🏆 The Face Behind The Heisman Trophy

Former NYU football standout Ed Smith Sr. became the face of the Heisman Trophy back in 1934. [View in browser]( [FOX SPORTS INSIDER WITH MARTIN ROGERS] In today’s FOX Sports Insider: We take a look at the fascinating story behind the creation of the Heisman Trophy ... ESPN’s Harry Lyles Jr. explains why Alabama standout WR DeVonta Smith is the clear choice to take home this year’s Heisman Trophy ... and we feature a must-see video from Freddie Freeman and his son. DeVonta Smith, Mac Jones, Trevor Lawrence and Kyle Trask probably don’t know much about Ed Smith Jr., an 84-year-old retired elevator constructor who lives in Naples, Fla. However, whichever of this year’s college football standouts are successful in being anointed as the elite player from this disrupted campaign, he and Smith Jr. will share something rare and special. They’ll both have a Heisman to call their own, and to keep wherever they want to. Whether it is the sure-handed Crimson Tide star Smith, his quarterback Jones, presumptive No. 1 pick Lawrence or Florida signal-caller Trask, the winner will have gotten their trophy in the traditional way, namely, their toil on the football field. How Smith Jr. - who will be watching on television with his 78-year-old sister Nancy Herrey - came into possession of his personal version of the 45-pound hunk of bronze? Well, that’s a different story, one with ties to the award’s formative history. [STORY IMAGE 1] “It is always the ultimate blast watching the Heisman while sitting with the Heisman,” Smith Jr. told me. “And knowing that our dad is the face of the Heisman.” Smith’s father, Ed Smith Sr., is the face of the Heisman partly, his son likes to joke, “because they didn’t have faceguards in those days.” Back in 1934, when New York’s Downtown Athletic Club came up with the idea of rewarding the premier player in college football with an individual title, they decided the award should have a suitably impressive trophy to match. Rather than a cup or a bowl as was commonplace, the club decreed that the trophy should be etched in bronze and represent the “embodiment of a muscular footballer driving for yardage.” [STORY IMAGE 2] New York sculptor Frank Eliscu was commissioned to make the trophy, and Eliscu recruited Smith Sr., a former classmate at George Washington High School, as his model. Smith Sr., who was then a standout fullback, passer, runner and punter for NYU’s football team, turned up at Eliscu’s studio with his full football gear. As Eliscu got to work, Smith Sr. simulated a fierce stiff arm for which he was renowned – and one of the most iconic poses in sports was born. “My dad and the sculptor were friends, but they weren’t that close and I think they soon lost touch,” Smith Jr said. “And for decades, my dad never knew that he was the figure behind the Heisman, just that he had posed for a sculpture.” Smith Sr. was the 20th pick in the first-ever National Football League draft in 1936 and played one season for the Boston Redskins and another for the Green Bay Packers, under coach Curly Lambeau. With his son soon to be born and NFL paychecks amounting to just $200 per game, he gave it up for a career in the elevator industry. Over the ensuing years, the status of the Heisman became an entrenched part of American sports folklore, yet the identity of the player atop the trophy remained a mystery. DeVonta Smith, who is the favorite to take home this year’s Heisman Trophy ([-1000, per FOX Bet]( is bidding to become the first wide receiver to receive the award since Desmond Howard – whose use of the Heisman pose after scoring for Michigan became part of his legacy – won in 1991. [STORY IMAGE 3] In 1982, a team of documentarians seeking to find out more about the origins of the Heisman finally tracked down Eliscu, who informed them it was Smith Sr. who had modeled for him. “They found my dad and told him and he couldn’t believe it,” Smith Jr. said. “We have always been a football family. My dad watched games with my sister and I. We used to watch the Heisman celebration before we even knew he was on the trophy. It was an unbelievable surprise for him – and it was special.” Once Smith Sr.’s role in the creation of the famed trophy was discovered, the Downtown Athletic Club organizers moved quickly to recognize him. The Smith family were invited to a special reception, cocktail party and dinner in New York, where Smith Sr. was presented with his very own Heisman bust. [STORY IMAGE 4] The family was also invited to each Heisman Trophy ceremony and attended several times. When Smith Sr. passed away in 1998, his son inherited the trophy, and regards it as both a part of American sports history and perhaps the ultimate family heirloom. “My dad found out about his part in the