Rice Owls Helmet History

Rice's early-leather helmet era helmet. Dates are uncertain.

Rice wore this helmet through the 1930s. Dates are uncertain.

Rice wore this helmet through the mid to late 1940s. Dates are uncertain. Blue leather helmets were worn for certain beginning in 1939.

Blue shell with silver stripe

Helmet worn by Dick Maegle. Helmet shell is Riddell RK.

Blue shell with silver stripe, white player numbers on side, gray facemasks.

Addition of the gray (mostly two-bar) facemask. Helmet shells are predominately Riddell RK.

Blue shell with silver stripe, white and blue flying owl, gray facemasks.

This was Rice's first year to have a helmet decal. Helmet shells are Riddell RK and TK.

White shell with royal blue stripe, football shaped royal blue oval with white "R" on sides, gray facemasks.

This look, as well as the uniforms at this time, were remniscent of the Baltimore Colts. Helmet shells are Riddell TK.

Silver/gray shell with blue-white-blue stripes, flying owl in white and blue, outlined in blue on sides, gray facemasks.

Nice design that lasted five seasons, no doubt a "bow" to the look of the Dallas Cowboys. Helmet shells are Riddell.

White shell with blue-white-blue stripes, "Rice" in blue script on sides, blue facemask.

This helmet was worn for only one year, the first year of Homer Rice's two-year coaching stint. Overall a nice looking helmet. Helmet shells are Rawlings and Riddell.

Dark royal blue shell with white-blue-white stripes, white number on sides, white facemasks.

Another one-year experiment. I have no idea why Rice changed from the 1976 look, which is a good looking helmet. Although these helmets are pretty bad, I do have a fondness for them, as Rice wore these during my dad's first year as a SWC official. Helmet shells are Rawlings and Riddell.

Dark royal blue shell with white-blue-white stripes, old flying owl logo from the 1971-75 period in white and blue outlined in white, white facemasks.

I consider this helmet a transitional helmet during the first year of Coach Ray Alborn, as it is the same helmet as the previous year, with the addition of the flying owl, and the subtraction of the player numbers. A much better helmet than the previous year. Helmet shells are Rawlings.

Silver/Gray shell with blue-white-blue stripes, new blue flying owl on sides, gray facemasks.

This helmet ushered in the new flying owl logo that Rice would use on their helmets for the remainder of Ray Alborn's tenure. Fairly nice helmet design, and the new owl design was interesting, as it was a departure from any Rice logo up until that time. Rice had its best season in years with this helmet in 1980 when they went 5-6. Helmet shells are Rawlings.

Navy shell with thin white-navy-white stripes and large white flying owl logo on sides, white facemasks.

Not real sure why Rice went to this helmet, as a coach doesn't usually change helmets during his tenure after selecting a "look." Perhaps Alborn was harkening back to the championship Owl teams of the 1950s that wore blue helmets. Helmet shells are Bike Air.

Navy shell with large white flying owl logo on sides, white facemasks.

Same helmet as the previous year with the subtraction of the stripes. Unfortunately, it was to be Ray Alborn's last year as coach. Helmet shells are Bike Air.

Silver shell with navy-white-navy stripes and silver diamond outlined in navy-white-navy with navy "R" in white circle outlined in navy in interior of diamond (interior diamond is CLEAR so that silver of football helmet showed through), gray facemasks.

These helmets made their debut under Watson Brown, who was obviously influenced by the "star-V" of his Vanderbilt roots. Helmet shells are Bike Air.

Silver shell with navy-white-navy stripes and navy diamond outlined in white with white "R" in navy circle outlined in white in interior of diamond, gray facemasks.

In mid-season of 1984, the helmet logo was changed because the diamond and the "R" were too hard to read. Helmet shells are Bike Air.

Silver shell with navy-white-navy stripes and navy diamond outlined in white and thin navy with white "R" in navy circle outlined in white in interior of diamond, white facemasks.

Same helmet as mid-season on in 1984, with the addition of a white facemask and thin navy outline around diamond "R" logo. Although finishing 2-8-1, Rice was very competitive, and things were looking up for the program. Helmet shells are Bike Air.

Silver shell with navy-white-navy stripes, divided white and navy "R" with navy outline, navy facemasks.

Another helmet change in 1986 when Jerry Berndt became Athletic Director and head football coach. A nice look, but the divided "R" was copied from the divided "P" look of Penn, where Jerry came from to Rice. This look was also used during Fred Goldsmith's first year as coach. Helmet shells are Riddell.

Navy shell with silver/gray owls wings on front of helmet extended to sides outlined in white with navy detail, navy facemasks.

A drastic and excellent change to the Rice football helmets occurred in Fred Goldsmith's second year. This look was a classic. Helmet shells are Riddell.

Navy shell with silver/gray owls wings on front of helmet extended to sides outlined in white with navy detail, gray facemasks.

Same helmets as above, but Coach Ken Hatfield replaced the navy mask with a gray mask. Personally, I like the navy mask better, although the gray mask looks okay, as it is one of Rice's school colors. Helmet shells are mostly Riddell.

Navy metallic shell with silver/gray owls wings on front of helmet extended to sides with white, navy and yellow detail, gray facemasks.

The only change was that the wings of the logo design underwent a change to reflect the school's new Rice Owl logo introduced this year. Helmet shells are Schutt and Riddell.

Silver metallic shells with stylized flying owl logo (school logo) with "R" under feet, navy facemasks.

First time since 1989 season that Rice wore silver helmets. Helmet shells are Schutt and Riddell.

Navy metallic shells with white Old English "R", navy facemasks.

Rice goes back to a simple, vintage style helmet, using the same "R" as on the Rice baseball caps. Worn halfway through 2012 season until throwback game (see below). Helmet shells are Schutt and Riddell.

Navy metallic shells with pink Old English "R", navy facemasks.

Special "one-time" helmet worn on October 23 for Breast Cancer awareness.

Worn to commemorate the 10th anniversary of 9-1-1 weekend.

Navy metallic shells, silver/gray stripe, white numbers on sides, gray facmasks.

Navy metallic shells, Old English "R", gray facmasks.

Worn to commemorate Breast Cancer Awareness. Differs from the 2010 version because of the gray mask.

Navy metallic shells, patriotic stars and stripes large stripe, patriotic stars and strpes Old English "R", gray facmasks.

Worn in Armed Forces Bowl in 2012 and again in 2015.

Matte white shells with navy Old English "R", navy facemasks

Navy metallic shells, Old English "R" in white on left side, Old English "R" in white on right side superimposed on state of Texas with Texas flag design, gray facmasks.

Worn in the Houston game to commemorate Hurricane Harvey.

White shells, new stylized owl head logo in gray and navy on sides, patriotic blue-white-red-stars stripe (same as worn in the Armed Forces Bowl in 2012 and 2015), navy facmasks.

Thanks to Greg Bond for supplying the 1938 Rice photo