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The Daily Insight

What's on Ohio State's helmets?

Author

Rachel Newton

Updated on March 19, 2026

Those stickers depict buckeye leaves and are awarded to players for exceptional play. Per a 2008 article from ESPN, the practice of placing stickers on the back of helmets began in 1968 under Hall of Fame coach Woody Hayes, at the suggestion of trainer Ernie Biggs.

Then, what sticker is on Ohio State helmet?

Designed in 1950 by comic artist Milton Caniff, the Buckeye Leaf stickers were placed on Ohio State football helmets starting in 1968 as a reward system for big plays on the field. Legend has it, the idea for the helmet stickers was developed by athletic trainer Ernie Biggs, and Woody Hayes put it into effect.

Similarly, how do you get a buckeye on your helmet? There are a few ways a player can win a Buckeye sticker. If the defense racks up at least five three-and-outs, players will get one. Or if the offense executes ten plays in which 12 or more yards are gained, each player will also be awarded.

Also to know is, what do the stickers mean on football helmets?

Touchdowns, gaining yards (running or receiving), or impact plays are often why teams give out stickers to put on the helmet—the more stickers on the helmet, the more impact the player has had in previous games. Coaches use the stickers as a reward system for the player.

Can I put stickers on my motorcycle helmet?

To make sure there is no problem, you need stickers with adhesives compatible with the shell of your helmet, or if you are running a helmet promotion campaign some stickers that fit with the various shell materials out there: PET, Lexan, other Polycarbonates, ABS, polyurethane, EPU, and possibly others.

Related Question Answers

Who has the best helmet in college football?

Ohio State

Do college football players get to keep their helmets?

Penn State, Alabama, Southern California and Michigan are among the schools that still have their players wear one helmet — as long as it remains functional.

Is there a helmet law in Ohio?

Helmets required for riders under 18 or who have been licensed for less than one year as well as for all passengers when the operator is required to wear a helmet. Universal helmet law repealed 1978.

What does the black stripe mean at Ohio State?

The thought behind the tradition is that a player must earn the right to be called a Buckeye, so a black stripe is placed on his helmet when he arrives on campus to begin his college career until he has done what it takes, in the eyes of the coaches, to officially earn his place on the team.

How do OSU players get stickers?

If the Buckeyes' defense, for example, racks up at least five three-and-outs, each member receives a sticker. The Buckeyes' offense, upon executing 10 plays which gain 12 or more yards, is rewarded similarly.

What are the stickers on Clemson helmets?

When the No. 1 Clemson Tigers begin the season Saturday night at Wake Forest, they'll do so sporting helmet stickers protesting social inequity. Words and phrases such as “Black Lives Matter,†“Love,†and “Equality†will appear on Clemson helmets. Images of the messages can be seen below.

Why do NFL players have green stickers on their helmets?

In NFL games, you may have noticed a bright green dot on one or two players' helmets. According to NFL rules, this is a sticker that marks the helmet that is linked up with a two-way microphone radio set, so the coaching staff can communicate with an on-field player.

Do football players have earpieces in their helmets?

In the NFL, one player on offense, and one player on defense, can have a radio receiver in their helmet. Only one player on offense (the QB) and one on defense (often the middle linebacker) are allowed earpieces in their helmets; they are designated w/ a green dot on the back of their helmet.

What is the green sticker on the back of a football helmet?

NFL Helmet's Green Sticker or Decals – A green dot has been noticed on the helmets of NFL players. It indicates that the helmet is connected to a two-way microphone radio set. The purpose is to connect the coach and the players at various events during the game.

Why do college teams put stickers on their helmets?

Touchdowns, gaining yards (running or receiving), or impact plays are often why teams give out stickers to put on the helmet—the more stickers on the helmet, the more impact the player has had in previous games. Coaches use the stickers as a reward system for the player.

Does Notre Dame paint their helmets before every game?

The helmets are repainted for every game, and if four level spoonfuls are used per game or about 37 troy ounces, the value of Notre Dame helmets for each game would be a little over $50,000 given 100 players per game. A fourteen game season would involve $700,000 worth of gold or about $7,000 per player per season.

What are football helmet decals made of?

A typical vinyl sticker is around 3-4 millimeters thick, but at Sport Decals, our vinyl helmet decals are made from a 20-millimeter-thick vinyl base that is built to withstand almost anything you can throw at them.

What are the stickers on Stanford football helmets?

Stanford Axe Helmet Stickers Players are awarded a Stanford ax sticker when the team wins the annual game against longtime rival Cal. The tradition began in 2009 with awards being given for both practice and in-game performance.

What are the stickers on the Michigan Wolverines helmets?

The stickers, which Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh brought back to the helmets during his first season in 2015, used to feature a wolverine in blue and could be awarded for any number of in-game achievements. Players accumulated helmet stickers each season and would start over the next with a clean helmet.

What are Ohio State colors?

Grey Scarlet

How do players earn a Buckeye?

Team members earn Buckeye Leaves throughout the season based on their performance as a team and as individuals. The 1968 team went on to have a very successful season, going 10-0 (7-0 Big Ten) and concluding with a National Championship victory in the Rose Bowl against No. 2 USC. The Buckeyes played No.

What is Michigan helmet?

The winged football helmet is a helmet bearing a distinctive two-toned painted design that typically has sharp outward curves over the forehead forming a wing. It is worn by many high school and college American football teams, most popularly by the University of Michigan Wolverines.

Who makes college football helmets?

HGI sprays Spectra Chrome finishes for more than 70 football teams – and now so does Riddell; the leading helmet manufacturer in the world. It's not just college teams either – Spectra Chrome is now being sprayed on helmet face masks for NFL teams including the New York Jets.

When did the Buckeye leaves tradition begin?

1968

What are Buckeye leaves?

Buckeye leaves are palmately compound leaves made up of five to seven leaflets. Each leaflet is an elliptic or ovate shape and grows between 3†and 12†(8 – 30 cm) long. The individual elliptical leaves have finely toothed margins. Depending on the buckeye species, tree leaves can be light to dark green color.

What is the mascot for Ohio State University?

Brutus Buckeye

Can I take the DOT sticker off my helmet?

You can now remove the approval certificate sticker on the outside of your helmet, but you still need to have an internal certificate label or sticker to avoid a fine from a copper who thinks they know the law better than you.

Can stickers damage helmets?

'In most cases, the effect of stickers on hard hats does not negatively affect the safety performance provided by the hard hat. There is very little potential for chemical interaction between the type of adhesive used in typical pressure-sensitive stickers and the helmet shell.

How do you protect helmet stickers?

Step 1: Use an X-Acto knife to carefully and slowly remove the stickers. Step 2: Put the stickers, which will retain a lot of stickiness, onto a plastic page protector.

Should you put stickers on your helmet?

Stickers are fine paint is the danger as mentioned already. Some helmets are constructed using a thin plastic shell that is stuck to the foam base. If you remove the shell and paint that seperately, then re-attach it you should be fine.

Can you put stickers on a polycarbonate helmet?

Unless you send parts of your helmet/sticker/paint to a lab for chemical analysis, you will never know this until it's too late, and this is the reason why it's not recommended that you randomly paint or sticker up thermoplastic/polycarbonate helmets.

Can you vinyl wrap a helmet?

If your motorcycle helmet is a simple, uniform shape, such as a half army helmet design, you may be able to wrap it with one continuous piece of vinyl. If you are covering your helmet with solid colors or patterns, cutting the vinyl into sections shouldn't cause any problem.

Can I spray paint my helmet?

Paint your design with water-based acrylic paints and brushes. These water-based paints are safe to use on helmets. If you want to spray paint your helmet, opt to use an airbrush instead of an aerosol can. An airbrush will allow you to cover your helmet in a more even coat of paint.

Where do helmet stickers go?

If there's room on the front of the helmet, you can place a sticker there, as long as it doesn't affect the way the helmet rests on your head. It should be located far enough from your head and if there's enough space at the front.

How do I protect my motorcycle decals?

When you add decals to your motorcycle or other vehicle as décor, you will want to add a clear coat over the top of the decal. Clear coating helps to protect the decal from peeling, cracking or sustaining other damage from exposure to the elements.