Heisman later in life and I think it maybe meant more to him because of that,” Smith Jr. said. “The Heisman has become part of our family. People like posing with it whenever they come to visit and whenever the ceremony is on each year we keep it close by. “My sister and I will be watching, and, as always, we’ll think of our dad.” [STORY IMAGE 5] Here’s what others have said ... Archie Griffin, two-time Heisman Trophy winner: “My name is not only Archie Griffin, it’s two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin. Once you win the award, it’s with you the rest of your life, and I realize that and I’m proud of that. It changed my life.” Kyler Murray, former Heisman Trophy winner: “It’s an honor. Something that I'll never forget, something I'll always treasure for the rest of my life.” Derrick Henry, former Heisman Trophy winner: “I’m so thankful to have this trophy. It’s just a blessing and an honor.” [IN OTHER WORDS] - There is no better season than 2020 -- a pandemic season that saw shortened and staggered schedules affect the Heisman resumes of many top players -- to hand the trophy to a wide receiver. [ESPN staff writer Harry Lyles Jr.]( explains why DeVonta Smith is the clear choice for the Heisman Trophy. - Can one of the most ball-dominant players in NBA history scale back, adapt and compromise? [Sports Illustrated’s Howard Beck]( looks at what James Harden wants and what he is willing to do to get it. - Steph Curry reminded us on Sunday that he is indeed the greatest shooter of our time. [Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports]( asks: why do we keep acting like he has anything left to prove? [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED] [THE INTERNET IS UNDEFEATED]( Is there anything better than a video showing a professional athlete teaching his or her children their craft? Simple answer … nope. Check out this must-see post, which shows Atlanta Braves standout and 2020 NL MVP award winner Freddie Freeman working on his swing with his son Charlie. The best part is how Charlie critiques his dad’s swing, and then shows him how it’s done. This kid has the look of a future star! [VIEWER'S GUIDE] 2020 Heisman Trophy Ceremony (ESPN, 7 p.m. ET) The 86th Heisman Trophy Ceremony will take place from ESPN’s studios and will feature all four finalists – Alabama QB Mac Jones, Clemson QB Trevor Lawrence, Alabama WR DeVonta Smith and Florida QB Kyle Trask appearing via satellite from either their homes or schools. North Carolina at Miami (ESPN, 8 p.m. ET) Garrison Brooks and the North Carolina Tar Heels travel to Miami to take on the Hurricanes. UConn at Marquette (FS1, 9 p.m. ET) James Bouknight and the UConn Huskies take on Dawson Garcia and the Marquette Golden Eagles. Rutgers at Michigan State (ESPN2, 9 p.m. ET) Ron Harper Jr. leads the No. 15-ranked Rutgers Scarlet Knights into East Lansing to battle Joey Hauser and the No. 23-ranked Michigan State Spartans. [BET OF THE DAY] [BET OF THE DAY] Odds provided by [FOX Bet]( Heisman Trophy Winner DeVonta Smith: -1000 Mac Jones: +600 Trevor Lawrence: +1000 Kyle Trask: +5000 One individual will take home college football’s most prestigious individual award as the 86th Heisman Trophy Ceremony is set to take place on Tuesday night. Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith is the favorite to take home the Heisman Trophy, listed at -1000 odds, per FOX Bet. The do-it-all wideout was named the Associated Press Player of the Year last week, becoming the first wide receiver ever to win the award. If anyone is going to challenge Smith for the Heisman, it will likely be his quarterback, Mac Jones, who is listed at +600. Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence (+1000) and Florida quarterback Kyle Trask (+5000) round out the field of finalists. [WHAT THEY SAID] “Every kid thinks about the Heisman Trophy and dreams about it, but you never think it could happen to you.” — Carson Palmer [FOLLOW FOX SPORTS] [Twitter]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Instagram]( Download FOX Sports App: [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [Google Play]( [App Store]( [Fire TV]( [Roku]( [App Store]( [Google Play]( Also available on these devices: [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] [fireTV | AppleTV | ROKU | Google Chromecast | XBOX ONE | SAMSUNG Smart TV] Trademark & Copyright Notice: ™ and © 2021 Fox Media LLC and FOX Sports Interactive Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Please do not reply to this message. If you do not wish to receive emails like this in the future, please [unsubscribe](. FOX Sports respects your privacy. Click [here]( to view our Privacy Policy. Fox.com Business & Legal Affairs - Manager Digital Media P.O. Box 900 Beverly Hills, California 90213-0900