Iowa State will debut some new matte-finish helmets during the 2014 season, the school announced on Tuesday.
The alternate helmet will be used for "select games" during the year while the glossy-finish helmet will remain the primary option for the Cyclones. The matte trend has been catching on throughout the country over the last half-decade or so, and ISU wants to give it a test-run before committing to the new material full-time.
"I’m a traditionalist," Paul Rhoads said in a school-released statement. "However, this helmet provides us a chance to test different designs while staying within the concept of our school colors and brand."
The new matte helmets look sharp. @CycloneEQUIP #Cyclones pic.twitter.com/8M1Lzhkam1
— Cyclone Football (@CycloneFB) July 1, 2014