The history behind the helmets

Generations of various football helmets find their home in the equipment room near Reese Court. For years, the Eastern equipment staff has been trading for helmets from opposing schools. And although many may look old and beat up, they represent a moment in time and bring back many memories to many staff members and alumni.

Kerry Pease, the director of Sports & Recreation Center, said that the tradition of trading for helmets began in the late 1970s when he worked in the equipment room as a student. He said that when Eastern would visit an opposing school, equipment managers would trade shirts, helmets and other miscellaneous items for the other school's helmet. There are also helmets of professional football teams on display. Those helmets represent players or staff members who have gone on to work for the respective team.

"The helmets bring back memories from past trips," Pease said. "When you're on the road, it's an event. Each one of the helmets has a story behind it."

Pease also said that the trading of helmets has helped form relationships with other equipment managers.

"It makes it a lot easier when you're on the road and you have a good relationship with the other equipment managers," said Pease.

As time passes, new equipment managers bring a different approach to the helmet trading. They also have the freedom to take with them the helmets they traded for. The tradition hasn't always passed onto each equipment manager, however.

Current Equipment Manager Augie Hernandez said that when he first got here last January, the previous manager did not carry on the tradition. He also said that helmets were scattered around the room and uncared for.

"When I first got here, the helmets were hung up everywhere and it really looked unprofessional," Hernandez said.

Since then, many of the helmets have been relocated or sold to help support EWU athletics, according to Assistant Equipment Manager Abby Monta. Occasionally the helmets are wiped down to get rid of dust.

Although the tradition hasn't been followed to the fullest, Hernandez said that the football team will often purchase opposing teams' helmets to be put on display during the week prior to facing the team. Hernandez also said that Eastern's strength coach has been known to put on the opposing helmets to fire up players.

"People try them on all the time. It's kind of gross," said Monta. "Alumni will also come in to reminisce."

Throughout the years many schools have traded their helmets to Eastern. But the equipment room doesn't just have helmets from other teams; it has several generations of Eastern helmets as well. The Eastern football helmet has gone through several makeovers and the row of Eastern helmets in the equipment room reflects that. Five generations of Eagle helmets allow students and alumni to get a glimpse into the school's past.

"A lot of these helmets are really old, but it's especially nice to see all the old Eastern helmets," said Hernandez.

So whether equipment managers choose to carry on the helmet trading tradition, the equipment room, also known as "the helmet room," will continue to display a history of not only past opponents, but past Eastern teams, players and staff members through the helmets.