Paying homage to a legacy cemented a century ago, the Illinois Fighting Illini have unveiled stunning throwback uniforms, headlined by meticulously crafted helmets that evoke the spirit of leather headgear from yesteryear. Driven by a vision to capture the iconic look of early football helmets, the Illini sought a unique solution, partnering with Armando Villarreal, a specialized airbrush artist from southern Nebraska. Villarreal, one of only two experts nationwide in airbrushing football helmets, was entrusted with the intricate task of hand-painting each helmet to achieve the desired vintage aesthetic.
The helmet transformation is a detailed process. Each helmet undergoes an initial sanding to prepare the surface, followed by a sealant application. Villarreal then applies a base coat, allowing it to dry before carefully scuffing the surface to introduce a realistic texture. A dark brown coat is then sprayed, and stencils are employed to create an authentic leather-like appearance on the helmet’s exterior. Once dried, Villarreal masterfully airbrushes details such as straps, stitching, and ventilation holes, all contributing to the faithful replication of helmets donned by football legends like Red Grange and the Illini squad of 1924.
To finalize the vintage effect, Villarreal applies a clear matte finish. Each helmet, exhibiting a slightly different brown shade compared to the jersey’s tan hue due to variations in 1920s leather types, demands one to two hours of dedicated hand-painting. Brad Rosch, presumably a team official or designer, emphasized the necessity of this meticulous attention to detail in achieving the team’s envisioned throwback aesthetic.
“100 years ago, the jerseys all had very similar designs, so we knew what would set us apart in that overall aesthetic was a leather helmet and to create that textured look,” Rosch explained. “On the helmet, there are straps that go over the top and form a sun pattern, but the only way to accomplish that was for it to be hand-painted. For each individual piece of leather that was on a leather helmet, we wanted it to be reflected on the shell of the helmet so it looked like you were wearing that helmet.” Rosch lauded Villarreal’s artistry, stating, “Armando has done a really great job and been a really good partner in this whole process.”
The comprehensive uniform design journey spanned nearly two years. The initial six to eight months were dedicated to conceptualization and preliminary designs. Subsequently, the Illini collaborated closely with Nike to refine and finalize the uniform’s appearance. Conference approvals followed, setting the stage for production. Athletic Director Josh Whitman played a pivotal role throughout the design process, bringing his unique perspective as both an administrator and a football program alumnus.
Rosch highlighted Whitman’s personal connection to the project: “He has a little extra tie to the project as a whole because it represents something really personal to him.” He further noted the collaborative refinement process, “We tweaked a lot of small things to make sure everything fell in line with his vision and how we think we can tie that together.” The resulting Illinois Football Throwback Uniforms are a testament to dedication, historical appreciation, and artistic craftsmanship, offering a modern tribute to a celebrated era of Illini football.
