While helmet maker Schutt may have been the first to publicly introduce their Splash Shield, other manufacturers have followed with their own versions over the last several months.
With football facing ample COVID concerns, and knowing about how the virus spreads, many people lauded the ingenuity to put the product together during a time of great need, Some wondered if the splash guards would even be made mandatory for programs who chose to march forward with their fall season in an effort to give players an extra layer of protection.
I don't think anyone will debate that, all things considered, they seemed like a good idea on the surface. However, with players practicing with helmets on the past few weeks now, those plastic shields covering the entire facemask aren't getting good reviews from players. Tulane head coach Willie Fritz spoke out about them yesterday, about a week after Saints head coach Sean Payton expressed his concerns.
"Our guys felt hot. We've got to be careful about guys hydrating, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, all those things. That has always been a part of football, and we can't forget that. I'm telling our guys, we've got two enemies we've got to go against right now - we've got the virus, and we've got this 90 degree weather and 90% humidity," Fritz said.
"Our guys felt like they were in an oven with their helmet," Fritz shared. "Basically the whole helmet was covered, and they just felt uncomfortable."
"Unless our conference says that we have to do it, at least early in the season, we're not going to do it."
Whether it's the TikTok video from LSU players that compare practicing in the mask to trying to breath in a Ziploc bag, or guys that have worn just the visor part during their playing days recalling how just having the top part of the face mask covered restricted air flow to a significant degree, there are plenty of guys who can speak to the difficulties of the creative new helmet invention.
Some programs, like Oklahoma and North Dakota State, have opted for a fabric face shield that attaches to the face mask instead. Haven't heard any feedback either way on those options.
For now, Tulane will have a bit more time on their hands to prepare for their first game. This morning, Tulane learned that their scheduled season opening game vs. Southeastern Louisiana was being cancelled, meaning the next game on the Green Wave's schedule is September 12th vs. South Alabama.
See the full video of Fritz talking about their experience with the "spit shields" (as he calls them) below.