Captain of the Gridiron

Note: This sculpture can be customized to have a team ‘letter’ or an individual ‘number’ placed on the jersey.

Why is it that our culture loves to pay homage to those who are first? Be it the first to run a four minute mile, fly solo across the Atlantic, step foot on this continent, or to land on the moon? There seems to be a respectful awe we hold for those who have the courage to be ‘first’. We even tend to build ‘Halls of Fame’ to honor those of yesteryear, who venture into unknown realms of possibility, be it in music, science or sports.

Joseph Campbell once said, “Study history for gratitude”. For me, ‘looking into the past’ assists my outlook on how I live today. Perhaps that’s why I’m drawn to creating sculptures that delve into bygone eras. Often, while sculpting, I find myself researching old photos. In looking at period photographs, it’s people’s faces and eyes I’m drawn to. Am I wanting answers to questions? “Who are you?”, “Where did you go and what happened to you?”, “If you could tell me something, what would it be?”, “What lessons, from your life, could assist me in living mine?”

I often find myself extending ‘honor’ to ‘those who came before’, and gain inspiration therefrom.

Did you read the headlines?

Oklahoma City Terrors (A mixture of Methodist college students and high schoolers) Beat Oklahoma Sooners 34-0
“Sooner’s did not make a first down!”
November 7, 1895

Sewanee’s Iron Men – five shut out wins in six days (and on the seventh day they rested!) Beat Texas A&M, Beat Texas, Beat Ole Miss, Beat Tulane, Beat LSU Outscore opponents 322 to 10
The year was 1899

USC quarterback, Arthur Carroll, sews together the football pants for the entire team!
The year was 1888