When North Texas takes the field on Saturday for their opener against Northwestern State, the Mean Green will be wearing a helmet and uniform combination honoring former coach Hayden Fry.

Last season the team featured the school’s old “flying worm” on a white helmet, and this season’s version will honor Fry, who coached at North Texas from 1973-78. The helmets are inspired by the logo Fry and artist Rick Spears helped to bring to North Texas, which was North Texas State at the time.

Fry left North Texas after amassing a 40-23-3 record, but is best remembered for his time at Iowa. He took over the Hawkeyes program in 1979 and went 143-89-6 while at the helm of the Iowa bench, posting three double-digit win seasons while leading the team to 14 bowl games — three Rose Bowl appearances.

After the 1989 season, Fry retired revealing he had been battling prostate cancer, in secret, during the season. The legendary coach passed away in December, 2019 at the age of 90.