With college football kicking off in the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog in just a few days, here’s something I haven’t done in years – a look at football helmets for some very obscure teams.
MINERSVILLE
Team Name: BATTLIN’ MINERS
Comment: This team name begs the question “Is there also a team called the Minin’ Battlers?”
*** Continue reading
Filed under Cool Helmets
With too many sporting events getting canceled these days here’s a new Top Twenty List for 2020 here at Balladeer’s Blog. This one examines some neglected football helmets.
EASTWOOD TROOPERS 
Comment: Why aren’t there more teams called Troopers?
WEATHERFORD KANGAROOS
Comment: Awesome name and awesome lids.
LEWISVILLE FARMERS
Comment: There’s something about the stark simplicity of these helmets paired up with the unique name the Farmers.
EISENHOWER EAGLES
Comment: Yes, that’s Eisenhower as in General and President Dwight Eisenhower aka “Ike.” Continue reading
Filed under Cool Helmets
College football season is just over a month away in the divisions covered here at Balladeer’s Blog. To whet our appetites here’s a look at The Coolest Canadian College Football Teams.
MONTREAL CARABINS
Location: Montreal, QC
Comment: My Canadian readers tell me Carabins are a military unit which wields Carbines, making this name virtually unique.
OTTAWA GEE GEES
Location: Ottawa, ON
Comment: GG originally stood for “Garnet & Grey” so it was combined with Gee Gee, slang for a racehorse, hence the horse on the helmet.
ACADIA AXEMEN
Location: Wolfville, NS
Comment: The name Axemen still sounds cool, despite its use in the title of a few reality shows in recent years. Continue reading
Filed under college football, Cool Helmets, Cool names and cool logos
HAPPY NEW YEAR! This day is all about football so Balladeer’s Blog welcomes 2019 with a look at 19 more cool football helmets.
BISHOP GUILFOYLE MARAUDERS
Comment from Balladeer: Having a depiction of a sword-wielding Scotsman on your helmet is no guarantee of victory. But it sure doesn’t hurt.
I can’t tell if that’s supposed to be a Claymore.
CENTRAL CAMBRIA RED DEVILS
Comment from Balladeer: Now that is some excellent artwork for this helmet logo.
And how can you not love that whole “What’re YOU lookin’ at?” expression on the Red Devil’s face?
LEBANON CEDARS
Comment from Balladeer: Not only is the name Cedars fairly unique among sports teams but the tie-in with the notorious Cedars of Lebanon makes this lid irresistible.
Terrific in all kinds of ways. Continue reading
Filed under Cool Helmets
NORTH EAST GRAPEPICKERS
Comment: The stylish look of the N and the E sold me on these helmets immediately.
The unique team name “The Grapepickers” turned things up to eleven in terms of the coolness factor, making them a cinch for this list.
NORTHAMPTON KONKRETE KIDS
Comment: The Kids are far more than just “alright.”
And the spelling “Konkrete” to go with the “Kids” only adds to the already considerable charm of this entire setup. Ya gotta love the Konkrete Kids!
DANVILLE IRONMEN
Comment: Instead of Boyz II Men we’ve just gone from (Konkrete) Kids II (Iron)men.
I know, that’s a pretty lame segue-way into what may be the coolest helmets on this latest examination of them. Continue reading
Filed under Cool Helmets
PUNXSATAWNEY CHUCKS
Comment: With Groundhog Day just a few days back this is a very appropriate team to start out with!
The Punxsatawney Chucks (short for Woodchucks) not only have appealing helmets but they deserve the world’s thanks for not taking the easy way out and calling themselves the Punxsatawney Phils.
HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS
Comment: It’s no secret that “Crusaders” is one of the coolest names for sports teams.
And if your institution is called Holy Cross then why not go with the stark simplicity of these lids? I really like the white on green color scheme of these helmets, too. Gold on green would be the only thing better.
CONESTOGA VALLEY BUCKSKINS
Comment: Okay, so we were all hoping for a Conestoga Wagon to be on the helmets of this team, but still …
The more I looked at these helmets the more they grew on me. What finally pushed me off the fence was the infinitely cool team name Buckskins. Continue reading
Filed under Cool Helmets
NORTH EAST GRAPEPICKERS
Comment: The stylish look of the N and the E sold me on these helmets immediately.
The unique team name “The Grapepickers” turned things up to eleven in terms of the coolness factor, making them a cinch for this list.
NORTHAMPTON KONKRETE KIDS
Comment: The Kids are far more than just “alright.”
And the spelling “Konkrete” to go with the “Kids” only adds to the already considerable charm of this entire setup. Ya gotta love the Konkrete Kids!
DANVILLE IRONMEN
Comment: Instead of Boyz II Men we’ve just gone from (Konkrete) Kids II (Iron)men.
I know, that’s a pretty lame segue-way into what may be the coolest helmets on this latest examination of them. Continue reading
Filed under Cool Helmets, opinion
Balladeer’s Blog’s readers just love these! Here are some more before pro football season is over.
DOWNINGTON WEST WHIPPETS
Comments: WHIPPET! Whippet GOOD! Long-time readers of Balladeer’s Blog will surely remember George the Whippet and his owners in the U.K.
Whippets are terrific dogs and more teams should be named after them.
BANGOR SLATERS
Comment: I’m assuming the rivals of the Slaters are the Zachs. (rimshot)
So their helmets may not have any cool logo or design on them but c’mon, some helmets are so cool that just their stark simplicity and kickass shell color makes them iconic. Continue reading
Filed under Cool Helmets, opinion
Balladeer’s Blog’s readers wanted more cool football helmets so here we go:
RIDGWAY ELKERS
Comment: There is just something majestic about Elks. There is also something majestic about these helmets.
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JENKINTOWN DRAKES
Comment: A drake is a male duck, of course. And the one on this helmet looks infinitely cooler than the infamous Howard the Duck.
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CONRAD WEISER SCOUTS
Comment: I find the shade of gray for the shell and the shade of blue for the lettering to be a perfect match on these lids for the Scouts.
Filed under Cool Helmets
VANDEGRIFT VIPERS
Comment: The Vipers manage the Hat Trick of having a virtually unique team name, a butt-kicking logo and terrific helmets.
FRISCO RACCOONS
Comment: Let’s face it, Raccoons is one seriously underused name when it comes to sports teams. If the Raccoon tails on these helmets were just a bit bigger they’d be perfect.
CIGARROA TOROS
Comment: Some readers tell me they don’t really care for helmets with white shells but I think they can look good with the right kind of logo on them. Continue reading
Filed under Cool Helmets
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