Sports

New Statue of Ernie Davis Incorrectly Features Nike Swoosh

by Jon Azpiri | September 18, 2008 at 03:22 pm

696 views | 4 Recommendations | 4 comments

Legendary football running Ernie Davis has been the subject of a lot of attention recently. The first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy is the subject of a new film released next month starring Dennis Quaid and Rob Brown. Davis has had a bronze statue erected in his honour at his alma mater, Syracuse University. The statue features one small anachronism: Davis wearing Nike shoes as well as a jersey emblazoned with a Nike's trademark Swoosh logo. Davis passed away in 1963, nine years before Nike was founded.

Syracuse University officials are claiming that the inclusion of a Nike Swoosh was a simple mistake on the part of sculptor Bruno Lucchesi. Others wonder if the inclusion of the Nike logo was intentional since the running shoe giant currently provides uniforms and shoes for Syracuse's football and basketball teams.

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gonzo_celtic

at 15:44 on September 18th, 2008

Wow, just wow. You just have to wonder about this. I mean, was it really a mistake or was it intentional? Who knows. But how is it a mistake when you're carefully sculpting it as such to the point where it's obvious he didn't wear Nikes (as Nike was not a company until 1972).

apple_jamz

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 16:03 on September 18th, 2008

Jon Azpiri, I like this story. It's good stuff.

This is really bad no?

James_Richardson

at 05:31 on September 19th, 2008

You may have also noticed that the helmet that Ernie Davis is holding is modern as well. When Ernie was playing in the late 50's early 60's they wore 1-2 bar face masks.

James_Richardson has contributed a photo to this story.