Atlantic Coast Conference

BOSTON COLLEGE CALIFORNIA CLEMSON
"Eagles" "Golden Bears" "Tigers"
Chestnut Hill, MA Berkeley, CA Clemson, SC
DUKE FLORIDA STATE GEORGIA TECH
"Blue Devils" "Seminoles" "Yellow Jackets"
Durham, NC Tallahassee, FL Atlanta, GA
LOUISVILLE MIAMI NORTH CAROLINA
"Cardinals" "Hurricanes" "Tar Heels"
Louisville, KY Coral Gables, FL Chapel Hill, NC
NORTH CAROLINA
STATE		 PITTSBURGH SOUTHERN METHODIST
"Wolfpack" "Panthers" "Mustangs"
Raleigh, NC Pittsburgh, PA Dallas, TX
STANFORD SYRACUSE VIRGINIA
"Cardinal" "Orange" "Cavaliers"
Palo Alto, CA Syracuse, NY Charlottesville, VA
VIRGINIA TECH WAKE FOREST
"Hokies" "Demon Deacons"
Blacksburg, VA Winston-Salem, NC

California, Southern Methodist, and Stanford are new members of this conference in 2024.

Historical Helmets

BOSTON COLLEGE

? - 1961 1962 - 1980 October 27, 2012
*see note 1 below
2011 - 2012 (away games) October 7, 2016;
October 27, 2017 		1991 - 2022
*see note 2 below
1981 - 1990;
November 6, 2004;
November 21, 2015;
2023 -

Boston College has apparently never used any sort of logo on the sides of its helmets (at least not since the year 1960), and the helmet designs shown above are the only variations of which I am aware. One or two people have claimed that a "flying eagle" logo was used briefly during the 1960s but these were apparently "award decals" used by only a few players. From 1958 through 1961 BC used gold helmets with one maroon/burgundy stripe and with uniform numbers in some unknown color on the sides (no color photographs showing the numbers have yet been located). Below is a photograph from the college's 1965 yearbook showing one of the presumable "award decals" in use on a 1964 helmet.

*1 Worn during the 2012 home game vs Maryland. The "stripe" on this design had an "American flag" theme (see photo below):

*2 First worn September 10, 2011 (at Central Florida). While I have not attempted to represent it here this design features what was called a "stained glass" pattern within the white helmet stripe (photo below).

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UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY

c.1960 1962 only? c.1966 - 1971
1972 - 1975 1976 - 1977;
November 10, 2007;
September 23, 2017;
October 13, 2018		 1978 - 1980
1981 1982 1984
*see note 1 below
1985 1983; 1986 1987 - 1989
*see note 2 below
'A'
October 6, 2011;
October 29, 2011;
September 1, 2012		 2008 - 2012 1990 - 2007; 2013 -
'B' 'C' 'D'
2022 - 2022 - 2024 -
'E' 'F'
2024 - 2024 -

During recent years California has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

*1 The logo on this design includes a small "100" apparently in recognition of the university's football centennial.

*2 This design is "blank" on its left side but has the yellow script "Cal" logo on its right side.

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CLEMSON UNIVERSITY

c.1960 c.1962 - 1964 1965
1966 1967 - 1968 1969
1970 - 1975 1976 October 7, 1995;
September 7, 1996
1977 -

*1 This design was used during two games, October 7, 1995 vs Georgia, and September 7, 1996 vs Furman, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of intercollegiate football at Clemson. The design was intended to resemble those used by the school's first bowl team, the 1939 team which defeated Boston College in the Cotton Bowl.

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DUKE UNIVERSITY

1958 - 1964 1966 - 1968 1969
*see note 1 below
1965; 1970 1971 - 1977 c.1974 - c.1976
*see note 2 below *see note 3 below
1978 1979 - 1980 1981 - 1984
1985 - 1993 1994 - 2003 November 10, 2007
'B'
2004 - 2007 2008 - November 7, 2009 2012 -
'C' 'D' 'E'
2012 2012 - September 20, 2014
*see note 4 below
'A' 'F' 'G'
November 14, 2009 - 2014 2015 - 2015
*see note 5 below
'H' 'I' 'J'
2016 2016 2017 -
'K' 'L' 'M'
2017 - 2017 - 2018 -
'N' 'O' 'P'
2019 - 2020 - 2020 -
'Q' 'R' 'S'
2022 - 2023 - 2023 -
'T' 'U'
2024 - 2024 -

During recent years Duke has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

The above are, to the best of my knowledge, all of the different helmet designs used by Duke during the period covered by this web site (1960 to present).

