Bulldogs seek funds for safer helmets

    Murphy – The next time you catch a Bulldogs football game, you might notice something different about the hardware on the heads of some Murphy players.
    Twenty-five of the Bulldogs will be donning a new brand and design of helmets, the “Vicis Zero1.” The Zero1, which is considered the top-of-the-line helmet in head injury prevention and player safety, has been named the “Top-Ranked helmet for reducing impact severity” three years in a row by the NFL and its Players Association.
    Additionally, the Virginia Tech Test, which was developed by observing the location, severity and frequency of actual impacts in high school and collegiate play rated the Zero1 as the top-rated five-star helmet under five pounds on the market.
    However, outfitting players with the best helmets available comes at a cost. Each Vicis Zero1 helmet costs around $1,000, meaning the cost of placing Zero1’s on the heads of 25 players is nearly $25,000.
    Murphy head football coach David Gentry stresses that while the cost of the helmets is high, the student’s safety is worth the price tag. “I’m putting these kids in the best possible helmet,” he said. “But it costs money.”
    Murphy was originally going to do a four-year plan with Vicis to pay off the helmets. However, the company wanted to go through a third-party vendor, which Gentry and the administration did not approve.
    That means the program is tasked with raising money to help soften the blow of the $25,000 price tag. Gentry, who spoke before the Murphy Rotary Club on Monday afternoon, said the community support so far has been outstanding, as the school is only a few thousand dollars away from covering the cost. If you want to help support the Bulldogs’ new helmets, call Gentry at 837-2279 or 557-0870.