The new Poplar Bluff helmet for 2008. [Click to enlarge]

By BRIAN ROSENER | DAR Sports Editor

Shane Kearbey knew he wanted to change the logo on Poplar Bluff's helmets but the first-year coach wasn't sure what he wanted to do.

"I was battling between the horse shoe, or 'PB' or a mule," he said sitting in his office with his old high school helmet nearby and a painted version on the wall with a different logo.

Kearbey said he was leaning towards returning the horse shoe logo that was on the side of Poplar Bluff's helmets from 1998 through 2005. After a trip to JDP Sports & Design, Kearbey found what he was looking for -- something new that recalls the past.

When the Mules won their first district championship in 1984, a mule head logo was on the helmet. Now 20 years after its last appearance, the mule head is back.

"Coming in first year I kind of wanted to change here and kind of get a fresh start and do things my way," Kearbey said. "Kind of set the tone with what I'm trying to do."

Kearbey credited Jody Cheek at JDP with taking a logo designed for the Mules wrestling team and altering it for the helmet.

"We really like it," Kearbey said.

A former Mules quarterback who led the 1990 team to an undefeated regular season, Kearbey has his old helmet in his office with the interlocking 'PB' on the side and a couple of miniature versions on his desk. He also has a leather version without a facemask and a large painting on the wall with the horse shoe logo that was Poplar Bluff's helmet until the last two years.

In all there have been 10 different looks to the Poplar Bluff helmet based on photos from the school yearbooks.

The most-used look has been a solid maroon hat most recently used from 1992-96. The maroon color has been used each season with the exception of one span from 1965-72 when the helmet was white with a maroon stripe.

The Mules mascot was adopted as a tribute to long-time coach E.T. "Pete" Peters, who graduated from Central Missouri State University which also has the Mule mascot. Peters was 72-51-10 in 15 seasons from 1923-37 including the '29 Mules who didn't allow a single point in a 6-0-2 season.

The horse shoe logo first appeared in 1961 and was copied after the then Baltimore Colts of the NFL. It was worn by the '66 team that finished 9-0 and the last district championship team in 2000.

The original Mule logo, which is on the outside of Morrow Stadium, is similar to that Central Missouri uses to this day.

Kearbey said he and his staff have tried to "bring back Mule Pride" during the preseason.

"I think that's the big key, trying to motivate (the players)," Kearbey said. "Just understand who you played in front of and all the great players that have come through here and who you're following and trying to leave their legacy on Poplar Bluff football."