Faux helmet designs could soon become a reality ()

LostLettermen.com , the college sports fan site and player database, regularly contributes to Dr. Saturday. Here is a look at college football helmet designer Charles Sollars: While NFL teams are notoriously conservative about its helmet designs, which appeal to tradition rather than outrage, there is a market for zany, over-the-top lids at college football programs that unabashedly use them to attract recruits. Unfortunately, many of the designs seen on the college gridiron last fall — including Maryland's state-flag look , Notre Dame's giant shamrock helmet and Tulsa's magic-eye lids — fell flat. [Related: PHOTOS: College football's 10 biggest fashion fails of 2011 ] That's why the unique designs of Missouri native Charles Sollars — think bursting colors, school-specific themes and aggressive use of mascots - have attracted a volume of about 1.6 million views on his personal Flickr account , according to Sollars, and have been featured on multiple websites around the web. But Sollars, 27, hasn't just caught the attention of college gridiron fanatics on message boards and fan sites. According to the talented designer, three schools have contacted him after finding interest in his designs.