Wildcats to wear red helmets Friday against rival ASU

The game speaks for itself, but when the UA Wildcats and ASU Sun Devils collide in Friday’s Territorial Cup in Tucson, the home team plans to add a little flare to the interstate rivalry.

According to the UA football program’s Twitter account, Rich Rodriguez’s squad will don red helmets for the first time since the 1980 season as part of a university-wide initiative to “Redout” Arizona Stadium.

It’s Game Week vs. ASU and that means it’s a #RedOut: twitter.com/ArizonaFBall/s…

— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) November 19, 2012

Back in June, Anthony Gimino of The Tucson Citizen inquired about the use of red helmets, after backup quarterback B.J. Denker tweeted out a picture of one following a summer practice.

Athletic director Greg Byrne apparently was playing it close to the vest:

Greg Byrne says pic of red helmet circulating just a “mock up.” Not on radar right now, he says. A matter of time? bit.ly/LdMygS

— Anthony Gimino (@AGWildcatReport) June 4, 2012

The Wildcats have been all about introducing new helmet colors into their home wardrobe. In a 38-35 loss to Oregon State on September 29, UA elected to wear copper helmets for the first time.

Here’s a picture of quarterback Matt Scott posing with the red helmet after UA’s practice Sunday (Photo by UA Football’s Twitter account):

Matt Scott after tonight’s practice with one of the red helmets. #RedOut #BearDown twitter.com/ArizonaFBall/s…

— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) November 19, 2012