Leo Martínez
The tradition of student managers painting Notre Dame football helmets with gold dust and lacquer dates back decades. In 2011, the university transitioned to a more complex painting process, ending the tradition of repainting the helmets before every game. The new method, developed by Hydro Graphics Inc., involves gold flakes collected from the regilding of the Golden Dome, resulting in a brighter and more consistent gold colour. While the student managers continue to maintain the helmets weekly, the intricate new painting process cannot be duplicated by the university, making it impossible to repaint the helmets before each game.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Paint colour | Gold |
| Gold type | 23.9-karat gold flakes |
| Paint manufacturer | O'Brien Paint Company |
| Paint composition | Gold dust, lacquer, lacquer thinner |
| Paint mixing | By student managers |
| Paint application | By student managers |
| Paint application frequency | Once per week |
| Paint cost per game | $50,000 |
| Paint cost per season | $700,000 |
| Paint cost per player per season | $7,000 |
| Paint process changes | In 2011, student managers ceased painting the helmets due to the complexity of the process |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The gold in the Notre Dame paint is worth millions
The gold in the paint of the University of Notre Dame's football helmets is worth a substantial amount. The tradition of including 23.9-karat gold flakes in the paint dates back to the 1950s, when the helmets were painted with gold leaf scraped from the iconic Golden Dome. Over the years, the process of painting the helmets has evolved from student managers mixing gold dust with lacquer to the current intricate process by Hydro Graphics Inc., which has resulted in a brighter, shinier, and more consistent gold colour.
The value of the gold used in the paint has been estimated by calculating the amount of gold dust stored in a five-gallon bucket in the stadium. While it is unclear if the bucket is full, a former student manager disclosed that four level spoonfuls of gold dust are used per vat of regular gloss paint. At the current price of gold, a full bucket would contain nearly $16 million worth of gold, while a quarter-full bucket would still be worth $4 million.
Assuming four spoonfuls are used per game, the value of the gold in the Notre Dame helmets for each game would be approximately $50,000. Extrapolating this over a 14-game season, the total value of the gold in the helmets would be around $700,000, or about $7,000 per player per season. However, it is important to note that these estimates may be inflated, as the regilding of the dome in 2005 cost $300,000, indicating a lower value of gold being used.
The gold in the paint of the Notre Dame helmets holds significant value, both monetarily and symbolically. The tradition of including gold in the paint, even in small amounts, adds to the mystique and prestige of the program. The gold helmets have become an iconic and distinct image of the Fighting Irish football team, with the new paint process enhancing the impact of the golden headgear. While the exact value of the gold in the paint may vary, it is clear that the Notre Dame football helmets are worth much more than the sum of their parts.
Spotting True Art: Originals vs Copies
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$64.99 $69.77
The gold is stored in a five-gallon bucket in the stadium
The iconic gold helmets of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are steeped in tradition. The gold helmets were first introduced in the 1950s and have since undergone several changes. The helmets were initially painted with gold leaf flakes, which were scraped from the iconic Golden Dome. This process was altered in 2011, with the introduction of brighter, shinier helmets courtesy of Hydro Graphics Inc. The new helmets featured an updated colour and paint process, with 23.9-karat gold flakes included in the paint.
The gold used in the painting process is stored in a five-gallon bucket in the stadium. While it is unclear if the bucket is full, a former student manager disclosed that four level spoonfuls of gold dust are used in a vat of regular gloss paint for each game. The value of the gold used in the helmets for each game is estimated to be a little over $50,000.
The new paint process is highly detailed and cannot be replicated by Notre Dame, so it is not possible to repaint the helmets before each game. Instead, student managers are involved in the maintenance of the helmets each week, including inspection, removal of scuff marks, and cleaning.
The tradition of student managers painting the helmets with gold has ended due to the complexity of the new process. The change was driven by head coach Brian Kelly and vice president and athletic director Jack Swarbrick, who sought a more impactful golden colour for the helmets.
The gold helmets of Notre Dame are a distinctive part of the team's uniform and have undergone a meticulous evolution to achieve the desired shade of gold. The value of the gold used in the paint process adds to the mystique surrounding the helmets.
Painting a 3-Bedroom Apartment: How Long Does It Take?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$71.35
The new painting process is too complex for student managers to handle
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team has a storied tradition of painting their helmets with real gold. The gold paint was mixed on campus by student managers, using gold dust purchased from the O'Brien Paint Company in South Bend, and mixed with lacquer and lacquer thinner. This process was kept secret for a long time, with the recipe simply scribbled on a piece of paper in the office.