*1 In 1969 the college football centennial logo was worn on the left side of each helmet while the "devil head" logo of the previous year was worn on the right side. I am unsure if this scheme was in place during the entire 1969 football season.

*2 Represented here is the 1965 helmet; the 1970 helmet may have had a very slightly different style of numerals.

*3 The logo on this helmet appears to have been used occasionally during at least the 1974 and 1976 seasons; the plain silver helmet was used for other games through at least 1976.

*4 First worn October 20, 2012 (vs North Carolina). Some contributors have noted that the 2014 version of this design featured a "chrome blue" stripe and decal, though I have not classified this as a seperate design here. These features in 2014 tended to appear considerably lighter in color during day games but little different at night, as compared with the 2012 & 2013 versions.

*5 In 2009 a mid-season switch to a much wider blue stripe was made for the home game against Georgia Tech.

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FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

1960? - 1962 (1st two games);
1963; 1964 (some games)		 1962 1962
*see note 1 below *see note 2 below *see note 2 below
1962 1964 1965
*see note 2 below *see note 3 below
1966 - 1968 December 30, 1968 September 20, 1969;
September 28, 1969
*see note 4 below
1969 (last eight games) 1970 1971 - 1974
1975 (first two games) September 27, 1975 1975 (last eight games)
*see note 5 below *see note 6 below *see note 7 below
November 21, 2009 1976 - 2013 November 21, 2015;
September 3, 2018
*see note 8 below
'A' 'B' 'C'
2014 - 2022 - 2022 -

During recent years FSU has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

Most of the following information as to the dates of use of these various FSU helmets is summarized from information found at the "Helmet Hut" web site (www.helmethut.com).

The one "missing" helmet design is the one used by FSU during its first two games in 1969 (vs Wichita State and vs Miami (FL)); during these two games, FSU used gold helmets with the college football centennial "100" logo which many teams used that year. I have seen no color photographs of this helmet, but the "Helmet Hut" web site reports that the football-shape was blue in color. I would appreciate any color photographs from the game.

*1 In 1962, plain gold helmets were used only during the first two games (vs The Citadel and Kentucky).

*2 Beginning with the team's third game in 1962, FSU introduced a triple helmet design scheme. On their helmets the offensive unit wore an arrow logo, the defensive unit a tomahawk, and the multi-purpose players an "indian head". This scheme was in place until the end of the 1962 season.

*3 While this design was apparently in use for most of the 1964 season, the team used plain gold helmets (like the first helmet shown above) during at least the game against Georgia in 1964.

*4 This design was used only during the inaugural Peach Bowl game in Atlanta, GA, which was a 31-27 loss to LSU.

*5 This design was used during games against Texas Tech and Utah State at the beginning of the 1975 season.

*6 Used during one game only - a 10-6 loss to Iowa State.

*7 I have only one photograph - showing only one FSU helmet - from the 1975 FSU game against Memphis State; in this photograph, the FSU helmet lacks any stripes. I would appreciate additional photographs from this game to confirm whether or not the entire team was using stripeless helmets during this game - if so, this would "count" as an additional historical helmet design for FSU.

*8 Black helmets were worn during the 2009 home game against Maryland in order to "[pay] tribute to Osceola, the legendary Native American warrior whose leadership of the Seminoles during the Second Seminole War has made him an enduring symbol of the unconquered spirit that Florida State athletes seek to embody".

