When the Utes take the field Sept. 2 against Texas A&M, they'll unveil a new look.
Candy scarlet is in as Utah's helmet color. The darker, more rich shade of red is accompanied by a glossy finish that equipment manager Robert Wiscomb expects to sparkle under the lights.
"I hope so," said Wiscomb. "It's the first thing I'll notice."
Inspired by the slick look of Oregon's green helmets, Utah's changes have meet with the approval of head coach Urban Meyer and his team's leadership committee.
"We want to be on the cutting edge of everything," said Meyer. "It all comes down to what your players want and recruiting — if it's within reason. This is within reason and I think it's going to look good."
Though Meyer admits he doesn't spend a lot of time worrying about such things — opting to leave all uniform issues to his team's leadership group — he made sure Utah's new look included a sticker on the back recognizing the student fan club "The Muss."
The front of the helmets will feature a black bar with a red block-letter "U" above a white face mask.
"I don't really look at that kind of stuff other than I want to look sharp," said Meyer. "And I think we're going to look sharp."
Wiscomb pursued the glossy finish after fielding suggestions
from players. An Oregon helmet is included in a collection of others that stretches across the top of cabinets in Utah's equipment room. The Utes also got a first-hand look when they hosted the Ducks last season.
Oregon officials weren't all that enthused about sharing the secret of their new look, but Wiscomb discovered the process after consulting with connections at Nike.
"I get new ideas and show the coach to see what he thinks," said the 24-year veteran of the program.
After getting the go-ahead from Meyer and the players, Wiscomb sent 158 helmets to a reconditioning company in Seattle.
"Equipment guys that are good, and Robert is good, take great pride in putting a good product on the field," said Meyer. "Just like coaches, Robert does a good job."
The new paint job is one of just a handful of alterations to Utah's helmets over the past two decades. A block letter "U" replaced a thinner script a few years ago and a pair of white stripes down the middle of the helmet came and went without much fanfare.
"They look good," said senior Morgan Scalley. "Just as long as they don't jinx us. Then we'd have to change them back. Coach Meyer's very superstitious like that."
EXTRA POINTS: Deseret Morning News subscribers are invited to meet Meyer tonight from 7-9 p.m. at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Readers can ask questions and view a highlight video . . . For the second consecutive year, Meyer is included on American Football Monthly magazine's "Hot List" of coaches "ready for a breakout year, poised to move up the ranks or continue a successful tradition." Former BYU and current USC assistant Norm Chow, a Utah alum, is also on the list.
E-mail: dirk@desnews.com