Wisconsin62

Helmet critics either love or hate the unique style of the early to mid 1960s Wisconsin helmet. We think that this was a great helmet that had a non conventional design while still keeping it simple and tasteful. This helmet will always inspire memories of the 1963 Rose Bowl in which a number two ranked Wisconsin team almost upset the top ranked USC team for the national championship in one of the most exciting games of all time. One of the highest compliments we can pay to a helmet design is that it immediately invokes memories of a special period or era in a team's history and this helmet certainly meets that criteria.

Number 88, Pat Richter, was a legendary figure at the school. He lettered a total of nine times in three years while playing three sports (football, basketball and baseball). In addition to being a two time All American receiver he was also an academic All American. He established a new Rose Bowl record with 11 receptions in the famous 1963 game. After a solid eight year pro career with the Washington Redskins he returned to serve his alma mater as director of athletics for 15 years which ended with his retirement this year.

Strange but true trivia: Pat might have been the first and only college player whose college ("W"s) and pro helmets (Redskin "feather") featured logos from the front to the back of the helmet rather than on each side. Please enjoy this unique helmet worn by a very special athlete during a great era of college football.