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GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

? - 1964 1965 - 1966 1969 - 1971;
September 21, 2006
'D'
1967 - 1968; 1972 - 1973 1974 - ? 1984 (most games?); 2013
*see note 1 below
'B'
c.late 1970s - 2007 2008 2012; 2014 - 2017
*see note 2 below
'A' 'C' 'E'
2012 - 2018 - 2019 -
'F' 'G' 'H'
2019 - 2019 - 2019 -
'I' 'J' 'K'
2019 - 2020 - 2023 -
'L' 'M' 'N'
2023 - 2024 - 2024 -
'O'
2024 -

Georgia Tech's helmet design usage in recent years has been as follows:

Particularly during the 1960s and early 1970s, Georgia Tech appears to have frequently changed helmet designs, and I suspect that there may have been some years in which both white and gold helmets were used at different times. Other designs may have been used besides the ones shown here but I am nearly 100% certain that no logo aside from the traditional "GT" has been used since at least 1960.

*1 It has been reported to me that plain helmets without "GT" decals were used in most games of the 1984 season, though the decals were in use during at least game #3 against Clemson and game #11 against Georgia.

*2 A switch to dark-colored facemasks was made by at least 1978, but I think it is possible that gray facemasks may have been used again sometime after 1978, and there may have been games during which both colors were in use by different players.

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UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE

1963 1960 - 1962; 1964 - 1965;
1969 (some games)		 1966 - 1967
1968 - 1969 1970 - 1972 1973 - 1974?
*see note 1 below
1974 1975 1976
1977 - 1979 1980 1981 - 1982
1983 1984 1985 - 1997
1998 1999 - 2000 2001 - 2002
2009 2003 - 2009 September 11, 2010;
November 12, 2011
*see note 2 below
October 26, 2012 2010 - 2013 2013 (last 2 games)
'A' 'B' 'C'
2014 - 2015; 2018 - 2019 2014 - 2019; 2022 - 2014
'D' 'E' 'F'
2015 2015 2016 - 2018
*see note 3 below
'G' 'H' 'I'
2016 2016 2017
'J' 'K' 'L'
2019 - 2019 2020 -
'M' 'N' 'O'
2020 2021 - 2021 -
'P' 'Q' 'R'
2023 - 2023 - 2023 -
'S' 'T' 'U'
2023 - 2023 - 2023 -
'V' 'W' 'X'
2023 - 2024 - 2024 -

During recent years Louisville has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

To the best of my knowledge the above are the complete set of helmet designs used by Louisville during the period covered by this web site (1960 to present).

*1 In 1969, apparently plain red helmets were used during some games, while uniforms numbers were worn on the helmets during other games.

*2 Worn during four games in 2009: October 2 vs Pittsburgh, November 14 vs Syracuse, November 21 at South Florida, and November 27 vs Rutgers.

*3 The large cardinal appeared on the left side only of this design; the right side features an "L" logo (as represented below).

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UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI

c.1960 - 1964 1965 - 1968 1967; October 29, 2005
*see note 1 below *see note 2 below
1970 1971 1971
*see note 3 below
1972 - 1975 1977 1976; 1978 - 1983
'B'
November 20, 2010 December 28, 2013 2014
*see note 4 below
'C' 'D' 'E'
2014 2015 2015
'F' 'G' 'H'
2017 - 2020 - 2021 -
'I' 'A'
2023 - 1984 -

During recent years Miami has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

Like many other teams Miami's helmet history during the 1960s appears to be rather complicated, with a number of midseason changes having been made, particularly during the second half of the decade. This is one of those teams for which I suspect a game-by-game analysis would be necessary to identify every design used by the team.

In 1969, Miami used gold helmets with a logo consisting of a football shape with the number "100" across it, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the first college football game; I do not know what colors were used in Miami's version of this decal, but in black-and-white photographs it appears to have been a dark-colored football shape with a white outline and with white numerals.

*1 White helmets with green numerals MAY also have been used at some time during the early 1960s.

*2 This design was resurrected for a 2005 home game against North Carolina in honor of the 1967 Miami team, which "played a large part in making the 1960s a prosperous decade in UM Football", according to a press release from the university.

*3 This "plain" helmet design was apparently used for just the first couple of games during 1971.

