Army
1950's Game Worn
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If interested in any of these ARMY helmets please click on the
photos below.
Always one of the better football programs in the country, it can be
unequivocally stated that World War II immeasurably enhanced Army football and
the war in Viet Nam killed it. From 1910 through 1938 they did not have a
losing season until William Wood had the audacity to lead the 1939 and 1940
War-depleted squads to 3-4-2 and 1-7-1 records. Enter Earl Blaik and the
golden age of Army football that was highlighted by the reign of Felix "Doc"
Blanchard and Glenn Davis and the three national championships they led the
squad to. The three-year 27-0-1 record, Heisman Trophies for both running
backs make some forget that Blaik had yet another Heisman winner in Pete
Dawkins in 1958. Blaik survived an academy wide 1951 cheating scandal that
resulted in the dismissal of 37 football players to retire
in 1958 after yet another undefeated season. While the scandal ruined the
1951 and '52 seasons, Blaik battled back to the usual excellent standard of
one and two loss seasons to establish himself as Army's best all time coach.
With assistants like Sid Luckman and Vince Lombardi helping during that era,
Blaik can claim a total of fifteen assistants who eventually became head
collegiate or pro coaches. Led by lesser-known Army stars like QB Pete Vann,
end Don Hollender, and tackle Bob Farris, the Army teams were solid and
exciting. The gold helmet with black stripe has changed little through the
decades, even as Army's football fortunes have plummeted, made worse by their
recent incursion into Conference USA where they were outmanned weekly. Gold,
black, and gray, Army's official colors, represent the materials that make up
gunpowder and the gold helmet at least through the 1940's and '50's always
signified excellence.
