The debate comes back into focus every year, but especially now as the Crimson Tide is in a new era without Nick Saban. Do you think Alabama football should bring back white helmets?
It’s a debate that pops up almost every year now. Is it time for Alabama football to bring back white helmets? For 40 years now, Alabama has worn crimson helmets for every game. At home, it’s crimson jerseys with crimson helmets and white pants. On the road, it’s crimson helmets with white jerseys and pants.
The traditionalists would say not to mess with the iconic Alabama uniforms, but the Crimson Tide used to wear white helmets with some regularity back in the day. They haven’t done so since 1984, while Ray Perkins was the head coach.
And when Perkins broke out white helmets in 1983 during his first season as the Crimson Tide’s head coach, it was the first time since the 1971 season they had done so. Under Coach Bryant, Alabama wore white helmets with some regularity during the 1960s. But following the 1971 season, those helmets were put on the shelf.
Now, if Alabama chooses to wear the white helmets again, my opinion is that it should be strictly for road games. The all-white look with white helmets is pretty slick, to be honest:
I don’t care for the white helmet, crimson jersey look:
Alabama last wore white helmets with a crimson jersey back in 1983 under Perkins. As noted by Birmingham Post-Herald writer Roger Shuler in the postgame of Alabama vs. Mississippi State that season, that looks too much like Nebraska.
Kalen DeBoer was asked about the possibility of bringing back white helmets earlier in the season. He stated it was something he hadn’t given any thought to.
That’s the only acceptable answer for a head coach in the middle of a season. And it’s certainly not something that has entered his mind the last few weeks, either, as Alabama heads into the Iron Bowl a disappointing 8-3 overall and on the outside looking in for the playoff picture.
In any case – what’s your opinion on white helmets? Do you think it’s something Alabama should bring back, at least on an occasional basis? Or should Alabama stick with the iconic look it has sported for the last 40 years?
