This past weekend, Bowling Green unveiled two new football helmets, designed by 13-year-old Tegan Friemering and 12-year-old Ida Falck, for the team’s “Kids Day” game against Northern Illinois.

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Our Saturday fit and our "Kids Day" inspired helmets will be featured on ESPN's "Gear Up" segment tomorrow morning just before GameDay airs

The winners were Tegan Friemering (age 13, Def.) & Ida Falck (age 12, Off.). #ToTheMoon pic.twitter.com/OsXV66PVvP

— BGSU Football (@BG_Football) October 11, 2024

After cutting hundreds of drawing submissions down to two, Bowling Green had its offensive players wear Falck’s design, while the defense wore Friemering’s drawing. Additionally, the two kids were honorary captains for the game and received helmets with their designs.

While this year’s THON game has already passed, Penn State should follow the Falcons’ lead and have THON children design alternate helmets to be worn during THON games in the future.

As the largest student-run philanthropy in the world, THON is one of the greatest events Penn State has to offer, and giving the kids involved the opportunity to have their designs worn on football helmets would be really cool.

The Nittany Lions don’t have to limit the options to only two designs like the Falcons did, either. Each player could wear a different alternate logo on their helmet, giving more kids the opportunity to have their designs featured by Penn State football.

Another possibility along those lines could be to have a small sticker on the back, similar to how the helmets already show the American flag and the THON logo during each THON game. This would allow for the simple design Penn State has worn for many years while promoting the submissions.

On that note, I do believe tradition is great, especially somewhere like Penn State, and white helmets with a blue stripe represent that tradition in the best way. However, having alternate helmets for one game every year would tie two of the university’s greatest traditions, THON and football, together.

There are several options when it comes to other helmets Penn State could wear, for example, the Nittany Lion, an “S,” the Lion Shrine, or a paw print, but with THON children having the creative freedom to design whatever they want, the possibilities could be endless.

Penn State honors THON children at various events throughout the year, including football games, so replicating what Bowling Green did this past Saturday would be not only possible but incredible to see.

So, Penn State, let’s make this happen. Invite THON children to design alternate logos that would eventually be worn on football helmets by players for next year’s THON game.