Illinois Unveils Three Helmets for Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary Season – University of Illinois Athletics

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Illinois football team will wear three throwback helmets during the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary season, the program announced Tuesday. The helmet designs cover nearly 50 years of the Fighting Illini program from 1962-2012 and will be worn throughout the 2024 season at Memorial Stadium. 

“We are excited to celebrate 100 years of Memorial Stadium and our program’s history in one special season,” said head coach Bret Bielema. “Our helmets will honor a different era each week, appealing to our entire fan base, regardless of age, and bringing back Memorial Stadium memories to our alumni and Illini famILLy. We’re looking forward to releasing more details soon about the rest of our 100th Anniversary plans.”

A helmet schedule for the Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary season will be released at a later date. 

Illinois will sell a select number of game-worn throwback helmets. Information on how to purchase the helmets will be available in the coming weeks. 

Four Stars Famously worn during Dick Butkus’ years at Illinois, the Fighting Illini wore versions of the four-star helmets from 1962-68. Players’ numbers were featured under the four stars and the helmet donned a gray facemask with white-blue-white center stripes.  Butkus and the Illini wore the helmets on their way to the 1963 Big Ten title and a 1964 Rose Bowl victory over Washington. First-Team All-Americans to wear the Illini four-star helmets included Butkus (1963, 1964), College Football Hall of Famer FB Jim Grabowski (1964, 1965), T Archie Sutton (1964), and DB George Donnelly (1964).
Arched Illini Illinois wore the arched Illini helmets from 1971-87. Facemasks, helmet stripes, and decal sizing varied throughout the period. The 2024 edition will feature gray facemasks and a blue-white-orange-white-blue center stripe cadence.  Head Coach Mike White led Illinois to a perfect 9-0 Big Ten Conference record and a trip to the 1984 Rose Bowl in the arched Illini helmets during the 1983 season. First-Team All-Americans to wear the arched Illini helmets included College Football Hall of Famer WR David Williams (1984, 1985), K Dan Beaver (1975), and T Don Thorp (1983).
Underlined Illinois Illinois wore versions of the underlined Illinois helmets from 1989-2012. A blue stroke was added in 2005 after the original version featured an all-white underlined Illinois from 1989-2004. The 2024 helmet will feature a white facemask and blue-white-blue center stripes.  The Fighting Illini won two Big Ten titles in the underlined Illinois helmets, first in 1990 then again in 2001, and played in the 2002 Sugar Bowl and 2008 Rose Bowl with the helmets. First-Team All-Americans to wear the underlined Illinois helmets included College Football Hall of Famer DT Moe Gardner (1989, 1990), LB Darrick Brownlow (1990), G Tim Simpson (1991), College Football Hall of Famer LB Dana Howard (1993, 1994), LB Simeon Rice (1994, 1995), LB Kevin Hardy (1995), LB J Leman (2007), G Martin O’Donnell (2007), and DE Whitney Mercilus (2011).