Open up those wallets everyone, it's time for the annual helmet auction! As with previous years all proceeds will be donated to Herma's Readers. Bidding closes on March 3rd.
The list of helmets may be found here: http://www.hokiesports.com/auction/list.html
Forums:
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Comments
400 minimum again damn.
I really only expect it to go up in the future.
What did you expect? Very few, if any, won't sell at $400.
You can usually find a "bargain" for a special teams or offensive lineman's helmet. I'd expect any of the OL helmets that aren't #57 or #71 to go for $450 or less.
Point is, even the ones that aren't very popular still sell for over $400. Why lower the minimum price when you know they're all going to sell for at least that anyway?
Got mine last year for 400. Also lower prices would bring in more bids and maybe those helmets that go for 400 or just over will get people in bidding wars where emotion and not logic gets prices higher.
Which helmet did you buy?
Have to look when I get home. Wasn't a starters helmet.
Yeah, you never know how emotions can just take over once the bidding gets rolling for a Tre Hubbard helmet...
First rule of negotiation. Set a higher price so that the other party thinks its worth more than what you settle with. Similar idea here, set a price high, people believe that's the value.
Just looking at the Riddell site, the Speed helmets start at $275 and the Speedflex start at $400. I'm sure the school gets them at a discount, but if you get a Speedflex at $400, it's a good deal.
Drink, my friend.
via GIPHY
Currently selling everything I don't need so I can buy something else I don't really need.
Anyone got $391.56 so I can buy a game used Andy Moto helmet?
He goes by Drew.
Damn, I really want Jerod's orange helmet from the ECU game. That run was legendary.
I can't let Mrs. APFOW see this. We'll be broke.
But we will have 4 Isaiah Ford helmets.
You might have to fight Mama Ford for them. And this year she has NFL money backing her up.
There's a distinct lack of #45 - Offense on that list.
Someone said last years sometimes players or their parents buy the helmets before the auction at a price determined by what they may bring at auction.
If true, that's actually pretty cool of them to do that
Why no maroon helmet? I would (finally) think about grabbing one of these if they were available:

Because the maroon ones are being retained for another year
Ahhh, that makes sense. Look at you so quick to the draw! How did you know that off hand btw?
Also, no Sam Rogers helmets available unfortunately.
I haven't heard anything definitive, but I've heard rumors things might change a bit next year. Could see new uniforms as well.
I would hope so. It's time the shoulder stripes were retired. Our branding, wordmark, and number font all says modern and futuristic. Keeping the shoulder stripes on there just makes it look like a hodge podge of old and new all lumped together.
I hated the shoulder stripes for all the reasons you say. The word I kept using was "in-congruent"
But I have to admit, I really liked the stripes they added to the helmets. I know they're tapered, and thus aren't a perfect match, but I think it still ties the uniforms together much more nicely to have the helmets with the stripes paired with our current jerseys.
If it were up to me, though, I'd do away with all the stripes. I liked the piping on the jerseys (10?) years ago and plain helmets. I would have two helmets, both maroon, one with a white facemask and one with a maroon one. Then I'd have the standard home uniform with maroon helmet (white mask), maroon jersey, white pants and the standard away would be maroon helmet (maroon mask) white jersey maroon pants. Then for big time night games at home rock AME. That would be it. KISS.
I would absolutely love for us to sneak some charcoal gray into our uniforms (as evidenced by my custom uniform submission.) It looks really good with the maroon. Plus, uniforms with orange, maroon, gray, and black shoes and socks represent our original and current school colors. Plus it leaves a ton of room to get creative and add some Hokie Stone motifs throughout our uniforms. Someone in charge of these decisions has to have some creativity! Let's get on it!
Or better yet, get rid of the modern, futuristic fonts, etc. and keep the shoulder stripes...
Anyone know where we can find out players helmet sizes? For $400+, I want to be able to wear it.
My thoughts exactly because I want Timmy's helmet, but I highly doubt it will fit...
It'd make a nice bucket seat.
One man's brain bucket is another man's bucket seat.
Because you know what they say about a big helmet...
So few players with smaller heads. I miss JC Coleman.
$400 for one of the orange chrome helmets, especially a Riddell Speedflex one is actually a steal. Those helmets are that much on their own and a couple hundred more to get hydrodipped with that chrome film. Add a couple hundred more for the "game used" aspect that people will always pay extra for.
