CBS writer slams Notre Dame’s new shamrock helmet - 'More like a St.Patrick’s Day craft project' than a helmet

By: Sean O'Shea | Published Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 9:45 AM | Updated Tuesday, November 8, 2011, 9:45 AM

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.”