12 Miniature Football Helmets

The boys first wave of presents arrived via mail on Monday from Taylor's parents. I tried to quietly open the giant UPS box and place the wrapped gifts under the tree without the boys noticing. They noticed. All 3 began eyeing the wrapped wonders as I reminded them that we need to wait for Christmas to open them. They started organizing, then feeling, holding, shaking, tapping, smelling,...did I mention that all 3 have uncanny detective capabilities?? After giving their best guesses as to what lay beneath the holiday covered boxes, and in natural male form, they began a healthy competition of double dare. It went something like this:
Conner: "Ben, I dare you to spell Christmas. If you can, I will open one of my gifts. If you can't spell it, you have to open a gift."
Ben: "Okay, C-h-r-i-s-t-m-a-s"
Sam: "I can spell Christmas(laughing)...S-a-m! I GET TO OPEN MINE!!"(Begins opening his present w/out asking)
Ben: "MOOOOOMMMMM, Sam's opening a present. That's not fair."
Me: "Okay, you can each open one. But it's one less gift you get to open on Christmas Day."

Sam received a cute little game called "Zingo". It's a little like Bingo except you have to fill your whole card, not just a row. Ben received a Spongebob Wii game. Then Conner opened his gift. I wasn't able to get a good look at it before he literally started freaking out:
Conner: "OH...MY...GOSH!! THIS IS SOOOO COOL!! THIS...IS...THE...COOLEST...GIFT....EVERRRRRRR!!!!"
Taylor: "Let me see that. Wow, Conner, that IS really cool. Let me help you open it."
Me: "What is it?"
Taylor and Conner(looking dumbfounded at me): "These are the Big Ten conference helmets."
Me: "They're so small. What do you do with them?"
Conner: "Mommy, seriously?"
Taylor: "I would've loved to have these when I was little. Ya know, put 'em in your room. On your desk or whatever."
Conner: "Yeah. I'll put them on my dresser where my clothes go."
Me: "I'm serious guys. What is their purpose? Do you exchange them? Do you play with them? Are you supposed to get little football guys to use with the helmets?"
Conner: "I really just put them on my dresser."
Taylor: "For decoration. To look at and get excited for."
Conner: "Yeah, when MSU plays Wisconsin, I can have the helmets face each other."
Me: "How come there's 12 helmets and it's the Big Ten Conference? Shouldn't there be only 10? I'm still confused as to their purpose."
Taylor: "There's 11 teams b/c Penn State was added."
Me: "Oh. Why isn't it called the Big 11 Conference?"
Conner: "Mommy, you just don't understand. But whatever you do, DON'T move these off my dresser. THEY'RE AWESOME!!"

Needless to say, I'm still confused. There are now 12 miniature football helmets sitting on Conner's dresser just like the picture. I know I grew up with a sister, but there was plenty of sports talk to go around...especially when we got together with my dad's side of the family. Sundays consisted of sports ALL DAY. But no one ever discussed little miniature football helmets. So if someone can explain this to me, I would greatly appreciate it. To me, decorations have to serve a purpose. For instance, a candle is lit for the purpose of light or scent. A picture is hung for the purpose or showcasing family members or art. Baskets serve the purpose of storage or organization. And I understand wearing a sports team on a sweatshirt or flying a flag or banner in honor of a favorite team, but little miniature football helmets??? I just don't get it.