*4 Worn during the 2010 home game against Virginia Tech.

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UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL

1960 - 1962 1963 - 1966 1967 - 1977
*see note 1 below
1978 1979 1980 - 1985
'E'
1986 - 1987 1995 - 2000 September 29, 2012
'B' 'C' 'D'
2012 October 20, 2012 2012
'A' 'F' 'G'
1988 - 1994; 2001 - 2012 2013 - 2014 2013
'H' 'I' 'J'
2013 - 2014 2013 - 2014 2014
'K' 'L' 'M'
2014 2015 - 2015 -
'N' 'O' 'P'
2016 - 2016 - 2019 -

During recent years UNC has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

The above are all of the "known" helmet designs used by UNC from 1960 to present.

*1 Several photographs from around the period 1975 to 1977 seem to show UNC using helmet shells of a somewhat darker shade of blue than were used during other years. This seems to be most noticeable in photographs from the 1977 season.

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NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY

1960 - 1962 1963 1964 - 1967
1968 - 1971 1972 - 1977 1978 - 1980
1981 - 1982 1983 - 1985 1986 - 1998
'A'
1999 2000 - 2006 2007 - 2012
'B' 'C' 'D'
2011 - 2012 2013 - 2016 2013
'E' 'F' 'G'
2013 - 2014 2013 2013
'H' 'I' 'J'
2014 - 2015 2014 2014 - 2017
*see note 1 below
'K' 'L' 'M'
2015 2016 2017
'N' 'O' 'P'
2017 2017 - 2017 -
'Q' 'R' 'S'
2018 - 2018 - 2019 -
*see note 1 below *see note 1 below
'T' 'U' 'V'
2020 - 2020 - 2020 -
*see note 1 below
'W' 'X' 'Y'
2021 - 2021 - 2021 -
*see note 1 below *see note 1 below

During recent years N.C. State has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

*1 On each of these designs the "wolf" logo faces towards the front of the helmet on both the left and right sides; on the other designs using this logo the wolf always faces towards the right (hence towards the front of the helmet on the left side, and towards the rear of the helmet on the right side).

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UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

? - 1965? 1966? - 1967 1968
1969 1970 - 1972 1973 - 1979
September 24, 2005
1980 - 1992 1993 - 1996 1997 - 2004
November 26, 2010 2005 - 2012 2013 - 2014
'A' 'B'
October 29, 2015 2014 - 2016 -
*see note 2 below
'C' 'D' 'E'
2016 - 2019 - 2020 -
'F'
2023 -

During recent years Pittsburgh has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

In 1969 this was one of the many teams to wear a "100" logo in recognition of the college football centennial. Pittsburgh's version appears to have featured a dark blue football shape, outlined in white, with white numerals that may have been outlined in red; the one photograph that I have of this helmet is not clear enough to reveal the details within the decal, but the helmets were otherwise similar to the "1970-1972" design shown above.

*1 First worn October 25, 2014 (vs Georgia Tech), then worn through the end of the 2014 season.

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SOUTHERN METHODIST UNIVERSITY

? - 1966 1967 1968 - 1972
*see note 1 below
1973 - 1975 1989 - 1990 1991
1976 - 1986; 1992 - 1996 1997 - 1999 2003
2004 - 2007 2000 - 2002; 2008 - 2011 November 16, 2013
'B' 'D' 'E'
2014 - 2015 - 2015 -
'F' 'G' 'H'
2015 - 2015 - 2016 -
'I' 'J' 'K'
2016 - 2016 - 2016 -
'L' 'M' 'N'
2016 - 2017 - 2017 -
'O' 'P' 'Q'
2017 - 2017 - 2017 -
*see note 2 below *see note 3 below *see note 5 below
'R' 'A' (and 'A1') 'S'
2019 - 2012 - 2021 -
*see note 4 below
'T' 'U' 'V'
2022 - 2022 - 2023 -
'W' 'X' 'Y'
2023 - 2023 - 2024 -

During recent years SMU has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

The football program at SMU was shut down by the NCAA for rules violations during the 1987 and 1988 football seasons; hence the two-year gap in the dates listed above.

