The Heisman Trophy is one of the most prestigious awards in college football. It is presented annually to the most outstanding player in the nation. The trophy is named after John Heisman, a former college football coach and player who is credited with creating the game as we know it today. But who is the Heisman statue modeled after?
The answer is Ed Smith, a leading player on the 1934 New York University football team. The story of how Smith became the model for the Heisman Trophy is an interesting one.
In 1935, the Downtown Athletic Club (DAC) of New York City wanted to create a trophy to honor the best college football player in the nation. To create this trophy, the DAC commissioned Frank Eliscu, a well-known sculptor and National Academy of Design Prize Winner. He immediately began to work, selecting Ed Smith, a leading player on the 1934 New York University football team, as his primary model.
Smith was a standout player at NYU, playing both offense and defense. He was known for his strength and agility on the field, as well as his leadership and dedication. Eliscu chose Smith as his model because he felt that Smith embodied the qualities of a great football player.
Eliscu used a photograph of Smith in his football uniform to create the design for the Heisman Trophy. He then crafted a bronze statue of Smith, with the player’s right arm extended in a stiff-arm pose. The Heisman Trophy was officially unveiled in 1936, and it has been presented to the nation’s best college football player ever since.
Ed Smith is an important figure in college football history. His likeness has been immortalized in the Heisman Trophy, and he will always be remembered as the model for the most prestigious award in college football. This year, as we honor the nation’s best college football player, let’s take a moment to remember Ed Smith and the legacy he left behind.
