sticking to tradition

How helmet decals tell the story of Ohio State and Michigan

ichigan and Ohio State are two of college football's most recognizable brands, built on decades of winning, iconic coaches and their uniforms. They are easily identifiable by their helmets -- not just Michigan's wings or Ohio State's scarlet stripe, but the stickers plastered all over them.

The Wolverines and Buckeyes are two of 13 FBS teams that currently use helmet decal reward systems, but they do so with different philosophies. The famous buckeye leaves are awarded for team, unit or individual on-field accomplishments throughout a single season, while Michigan's stickers display a unique image for each accomplishment and accrue…