*1 This design was in use by at least 1963, but I do not have much information yet for SMU from the years 1960-1962, other than that the team may have used white helmets with numerals of some unknown darker color during part of this period.

*2 The mustang logo is worn on the left side only of this design; uniform numerals are worn on the right side (as represented below).

*3 The mustang logo is worn on the left side only of this design; uniform numerals are worn on the right side (as represented below).

*4 Design 'A' has the mustang logo on both sides; 'A1' has it on the left side only, with uniform numerals on the right side (as represented below).

*5 The mustang logo is worn on the left side only of this design; uniform numerals adorn the right side (as depicted below).

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STANFORD UNIVERSITY

? - 1964 1965 - ? ? - 1976
*see note 1 below
1977 - 1978 1979 1980 - 1991
2002 - 2007 November 26, 2011 1992 - 2001; 2008 - 2014
December 31, 2014 - 2017 December 5, 2015;
October 8, 2016;
October 14, 2017 		December 1, 2017
December 28, 2017; 2018 - October 6, 2018 October 17, 2019;
October 30, 2021
October 2, 2021 September 30, 2023 October 28, 2023;
October 19, 2024
November 25, 2023 September 20, 2024;
September 28, 2024		 October 26, 2024

*1 The "S" logo was apparently first used in either 1967 or 1968.

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SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY

c.early 1960s 1969 c.mid 1960s - 1968;
1970 - 1973
1974 - 1976 1977 - 1980 1981 - 1982
1983 - 2004 2005 - 2006 2007
'A' 'B' 'C'
2008 - 2013 2013 2014 -
'D' 'E' 'F'
2014 - 2014 2014; 2017 -
'G' 'H' 'I'
2015 - 2017 2016 2016
'J' 'K' 'L'
2017 - 2018 2017 2018
'M' 'N'
2019 - 2019 -

During recent years Syracuse has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

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UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA

1960 - 1961 1962 - 1967 1967 - 1974
*see note 1 below
1975 1976 - 1977 1978 - 1981
1982 - 1983 1984 - 1993;
September 6, 2008		 2001 - 2009
*see note 2 below
'B' 'C' 'D'
December 31, 2011;
2012 -		 2012; 2014 - 2012; 2014 -
'E' 'F' 'G'
2014 - 2015 2015
'A' 'H' 'I'
1994 - 2000; 2010 - 2015 2016 - 2016 -
*see note 3 below *see note 3 below
'J' 'K' 'L'
2016 2018 - 2019 2018 - 2019
*see note 3 below *see notes 3 & 4 below *see notes 3 & 4 below
'M' 'N' 'O'
2019 2020 - 2021 2020 - 2021
*see note 4 below *see notes 3 & 4 below *see notes 3 & 4 below
'P' 'Q' 'R'
2022 - 2022 - 2024 -
*see note 4 below

During recent years Virginia has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

*1 This design remained in use through at least the first game of the 1967 season against Army. The oval-shaped logo was added by at least the final game of the 1967 season against Maryland.

*2 This design has two middle stripes: a navy blue stripe on the left side of center borders directly against an orange stripe of the same width on the right side.

*3 Each of these designs have uniform numbers on their left sides only; a logo is present on the right side of each (as represented below).

'H' 'I' 'J'
'K' 'L' 'N'
'O'

*4 Each of these designs have an asymmetric stripe sequence. 'K', M', 'N', and 'P' each have a blue stripe on the left side and an orange stripe on the right side, seperated by a narrow white stripe. 'L' and 'O' each have an orange stripe on the left side and a white stripe on the right side, seperated by a narrow blue stripe.