Funny thing is, the Black ones will prolly sell for the most, as most one-off helmets do and they were most likely the cheapest costwise to have produced - Vinyl Hokiestone and misc. decals only.
~Resident Helmet/Uni Guru
Should I have told my wife first before bidding on a helmet? Oh well, today's probably not the best day to mention that.
Tell her it's her present for V-Day!
The golden rule for these situations:
Forgiveness is easier than permission.
So far, the only multi bid is Ford's white helmet.
Those white helmets are slick, but I can only afford one. I'm definitely going after one of the Hokie Stone lids. I missed out on the 2013 ones since I was fresh out and broke.
One Evans helmet up to 750 with 2nd bid and Bucky up to 1,000 on 2nd bid. Both bids by same person.
Shoutout to the guy who ran up the price of the helmet I'm bidding on without outbidding my proxy bid. Way to go champ.
Reminder to everyone else that the auction ends this Friday.
Thanks. I sent think I ever saw updates about being outbid
When you get outbid by someone with a username that's extremely similar to one you've seen on TKP.
had to get you to leg 10... as sides will now be drawn.
Had to downvote him just to make your comment not make sense...
now THAT'S gangster...
5pm EST I'm guessing for end times???
Yes. If you click on a helmet it shows you how much time is remaining.
I would have loved it if they auctioned off the helmets worn by the player awarded the 25 those games. That way the helmet would have the little 25 sticker on the back. No matter who wore it that game, I bet those would be at the higher end of all the bidding.
Auctions are all closed. Congratulations to all the winners.
I paid a little more than I'd like, but I'm happy to have landed a Battle at Bristol lid.
The site completely crashed for me at 4:59 and I was outbid.. Maybe next year..
Pro/Con situation here. I saved $500 but I didn't get the helmet I wanted.
Good god. Ford helmet for Battle at Bristol was at $725 and someone bid up to $1,225 at the last minute. Wow.
I'm surprised at the amount of people who just straight up bid without using proxy bidding. The helmet I went after was probably $100 more than it should have been just because someone bid $90 over the minimum bid straight up.
Did the same bidder get all the high priced ones?
Any idea when the winners will get notified? On the website it says the end of the next business day but I haven't heard anything yet.
Hopefully soon. I won a couple years ago (Military Bowl helmet) and it took a lot longer than next business day to get the e-mail. The delay sucks when it is a shut up and take my money item.
I got my invoice on a Thursday last year. I wouldn't worry too much.
I just want to know if I won! My bid was the highest after bidding had been closed, but I don't know if someone swooped in and outbid me without the site registering it in the display.
You would have gotten an email about being outbid.
If you looked at the page after 5pm on Friday and your bid was at the top of the list you won.
SUHWEEEEET. Leg for the info.
On the other hand, if I did get outbid even though my name was the top bid, I'll be back for that leg...
I outbid you. Sorry about that. j/k
I did try getting a bid in during the last minutes but the site was so slow that the bid did not take until 5:00:13 PM and it told me the auction had closed 13 seconds earlier. I don't think it is possible for anyone to swoop in.
You can email them.
They're generally pretty responsive.
I'm in the same boat..I know I won one of the two I bid on, but haven't received any additional information.. who would I email? If you go to the contact us page there are a shit-ton of people.
Did you guys get your invoices yet? The email address I have is from last year, but I'll dig it out for you if you still haven't had contact. It's on the invoice, but maybe also on the auction page.
My invoice came last night.
Got mine as well. Was pleasently surprised to see that they're using Square for payment so we don't have to mail checks any more. Also surprised to see that Herma's Readers is run out of a residential address in Pulaski County on Claytor Lake.
Do you recall giving them your address? I am all paid up (yes Square is way better than the check I sent for the Military Bowl helmet) but I wonder if they know my shipping address.
I believe you specify it when you set up your auction account. If not I'm sure they'll contact you about shipping.
Bud's Readers.
I got my invoice this morning! Just paid. Proud owner of the Chevron helmet!
I've thought about buying one in the past, but still haven't done it. Too rich for my blood right now.
It'd be great if some of the winners could share pictures. I'd like to see what they look like
Seconded (same problem). Would love to see pictures.
Just got my invoice. I'll post some pics when I get it. I got Nigel's Chevron Helmet (speedflex).
