Friday, September 19, 2008

The Ubiquitous and Anachronistic Nike Swoosh

With the Syracuse University football program in utter disarray, the school is trying to recall happier times by making a huge deal of "The Express," the movie commemorating the life of Ernie Davis.
In addition to the movie premiere at the Landmark Theater, the University unveiled an Ernie Davis state to be placed on campus.
Problem is, the statue depicts Ernie Davis wearing Nike gears, complete with swooshes. And the swoosh wasn't developed until 8 years after his death.
Many SU alums have cried foul and wondered if Nike (a major SU sponsor) paid to have the statue adorned with its logo.
SU says the artist was working off modern equipment and copied it too accurately. This seems believable because the facemask on the helmet contains more bars than was customary at the time.
SU says the statue will be fixed.

Ernie Davis's nikes
Ernie Davis's Nikes
the incorrect style facemask
Syracuse University's Ernie Davis statue

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