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VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY

1960 - 1961 1962 - 1965 1966 - 1970;
September 12, 2009
*see note 1 below
1971 - 1973;
September 6, 2008		 1974 - 1977 1978 - 1982
'V'
1983 - 1986 1987 - 1998; 2015 November 14, 2009;
November 28, 2009
'B' 'C' 'D'
September 6, 2010 2010 2010; 2022
'E' 'F' 'G'
January 3, 2011 2011 September 24, 2011
'H' 'I' 'J'
2011; 2013- 2011 September 8, 2012
'K' 'L' 'M'
September 22, 2012 2012 2012
*see note 2 below
'N' 'O' 'P'
December 28, 2012 September 21, 2013 September 26, 2013
'Q' 'R' 'S'
November 16, 2013 2014 2015
'T' 'U' 'A' (and 'A1')
2015 - 2016 2015 1999 - 2015; 2022
*see note 3 below
'W' 'X' 'Y'
2016 2016 - 2017 2017 -
'Z' 'AA' 'AB'
2017 2017 2017
'AC' 'AD' 'AE'
2019 - 2021 2016; 2018 - 2019 2023 -
'AF' 'AG' 'AH'
2023 - 2024 - 2024 -

During recent years Virginia Tech has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

This is believed to be a complete set of helmet images for Virginia Tech for the period 1966 to present. In 1960 and 1961, the team used white helmets with a darker stripe and with uniform numerals on the sides; the color of the stripe and numerals is presently unknown, but both were probably maroon. From 1962 through 1965, Virginia Tech wore maroon helmets with light-colored uniform numerals (probably white) on the sides. I would appreciate any color photographs of these early designs to confirm the colors used on the helmets.

*1 This design was brought back for use during the home game against Marshall in 2009 in memory of Frank Loria, who played safety at Virginia Tech from 1965 through 1967. Loria later became an assistant coach at Marshall and was a victim of the November 14, 1970 airplane crash which claimed the lives of most of the Marshall team and coaching staff.

*2 The large turkey is present on the left side only of this design; uniform numbers are worn on the right side (as represented below).

*3 Design 'A' has the "VT" logo on both sides; 'A1' has it on the left side only while on the right side is a logo used by the New York Yankees baseball team (as depicted below).

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WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY

1960 - ? 1961 - 1963 1964
1965 - 1968 1969 - 1971 1972
1973 1974 1975
*see note 1 below *see note 2 below
1976 - 1977 1978 1979 - 1986
*see note 3 below
1987 - 1990 1991 - 1992 1993 - 2000
'B' 'C' 'D'
2013 2013 2013 - 2014
'E' 'A' 'F'
2014 - 2001 - 2017 -
'G' 'H'
2019 - 2021 -

During recent years Wake Forest has used the following sequences of helmet designs:

Wake Forest apparently used black helmets in 1960 with light-colored numerals and light-colored stripes; a color photograph (to clarify the color of the stripe and numerals) from the 1960 season would be appreciated.

*1 Previously I had speculated here that some very small text (possibly "WAKE FOREST") was present within the middle white stripe on the helmet logo of this design, but new information reveals that these features were actually the "stitches" on the "football". As to why this logo was worn I have received the following explanation from a 1973 Wake Forest vs William & Mary game program: "One of the more noticeable changes [head coach] Chuck Mills has brought to the 1973 Deacon football team is the redesigning of the players' helmets. More specifically, not only is the helmet now a solid white, excluding a gold and black stripe down its center, but on each side is a decal unique to Wake Forest football. It is a red, white, and blue football, with corresponding stars and stripes similar to the American flag. 'The idea of the decal evolved from the Centennial of College Football in 1969,' Mills explains. 'Simply, our decal is to signify our game of American Football is more native and unique to America on the international plateau than any sport we participate in. It is also a reminder of the concepts we attribute to the "American Dream" and the role athletics play in the endeavour to strive for that dream.'" (thanks Marcus).

*2 In 1974 Wake Forest used the same helmet logo that was used in 1973, but only on the right sides of the teams' helmets. On the left sides was worn a new logo incorporating both the American and Japanese flags within a football-shape; this was apparently done in recognition of a trip made to Japan in January 1974 by the Wake Forest team, during which two exhibition games were played against Japanese college teams.

*3 During one game in 1982 (vs Clemson in Tokyo, Japan on November 27) the "WF" logo on the right side of Wake Forest's helmets was replaced with the school name in Katakana characters (as depicted below).

 

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