Leo Martínez
The tradition of painting Notre Dame football helmets with gold dates back to the 1950s, with one of those early helmets fetching around $1,100 at auction. The gold hue is meant to match the university's iconic Golden Dome, but achieving the right shade has been a challenge. In 2011, the university debuted a new, brighter, shinier helmet with a more impactful golden colour. While the helmets still contain 23.9-karat gold flakes, the painting process became too complex for student managers to handle, bringing an end to a long-standing tradition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Gold in the helmet | 23.9-karat gold flakes |
| Gold source | Collected when the Golden Dome was re-gilded |
| Paint process | Bags of gold dust used in the paint |
| Number of coats of paint | 12 coats of paint per season |
| Paint maintenance | Inspection, removal of scuff marks, and cleaning |
| Paint maintenance team | Student managers |
| Paint maintenance frequency | Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday routine |
| Paint maintenance tools | Thin repair strips |
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What You'll Learn
The helmets are made with 23.9-karat gold flakes
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team's iconic gold helmets have undergone several changes over the years. In 2011, the team debuted new helmets with a brighter, shinier gold colour, courtesy of Hydro Graphics Inc., an Oregon-based company. The change was initiated by head coach Brian Kelly and vice president and athletic director Jack Swarbrick, who wanted a more impactful golden colour that matched the famed Golden Dome at Notre Dame.
The new helmets featured 23.9-karat gold flakes, continuing the tradition of using real gold in the team's helmets. The gold flakes were collected during the re-gilding process of the Golden Dome, ensuring that the helmets' colour closely resembled the iconic dome. This change provided a consistent shade of gold from week to week and year to year, addressing previous frustrations with colour inconsistencies.
The process of creating these helmets was intricate and complex. Gold leaf, being thin and susceptible to the elements, required periodic re-gilding. The gold was stored in a five-gallon bucket, and four level spoonfuls of gold dust were mixed with a vat of regular gloss paint for each helmet. The student managers, who were traditionally responsible for painting the helmets, could no longer perform this task due to the complexity of the new painting process.
The new paint job was so detailed that it could not be easily duplicated, requiring a multi-day process for maintenance and repairs. While the student managers remained involved in helmet care, the new helmets' shine and texture stood out. On sunny days, the reflective gold colouring made it appear as though "115 golden domes [were] running around," as Grooms, who was involved in the process, described.
The introduction of the new helmets marked a significant evolution in the tradition of Notre Dame's iconic headgear. While the process and design underwent changes, the use of 23.9-karat gold flakes remained a consistent and distinctive feature, symbolising the team's rich history and commitment to excellence.
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The gold is the same as that of the Golden Dome
The University of Notre Dame's football team has a long-standing tradition of painting their helmets gold. In 2011, the team debuted a new, brighter, shinier helmet with a more impactful golden colour. The change was made to match the colour of the university's famed Golden Dome, which sits atop the Main Building, constructed in 1882.
The Golden Dome is an iconic symbol of Notre Dame, inspiring awe and respect among students and faculty. In keeping with tradition, the gold in the helmet paint contains 23.9-karat gold flakes, which were collected when the Golden Dome was re-gilded. This ensured that the colour of the helmets matched the Golden Dome as closely as possible.
The process of achieving the desired colour was not without its challenges. During the 2011 season, Notre Dame football helmets featured five different shades of gold in an attempt to get the colour correct. The final product, delivered by Hydro Graphics Inc., an Oregon-based company, resulted in a gold helmet that was closer in colour to the Golden Dome than any previous attempts.
The new helmets not only improved the colour match but also enhanced the texture. According to Bacsik, a representative from Notre Dame, the initial samples looked too shiny, almost like chrome or a mirror. Hydro Graphics worked to adjust the texture so that the helmets had a more matte finish, avoiding the appearance of wearing an Oscar trophy on one's head.
The introduction of the new helmets marked the end of a tradition where student managers painted the helmets. The complex colouring process, which involved the use of gold dust and gold flakes, could not be easily duplicated by the university. Instead, the helmets were sent out for the specialised painting process, with student managers still involved in the maintenance, inspection, and cleaning of the helmets each week.
The pursuit of the perfect golden hue for the helmets showcases the dedication of Notre Dame to upholding its traditions and paying homage to its iconic Golden Dome. The result is a helmet that shines proudly, reflecting the golden legacy of the university it represents.
