The red of the Ohio State football team and the Rose Bowl Stadium were used on a shared canvas Saturday morning during the ceremony to unveil a statue of Ohio State football star Archie Griffin – the only two-time Heisman Trophy winner in college football and a four-time starter in Rose Bowl games.
The statue was created by Brian Hanlon, who was named the official sculptor of the Rose Bowl in 2018, and features Griffin in his iconic Big Ten pose.
Griffin’s statue is located in the Court of Champions at Rose Bowl Stadium, adjacent to the Archie Griffin Legacy Walk, which honors the 19 Heisman Trophy winners who played in the Rose Bowl game.
“There’s something magical about playing here at the Rose Bowl,” said Griffin, who attended the christening along with his family, friends and local politicians. “Especially when it’s played on New Year’s Day and the sun is setting behind the mountains.”
Griffin was awarded college football’s Heisman Trophy in 1974 and 1975 with the Ohio State Buckeyes. The unveiling of the statue marks the 50th anniversary of his first Heisman Trophy during the upcoming 2024 college football season.
The statue and pathway were funded by donations to the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation, including from the Columbus, Ohio area. An identical replica of the statue will also be donated to the athletic department of Ohio State University, Griffin’s alma mater.
“Archie Griffin is an integral part of our historic venue for so many reasons, and I can’t think of a more fitting person to sit at the center of our new historic Legacy Walk,” said Jens Weiden, CEO and general manager of the Rose Bowl, in a press release.
Griffin’s statue is the fifth to be added to the Rose Bowl stadium grounds, joining Jackie Robinson (2017), the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup winner for the United States (2019), sportscaster Keith Jackson (2019) and UCLA head coach Terry Donahue (2023).
“This is a very, very good company, and it’s very fitting, Archie, that you, your family and your contributions have made not only to football, but to the Rose Bowl and to this country,” said Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo.
In addition to his Heisman Trophies, Griffin – a tailback who was considered small for his position – was named All-American three times and is one of two players to win the Big Ten Conference MVP award twice, in 1973 and 1974.
After his college career, he went on to be drafted by the Cincinnati Bangles and played eight seasons as a professional.
Although his football successes never ended, many spoke directly about Griffin’s character and dedication on Saturday.
“The stats and accolades are easy to read – and they are incredible,” said Ross Bjork, Ohio State University’s athletic director. “Anyone who ever had anything to do with Archie didn’t think, ‘Wow, he was a great football player,’ but rather, ‘what a great person.’ Archie is the definition of a Buckeye.”
A plaque next to the statue features a quote from Griffin’s coach at Ohio State University, Woody Hayes, about Griffin: “He is a better person than a football player and the best football player I have ever seen.”
In addition to passionate Ohio State Buckeyes alumni and fans, Griffin was also present with his three sons, who unveiled the statue, as well as all seven siblings and his wife, Bonita Griffin.
Bonita Griffin spoke about her husband’s character on a personal level. But she found that his athletic presence and his personal character are not that different.
“At the end of the day, you know Archie. He’s committed, he’s dedicated, he’s honest and he’ll never let you down. So I have nothing to add to the story,” she said.
Griffin expressed his gratitude. He thanked a long list of people in his family, his parents and his former coach Woody Hayes. Griffin also acknowledged his Ohio State teammates, some of whom were in the audience.
“I was just in the right place at the right time and with the right people to accomplish what I accomplished,” Griffin said.
Originally published:
