1956 – 1963
Michigan State Football
Jersey & Helmet Style

The helmet featured player numerals to enhance the viewing of growing television audiences.

Helmet

Duffy Daugherty added side numerals to Spartan helmets for the 1956 regular season. The green helmet with white one-inch center stripe now had three-inch thin, rounded “charger” style player identification numerals placed on each side of the shells for a classic appearance.

Michigan State was encouraged by the Big Ten league office to wear the numerals to enhance the viewing pleasure for the growing national television audiences who followed Big Ten football. Duffy Daugherty retained the side helmet numerals up through the 1964 season.

  • Kelly green helmet
  • White one-inch center stripe
  • White two-inch thin, rounded “charger” style player numerals on both sides


Jersey

  • Solid color player numerals on front
  • Three stripes: one-inch white center stripe, one-inch between half-inch white striping – the stripes were eventually removed during an unknown season
  • No player last names on the back above the player numerals
  • Solid color player numerals on back


Pants

  • White pants
  • One stripe: one-inch green striping
  • Same pants used for home and away games


1957 Season Changes

Helmet

  • The white two-inch thin numerals were replaced with white three-inch thin, rounded “charger” style player numerals on both sides


Information Credits: Helmet Hut and The Tradition Continues – Spartan Football. Spartan Jerseys claims no ownership to this information.
Photography Credits: Masthead image and 1957 helmet is courtesy of The Tradition Continues – Spartan Football. Image of the 1956 helmet is courtesy of Infinite Helmets.