I recently received this note from a reader (and Buckeye) Larry: I am a huge Buckeye fan.  But I love the history of college football.  I love the history of teams uniforms and helmets too.  I know that Notre Dame was one of the last teams to use leather helmets.  The Irish wore “plastic” for a little bit in the early or mid 40’s but went back to leather until the late 50’s. Ohio State last wore leather helmets 1946 with a guy or so a little longer. I note that Michigan had several players wear leather in the 50’s.  But I saw one player, Denny Fitzgerald #18, wear a leather helmet and no facemask in 1960.  That may be one of the latest I have seen a player wear leather and then to have no facemask.  Maybe there was somebody else but I do not know who.  I know Bobby Layne wore no facemask for the Steelers in the early 60’s. I enjoy your site for the historical things. I wonder if you could find out why Fitzgerald wore leather that late and no facemask. Larry attached a few photos of Fitzgerald donning the winged leather helmet with no facemask.  I love this one: This is a man’s man and this is a tough man’s game. Fitzgerald’s athletic resume’…