Grant, I remember when the first Bike "Air" helmets came out. Better protection, but since they seemed to weigh 30 lbs, players didn't use them as "weapons" as much. Unfortunately, the technology has made them "safer" but almost feather light. Although there is better protection of the head (supposedly), those helmets are almost guided missiles since the players almost have the feel of a baseball cap on their heads.
You probably have a good ideal. Wilson Matthews, former Little Rock Central coach who had arguably one of the best high school programs in the nation before going to work for Frank Broyles at the University of Arkansas, liked to share a story from his playing days at Atkins High School in Atkins, Arkansas back in the '40's. He said the school was so poor they only bought 6 helmets. The starting linemen all wore a helmet, and the ball carrier would get to wear the 6th helmet. He said that to keep the opponents from always knowing who would get the ball, he would occasionally run the ball without the helmet. God rest his soul. I love to listen to the older guys talk about those long ago playing days.
