VIEW ALL HELMET DESIGNS BELOW!
NEW YORK—Since the Columbia Football program began in 1870, Columbia has sported a variety of different uniforms and helmets, all within the university's official color scheme of Light Blue and White. Typically the program experienced uniform and helmet change upon the introduction of a new head coach. Today's story is the first part of a two-day story on Columbia Football helmets and uniforms. Tomorrow, we will publish a story on football uniforms throughout the years.
Since the modern-day helmet was introduced in the 1950s, Columbia has sported both light blue and white headgear with a variety of side logos including a lion, lion, and block C combination, CU, and white block C. In addition, Columbia has also worn helmets with script Columbia, the university seal, and an interlocking CU.
From the 1950s and 1960s to 1970, Columbia wore blank white helmets with a single blue stripe down the center. The helmets also included uniform numerals on the sides in either black or blue. The side numerals were discarded by at least 1970, though during some games in 1970, the team wore numerals on the front of the helmet.
That changed in 1971 when Head Coach Frank Navarro introduced a blue lion logo on the side.
Head Coach Robert Naso first introduced a light blue helmet during his first year in 1980, then switched to a blue Columbia script on white helmet from 1982-84. Naso's 1981 team wore a specialty helmet featuring an interlocking Columbia C and blue lion for one game in the season opener vs. Harvard on Sept. 19, 1981.
Head Coach James Garrett switched back to a blue helmet with Columbia shield in 1985 and Larry McElreavy introduced the interlocking white CU on blue helmet in 1987, a look that lasted for 13 full seasons from 1987-2002.
The Lion mascot first appeared on the Columbia helmet in 2003 when Bob Shoop became head coach and Head Coach Norries Wilson introduced a light blue C in 2006, which lasted until 2015.
Interestingly, in order to celebrate the University's 250
th Anniversary, Columbia wore specialty helmets during its October 18, 2003 Homecoming Game against Penn. The helmet was intended to resemble the headgear worn by the 1961 Columbia team which won the Ivy League championship.
In 2015, current Head Coach
Al Bagnoli was the first to put the modern-day lion on the side of a white helmet. He also introduced the New York City skyline to the back of the helmets in 2018.
Research conducted and graphics provided by The Helmet Project at http:nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project.
EVOLUTION OF THE COLUMBIA FOOTBALL HELMET
