The first football helmet logo was the “wishbone C” adorning the back of the University of Chicago’s helmets in 1921 and 1922. (Link below) A handful of schools etched small logos into the front of their winged helmets in the early 1930s. As far as I can tell, however, the first team to place a full word on their helmets was the 1941 Florida Gators. Given the size of the letters, the logos would have been difficult for fans to see, but I guess innovation is innovation.
Recognizing Florida’s error, the gents at Florida State did not repeat it when they added the largest TV numbers in the known universe in 1958. It was not a good look.
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