Duck Feed: Hi Ho Silver
Hi Ho Silver
Wednesday, April 1, 7:00 a.m. PT
When the Ducks take the field for their second spring practice later this morning, some of them will be breaking in the program's long anticipated silver helmets.
As players checked out the new lids in the Casanova Center equipment room on Tuesday, plenty of adjectives were being tossed around. Newcomer Sid Finch, an invited walk-on at cornerback this spring, went so far as to say: "I was really considering giving up football altogether after high school, but once I caught wind of this new look we're gonna have, I'm committed to doing whatever it takes to make the team."
There's more to these protective hats than meets the eye. The Oregon O logo on the sides fades from green to yellow when temperatures go below 55 degrees, and the protective memory gel inside the helmet also reacts to the elements for a warming or cooling effect based on the air temperature.
The one-piece molded shell is constructed of polymers designed by NASA and is 28 percent lighter than the average pro model football helmet. The original concept model was equipped with a USB port for uploading MP3 files, but it did not make it through the vigorous safety testing process.
Today's practice, which begins at 8:30 a.m., will likely be held in the Moshofsky Center due to a flock of winged monkeys camped out on the grass fields.
Enjoy Fool's Day everyone.
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