Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference


DAVENPORT FERRIS STATE GRAND VALLEY STATE
"Panthers" "Bulldogs" "Lakers"
Grand Rapids, MI Big Rapids, MI Allendale, MI
MICHIGAN TECH NORTHERN MICHIGAN ROOSEVELT
"Huskies" "Wildcats" "Lakers"
Houghton, MI Marquette, MI Chicago, IL
SAGINAW VALLEY
STATE
WAYNE STATE
"Cardinals" "Warriors"
University Center, MI Detroit, MI

Roosevelt University is a new member of this conference and of NCAA Division II in 2024.


Historical Helmets

DAVENPORT UNIVERSITY

2016 -

Some photographs taken during the 2022 football season appear to suggest that this team's helmets are not quite black, but a very slightly "dark reddish-black" color. The slight difference is most noticeable in photographs taken during games in which the opposing team is also wearing black helmets (Grand Valley State and Michigan Tech).

This team played its first season of football in 2016.


FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY

2003 - 2005 2006? - 2008 ? - 2002; 2009 - 2011
2012 -

GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

1997 - 1998 1999 2000
*see note 1 below
2001 2002 - 2007 October 22, 2011
'B' 'C'
2008 - 2011 2013 - 2014 2014
*see note 2 below
'D' 'A' 'E'
2014 2012 - 2015
*see note 3 below *see note 7 below
'F' 'G' 'H'
2015 2016 - 2016 -
*see note 4 below
'I' 'J' 'K'
2017 2018 2019 -
*see note 5 below
'L' 'M' 'N'
2019 - 2021 - 2021 -
*see note 6 below
'O' 'P' 'Q'
2021 - 2021 - 2021 -
'R'
2024 -
*see note 8 below

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

*1 This design is 'blank' on its left side but has a 'laker' logo on its right side (as represented below).

*2 Uniform numerals are present on the left side only of this design; on the right side is a "GV" logo (as shown below).

*3 The left side of this design is "blank" while the right side features a vintage "Laker" logo (as shown below).

*4 The "GV" logo is present on the left side only of this design; the right side features black uniform numerals (as shown below).

*5 Uniform numbers are worn on the left side only of this design; a "GVSU" logo is present on the right side (as shown below).

*6 The "GV" logo is worn on the left side only of this design; on the right side is "1971", representing the first year of the GVSU varsity football team (as depicted below).

*7 The logo is present on the left side only of this design; the right side is "blank".

*6 The logo is worn on the left side only of this design; uniform numbers are present on the right side (as depicted below).


MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

1986 - 1987 ? - 2000 2001 - 2007
'A' 'B'
2008 - 2015 2016 - 2023 -

In 2023 MTU used two of the above helmet designs in the following sequence: A-A-A; A-A-B; B-B-B; A.


NORTHERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY

? - 2001 2002 - 2005 2006 - 2008
2009 - 2011 2012 - 2013 2014
2015 - 2016 2015 -
*see note 1 below

*1 Uniform numerals are worn on the left side only of this design; the right side features a "wildcat head" logo (as represented below).


ROOSEVELT UNIVERSITY

'A' 'B' 'C'
2011 - 2014; 2018 - 2019 2012 - 2019 2013; 2017 - 2019
'D' 'E' 'F'
2014 - 2017 2015 - 2016 2017
'G' 'H' 'I'
2018 - 2019 2020* - 2020* -
'J' 'K'
2020* - 2022 -

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

The first seven designs above are those known to have been used by the Robert Morris University Illinois (Chicago, IL) team during the nine years of its existence (2011 through 2019). In 2020 RMU Illinois was merged with Roosevelt University; the football team was relocated to the Roosevelt campus and the team nickname and colors were changed (RMU had been the "Eagles"). Information for RMU was always scarce but at least partial information was located for the sequence of helmet designs used by the team each year:


SAGINAW VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY

c.late 1990s? c.1999? - 2010 2011
*see note 1 below
2012 - 2019 2021 -

*1 For at least the last several years (and perhaps the entire period) when this logo was used it was worn only on the right sides of the helmets, with the left sides remaining "blank".


WAYNE STATE UNIVERSITY

'A'
? - 2001? 2002 - 2009 2010 - 2022
'B' 'C'
2014 - 2022 2023 -

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

Wayne State used the nickname "Tartars" prior to July 29, 1999. I have found very little information regarding helmet designs used by the team during the "Tartars" era but there was at least one spectacular design, visible in the photograph below along with a logo that appears to be the correct one; this photograph dates from approximately the mid-1970s. I would greatly appreciate any larger and clearer photographs of this design, especially color photographs.