However, in 2011, a change was made to the helmets. The new head coach, Brian Kelly, and the vice president and athletic director, Jack Swarbrick, wanted a more impactful golden color for the helmets. They wanted the helmets to match the iconic Golden Dome, and so began a long process to get the gold "just so". The new paint process was so detailed and complex that it could not be replicated by the student managers, and so the tradition of student managers painting the helmets came to an end.
The new helmets were created by Hydro Graphics Inc., an Oregon-based company, and featured brighter, shinier gold that was closer to the color of the Golden Dome. The helmets still included 23.9-karat gold flakes, ensuring that the tradition of gold helmets remained, but the process of applying the gold was now too complex for student managers. The new paint process required an exhaustive search and creation process, with over 12 different versions being created before the final product was delivered.
While the student managers no longer paint the helmets, they are still involved in the maintenance of the helmets each week, including inspection, removal of scuff marks, and cleaning. The new paint process is more durable, allowing for the use of repair strips instead of repainting, and ensuring that the helmets maintain their iconic golden shine.
Complete Guide: Painting Over a Layer in GIMP
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The gold paint is supposed to match the Golden Dome
The gold paint on the Notre Dame football helmets is supposed to match the Golden Dome, an iconic feature of the university's architecture. The helmets were first painted gold in the 1950s, and the tradition has continued ever since. The gold paint is made with real gold flakes, which were collected from the regilding of the Golden Dome. The flakes are mixed with lacquer and lacquer thinner and applied to the helmets.
Over the years, there have been challenges in achieving the desired colour. In 2011, Notre Dame debuted a new, brighter, shinier helmet, with a colour that was closer to the Golden Dome. This change was initiated by head coach Brian Kelly and vice president and athletic director Jack Swarbrick, who wanted a more impactful golden colour for the helmets. The new paint process was so detailed that it could not be duplicated by Notre Dame, so it was impossible to apply it every week.
The helmets are repainted for every game, and the value of the gold used is estimated to be over $50,000 per game. The tradition of student managers painting the helmets ended due to the complexity of the new painting process, which required specialised knowledge and equipment.
The gold helmets have become an iconic symbol of the Notre Dame football program, and the colour is carefully maintained to match the Golden Dome and uphold the tradition.
Truck Wheel Wells: Painting Neatly Around the Curves
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The helmets are repainted for every game
The iconic gold helmets of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team have undergone several changes since the team began wearing them in the 1950s. The gold helmets are said to be a representation of the Golden Dome.
The gold paint used for the helmets was, for many years, mixed on campus by student managers. The paint included gold dust purchased from the O'Brien Paint Company in South Bend, which was mixed with lacquer and lacquer thinner. The gold dust was, in fact, gold flakes from the 24K gold leaf that was scraped from the Golden Dome.
However, the tradition of student managers painting the helmets came to an end due to the complexity of the new painting process. In 2011, the team debuted new, brighter, shinier helmets made by Hydro Graphics Inc., an Oregon-based company. The new helmets featured a more impactful golden colour, which was closer to the colour of the Golden Dome. The helmets also continued to include 23.9-karat gold flakes.
While the helmets are repainted for every game, the new paint process is so detailed that it cannot be duplicated by Notre Dame, so it is impossible to be applied each week. The student managers are still involved in the maintenance of the helmets each game week, including inspection, removal of scuff marks, and cleaning.
Painting a Doctor's Coat on a Miniature: A Step-by-Step Guide
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No. The new paint process is so detailed that it cannot be duplicated by Notre Dame, so it is impossible to be applied each week.
The new paint process involves gold flakes from the 24K gold leaf that was scraped from the iconic Golden Dome. The gold is stored in a five-gallon bucket in the stadium, and four level spoonfuls of gold dust are used in a vat of regular gloss paint.
The student managers were involved in painting the helmets in the past. However, the new paint process is too complex for them, so companies like Hydro Graphics Inc. have taken over the painting process.
The football staff, along with Notre Dame Athletics Director Jack Swarbrick and head coach Brian Kelly, wanted to get the colour of the helmets correct. The new paint process provides a gold helmet that is closer to the colour of the Golden Dome.
