The helmet featured player numerals to enhance the viewing of growing television audiences.
Helmet
Michigan State player wearing the 1956 helmet with small player numerals
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
Halfback Sherman Lewis wearing the 1956 – 1963 jersey with no stripes on the sleeves
- 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
Quaterback Dick Proebstle wearing the 1956 – 1963 pants
- White pants
- One stripe: one-inch green striping
- Same pants used for home and away games
1957 Season Changes
Helmet
Halfback Sherman Lewis running past a Notre Dame defender in the 12 � 7 victory of 1963 – both teams wearing large player numerals on the side of their helmets
The white two-inch thin numerals were replaced with white three-inch thin, rounded “charger” style player numerals on both sides