A portion of the purchase price is tax deductible as well, John is getting back to me with the specific amount. That should make it a little easier to swallow for those on the fence.
As posted before, a Speedflex for $450 (including shipping) is basically the stock color purchase price of a Speedflex directly from Riddell before hydrodipping for chevron and chrome orange helmets and then athletic dept. decals (20mil 3M). A brand new authentic Revo Speed helmet will set you back $250 from memorabilia dealers and those are just straight from Riddell, not from the university.
https://www.scorehere.com/product/095855328973/Helmets-Full-Size-Helmet-...
I hear ya. I know they are expensive. I just have other priorities at the moment and I can't justify it.
I would have loved to have gotten one of the orange helmets.
Pretty bummed I didn't bite the bullet and go for a white Belk Bowl helmet....oh well, fingers crossed they'll make a mini replica to add to my collection. Looking forward to seeing pics of those who did get helmets!
Has anyone received their helmets or a shipping notice yet?
I have not. Paid the invoice mid last week and the payment has been received, but haven't gotten the helmet or a shipping notification yet!
I don't recall getting a shipping notification last year. I think it took about two weeks from when I mailed in my check last year to when the helmet actually arrived.
Did y'all call to ask if Fuente or Beamer will sign the helmet?
I didn't. I assumed Frank signing the helmets last year was a function of it being his last season.
Maybe but you still had to request it separately from the auction so it's worth a shot, no?
I had no idea that was possible. Really regret not picking one up last year now.
It was a checkbox option on the invoice, you didn't really need to inquire past that.
Worth a shot? Sure, I just haven't bothered to ask.
Got mine as gift, I donknow my wife had to call and sent a separate chec though.
This year or last year?
Last year it was a checkbox on the invoice.
AWWWW YEAHHHHH. Chris Cunningham 86 chevron.
More importantly, how much do you want for that Dale Sr. hat?
Not for sale.
Praise Dale.
Raise hell.
Devin Wilson's Battle at Bristol lid. Looks good with the collection.
nice looking lids
well,
most of them. :p
I did not like that Military Appreciation helmet from the monsoon game against Marshall
Nice humblebrag with those fencing trophies in the background :)
anyone else think the third from the right looks like the back half of a horse? Do they hand out trophies for being a horse's ass now?
That IS the back half of a horse.
Typically thats a last place trophy for something so.....
Good eye. If they do, I know some who have been getting screwed over big time in the voting. That, or they just aren't displaying their trophies.
From the angle it almost looks like he won a fencing trophy for centaurs. That would be a bad ass competition to watch.
Good eye! That is the coveted "Horse's Ass" 3rd place trophy given out every year at the Tech Open in October.
You only managed 3rd place? You gotta get after it more than that. I have faith in you.
I have two of them unfortunately. Tech Open is actually one of my stronger events historically, but I haven't been able to get over the hump in a semi-final for a while.
On the plus side I can make one whole horse out of the two back halves.
I was attempting to make a joke that you could be more of a horse's ass if you really tried. I didn't realize it's an actual 3rd place fencing trophy. I'm a little slow on the uptake today.
It's all good. I posted that after getting up at 5 this morning and driving 4 hours.
OMG. I think Fencing may have just become my favorite sport. Any sport which hands out "horses ass" 3rd place trophies is an awesome sport IMO
Come on out to Nova Fencing Club sometime!
Also, there are other tournaments with cooler prizes than the horse's ass. The Hangover Open gave out liquor at one point. Other clubs give out swords and knives.
Fun fact. I have a (somewhat eccentric) uncle who at one time in life was a fencing instructor. However, he lives in England and I have seen him only a handful of times throughout my life. So I know relatively nothing about fencing.
How did you get the chinstrap?!
Mine came with it also last year.
I wouldn't think you got screwed out of a chinstrap. The player probably just kept it and others didn't.
So sweet! Congrats to y'all that got 'em.
Did anyone get an orange or white helmet?
I got an orange. It came last week. No chin strap on mine either.
Share a pic?
The orange is really a shiny chrome. It is really cool.
I probably would have picked that one.
Although, we did wear cool helmets last year (I can't believe I'm saying that). The black, orange, and white (bowl game) were all great.
I'm done with the Navy style helmet. I hope they're retired.
Last years.
That's awesome.
I got the mini version and got it signed by Frank to my son last summer. I also got the mini version of the throw back that we wore in the bowl game signed to me.