Helmet History of the Akron Zips

The Akron Zips football program is the intercollegiate football team for the University of Akron in Akron, Ohio. The Zips compete in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as a member of the East Division. The Zips Gridiron program was launched in 1891 when the school was known as Buchtel College and became the University of Akron in 1913. In 1926, the athletic teams were named the Zippers, after rubber boots manufactured by the B.F. Goodrich Company of Akron. The Zips have had a relatively successful history, with a record of 507–524–36 as of the end of the 2022 season.

The Zips have won two MAC championships (1968 and 2005) and have appeared in 11 bowl games. The Zips' most successful era was the late 1960s and early 1970s. Under head coach Gordon Larson, the Zips won 38 games in four seasons, including a 9-1 record in 1968 that led to a MAC championship and a berth in the Grantland Rice Bowl. The Zips also won the Peach Bowl in 1970.

Here are some of the most notable players in Akron Zips football history:

• Bob Chappuis was a two-time All-American running back who led the Zips to their first MAC championship in 1968.
• Tom Beaschler was a two-time All-American quarterback who led the Zips to their second MAC championship in 2005. He also played in the NFL for the New York Jets and the Cincinnati Bengals.
• Zach D'Orazio was a two-time All-MAC quarterback who led the Zips to a winning season in 2021. He also set the MAC single-season record for passing yards in 2021.
• Noah Krampf was a two-time All-MAC defensive end who led the Zips to a winning season in 2022. He also set the MAC single-season record for sacks in 2022.

The Akron Zips have a long history of playing ball on the gridiron. The top posts of the internet on the history of the University of Akron football is found by scrolling down this page.

Today's college football players charge down the field adorned in futuristic helmets, marvels of modern engineering designed to absorb impact and mitigate injuries. But rewind the clock a century, and you'd find players taking the field with little more than glorified leather skullcaps. This series delves into the fascinating evolution of college football helmets and head gear, a journey that mirrors not just the changing safety standards of the sport, but also its cultural and technological advancements.

Join us we embark on the individual hard shell histories of individual schools and how the design has progressed for each over the ages.