Texas A & M

"Crow" 1957
(Authentic Reproduction)
 

Bryant added black side numerals to the white helmet with maroon center stripe for the '57 season and planned on having his best team to date despite some obstacles. He had lost eleven lettermen, significant in the two-way era. What those of recent generations don't recall is that this Aggie team was lacking in talented depth and the eleven starters averaged fifty minutes of play per game and in most games, no more than fifteen different players saw time on the field. Richard Gay and John Gilbert were not quite at the level of the graduated Jack Pardee and Lloyd Hale on defense and the Junction Boys mentality was now missing. Crow injured a knee in the opening victory against Maryland, did not suit up for the next game, and saw very limited time against Missouri. However, he was a terror once recovered, especially as a defensive back and won the Heisman Trophy. Behind Osborne and Charles Milstead at QB, A&M won their first eight games and were ranked number one in the nation. The defense led by Crow was stifling, having given up but thirty-one points in those eight games with four shutouts and Gay and Gilbert proved to be a terrific set of linebackers. However, the top few men on the team were tired and banged-up and then came the bombshell. On the day prior to the game against Rice The Houston Post reported that Bear Bryant would be leaving Texas A&M to coach at Alabama, his alma mater. The distraction and spirited play of Rice, the twentieth ranked team in the country, resulted in a 7-6 loss. A 9-7 defeat at the hands of Texas in the finale put A&M in free-fall, from number one in the nation to number three in the Southwest Conference. Three points spelled the difference as Bryant's supposed departure gained credence. The Ags closed the year with a 3-0 loss to Tennessee in a meaningless mud-soaked Gator Bowl game, the trip being a nice way to end their period of probation, but with a 24-2-2 record prior to the season's closeout, everyone was disappointed in the finish. Crow graduated with the Heisman Trophy, Krueger and other stars of this brief era left, and Bryant was off to Alabama to once again build a loser into a winner. 

If interested in any of these Aggie helmets please click on the photos below.