The Enduring Legacy of Hats at the University of Michigan
Hats have been more than mere accessories at the University of Michigan (U-M); they've been symbols of tradition, identity, and even community. From the early days of college football to modern-day fashion statements, headwear has played a significant role in the university's culture.
Early Traditions: From Class Distinctions to Football Gear (1860s-1930s)
In the late 1860s, the students and alumni of U-M began referring to themselves as "Wolverines." In those early years, U-M students marked themselves by hat styles to distinguish themselves by college, department, or class year from the rest of the student body. Oxford hats, fez caps, mortarboards, derbies, plugs, and eventually pots were worn with pride, and sometimes shame, by students.
Freshmen at the University of Michigan in the early 1900s were easily identified by their distinctive gray caps, mandated by the "Frosh Bible" and strictly enforced by upperclassmen. These caps, also called "pots," displayed the student's class year and a colored button indicating their school or department. At the end of the academic year, freshmen would participate in "Cap Night," a bonfire celebration where they burned their pots, symbolizing their transition into sophomores. This tradition was temporarily halted during World War I, with class caps being collected for refugees.
During this period, the football team's uniforms evolved from simple sweaters and vests branded with "U of M" or a Block 'M' to include numbers on the backs of jerseys (first appearing in 1915 and officially required in 1920) and rudimentary padding. Although helmets weren't mandatory until 1939, players began wearing them in the 1920s.
In a 1928 game against Navy, Michigan debuted a maize jersey, described in The Michigan Daily as a "brilliant yellow."
Read also: History of the Block 'M'
The Winged Helmet and Evolving Uniforms (1930s-Present)
A significant turning point came in 1938 when Fritz Crisler became head coach and introduced the iconic "winged helmet" design, a design that has remained a staple of the program's brand ever since. Crisler had introduced a similarly designed winged helmet, with 3 stripes running through the middle, at Princeton in 1935. The winged design simply took advantage of features of a helmet the Spalding sporting goods company had advertised in the 1937 edition of the Official Intercollegiate Football Guide.
The classic navy blue jersey with maize numbers and accents, alongside maize pants, began to take shape during this era. By 1956, most Michigan players wore masks on their helmets, and numbers were added to the sides for identification. The jersey design remained consistent throughout the 1940s and 1950s.
In 1962, some players received a "Wolverbear" patch on their shoulder, inspired by the Army's tradition of platoon patches. The Block 'M' was added to the jersey shoulder in 1968 for home games. Bo Schembechler, upon becoming head coach in 1969, introduced maize, football-shaped helmet stickers to recognize big plays and replaced the Block 'M' on the sleeves with the jersey number.
The players' last names were added to the jerseys for the first time for the Rose Bowl in 1977 and have remained since 1980.
In 1994, Nike became the official apparel provider, maintaining the classic look of the jersey. The Block 'M' returned to the shoulder of the away jersey in 1997 but was removed again in 2005. Adidas took over as the apparel provider in 2008, adding subtle changes like the years of Big Ten title wins sewn inside the shoulder. In 2011, Michigan wore throwback uniforms in a night game against Notre Dame.
Read also: Michigan State's Emblem Explained
Michigan signed again with Nike, more specifically with the Jordan brand in 2015. In their season opener in 2017, the Wolverines debuted all-maize jerseys, just the second time in history, with the other being the aforementioned game against Navy in 1928. Michigan also added the all-blue variant in 2021 and even wore them in the 2023 (played in 2024) National Championship Game.
Beyond the Field: Hats as Symbols of Community and Pride
Hats at the University of Michigan extend beyond athletic gear. They serve as symbols of community and pride, connecting alumni and fans alike.
One anecdote illustrates this perfectly: a woman purchased a Michigan hat during a visit to U-M and began wearing it in New York. She found that it sparked conversations with strangers, fellow Wolverines, and Big Ten alumni, creating unexpected connections and a sense of community.
This sense of pride extends to collaborations with brands like Stormy Kromer. The company recently launched a Collegiate Collection, featuring officially licensed caps representing 18 universities, including the University of Michigan. According to Gina Jacquart Thorsen, CEO of Stormy Kromer, there’s something special about Midwestern pride, whether it’s pride in your team, your school, or your community. In the past, Stormy Kromer has done a few collegiate projects, including with Northern Michigan University and Michigan Tech. Michigan Tech, for example, has been carrying Stormy Kromer hats and apparel branded with its university logo for nearly 10 years in the campus store, University Images.
Michigan coach Mel Pearson also recognized the cap's unique story and Michigan connection. After losing many hats to the wind on the locomotive he worked on, Kromer requested his wife to sew a hat that would not only stay on his head but keep it warm. So she took a baseball cap, sewed on a higher crown and added ear flaps to a pull-down earband. The popularity of the hats pushed Kromer and his wife to take their small hometown production to a factory in Milwaukee, Wisc. The expansion took off and over 100 years later, it found its way to Ironwood, Mich.
Read also: Paying for Michigan
The Evolution of Championship Hats
The tradition of wearing championship hats dates back to the 1989 NCAA men’s basketball Final Four, tied to Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign. Despite the heartbreak that everybody on the Pirates’ sideline was feeling, somehow the hats got to the Michigan players. My guess is that a Seton Hall student manager had the presence of mind at the final buzzer to get them to the Wolverines. It was the first time that a team-in any sport, college or pro-had worn championship hats during their celebration. This tradition has evolved into a lucrative opportunity for sports organizations, with corporate sponsors producing high-quality, well-designed hats to commemorate title moments.
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