with it.
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Skibberrean | Nov 08, 2011, 12:18 PM EST
I think the helmet should have been dark navy blue with the Shamrock in the gold. It is not classic looking. It looks cheap!
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cillowen | Nov 08, 2011, 09:53 AM EST
The helmet is awesome - brilliant.
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Cedric123 | Nov 08, 2011, 09:47 AM EST
Would have to agree with the previous comment, the helmet is ugly!
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CitizenWhy | Nov 08, 2011, 09:22 AM EST
That helmet is ugly, as are most oversized logos. Oversized says desperate. Instead of winning they are focused on gimmicks.
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