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The helmets are repainted for every game
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team has a storied tradition of painting their helmets with real gold. The gold leaf used is very thin and susceptible to damage, so the helmets are repainted for every game. The painting process was traditionally done by student managers, who added four level spoonfuls of gold dust to a vat of regular gloss paint. However, in 2011, the team debuted new, brighter, shinier helmets with a more impactful golden colour. This new paint process was so detailed that it could not be replicated by the student managers each week, bringing an end to the long-standing tradition.
The new helmets were the result of a collaboration between head coach Brian Kelly and vice president and athletic director Jack Swarbrick, who sought a more consistent golden colour that matched the iconic Golden Dome of Notre Dame. The final product, delivered by Hydro Graphics Inc., featured gold flakes and a textured finish that avoided an overly shiny, mirror-like appearance. The new paint process took place over several days, with painting on Monday and reassembly on Tuesday and Wednesday. By the end of the season, each helmet had received up to 12 coats of paint.
While the student managers no longer paint the helmets, they remain involved in their maintenance each game week. This includes inspecting the helmets, removing scuff marks, and cleaning them. The new paint process also required special travelling trunks to protect the helmets and prevent paint chipping. The change in the painting process and the increased use of gold elevated the value of the helmets. A single game now required gold worth a little over $50,000, and a fourteen-game season would involve $700,000 worth of gold.
The evolution of the Notre Dame helmets demonstrates the importance placed on tradition, aesthetics, and consistency in college football. While the new helmets ended a long-standing tradition, they provided a superior visual impact and a closer resemblance to the iconic Golden Dome. The intricate paint process and the use of real gold elevated the helmets' value, both literally and in the eyes of fans and collectors. The Notre Dame helmets continue to be a symbol of the team's excellence and commitment to detail, with each game showcasing the intricate craftsmanship and shine of the golden headgear.
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The helmets are repainted by student managers
The tradition of student managers painting Notre Dame football helmets ended in 2011. The gold helmets are now painted by Hydro Graphics Inc., an Oregon-based company. This change was made to achieve a more consistent and impactful golden colour. The new paint process is so detailed that it cannot be replicated by Notre Dame.
However, student managers remain involved in the maintenance of the helmets each week. Their tasks include inspecting the helmets, removing scuff marks, and cleaning them. The helmet painting process typically takes place over a few days, with the helmets being painted on Monday and reassembled on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The gold used in the painting process is 23.9-karat gold, which is the same gold used on the Notre Dame 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 for each game. The helmets are repainted for every game, ensuring they always look their best.
The new helmets made their debut during a home night game against USC in 2011. The change was implemented by head coach Brian Kelly and vice president and athletic director Jack Swarbrick, who wanted to enhance the colour of the Notre Dame headgear.
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The new paint process is detailed and time-consuming
The new paint process for the Notre Dame helmets is detailed and time-consuming. The tradition of having 23.9-karat gold in the helmets continues, with gold flakes collected from the regilding of the Golden Dome included in the paint. This was done to achieve a colour that was closer to the Golden Dome than previous helmets. The new paint process is so detailed that it cannot be replicated by the Notre Dame team, and it takes two to three days to complete.
The process begins with painting on Monday, followed by reassembly on Tuesday and Wednesday. The helmets are painted with a mixture of gold dust, lacquer, and lacquer thinner. The gold dust is purchased from the O'Brien Paint Company in South Bend. The new paint process involves the use of thin repair strips and is completed by the football equipment staff. The helmets are then inspected and cleaned by student managers, who also remove any scuff marks.
The new paint process was introduced in 2011, when the team debuted new, brighter, and shinier helmets against USC. The change was made to achieve a more impactful golden colour for the Notre Dame headgear. The new helmets were created by Hydro Graphics Inc., an Oregon-based company.
The Notre Dame helmets have undergone several changes over the years, with different shades of gold being used and various decorations added. The tradition of student managers painting the helmets has also evolved, with the process becoming more complex and time-consuming. The new paint process is a result of the desire to achieve a consistent and superior helmet colour that accurately represents the iconic Notre Dame gold.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Notre Dame still paints their helmets gold. The helmets are repainted for every game, with four level spoonfuls of gold dust used per game.
The student managers are responsible for painting the helmets. However, in 2011, the tradition of student managers painting the helmets ended as the colouring process became too complex.
The gold used for the helmets is stored in a five-gallon bucket in the stadium. Four level spoonfuls of gold dust are used in a vat of regular gloss paint. The helmets are repainted for every game, and if four level spoonfuls are used per game, the value of Notre Dame helmets for each game would be a little over $50,000.
The Notre Dame helmets are painted gold to resemble the Golden Dome. The gold of the helmets is supposed to be the same as Notre Dame's famed Golden Dome.
