TEMPE, Ariz. – On Wednesday, Sun Devil Athletics unveiled the new Pat Tillman Statue within Sun Devil Stadium to honor the ASU and College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
The bronze statue, which stands at approximately 6-foot, 400-pounds will forever stand in front of the new Tillman Tunnel that leads players from the new Student-Athlete Facility onto Frank Kush Field.
The statue, which was donated by Sun Devil alumni Arthur Pearce and crafted by fellow ASU alum and local artist Jeff Davenport, depicts Pat walking onto the field with his helmet on and glove in his right left hand. As an added element, Pat's pants show a tint of gold with his jersey donning a shade of maroon over the bronzing, while his helmet shows the iconic Sparky logo.
Vice President for Athletics Ray Anderson:
"Sun Devil Athletics is extraordinarily proud as we pay tribute to one of the greatest and most well-respected Sun Devils in history. The magnitude of Pat's legacy extends far beyond this university, this community and the state of Arizona. Through the generosity of Arthur Pearce, the Pearce family, Jeff Davenport, and the Tillman family, Pat Tillman and his legacy will not only lead our football team onto the field, but will continue to inspire our student-athletes, fans and all who encounter his statue at Sun Devil Stadium."
Board Chair & Co-Founder of Pat Tillman Foundation Marie Tillman:
"We're grateful to Arizona State University and the Sun Devil community for honoring Pat's legacy. Pat made his mark as a student, athlete and soldier. We hope his statue stands as a reminder of the principles he lived by and his dedication to empower those around him on and off the field."
Statue Donor and Sun Devil alum Arthur Pearce:
"My family comes from a long history of ASU attendees and graduates going back to my grandfather who graduated in 1899. My grandfather played football for the Tempe Normal School in 1899, so I've always wanted to recognize him for doing so. When I was approached and asked if I was interested in funding the statue for Pat, I immediately said yes. Pat symbolizes courage and persevered to be the best he could be. He was convicted to his principles that we would all like to say we also strive for. What I personally hope, and know will happen, is this will become a permanent part of Arizona State University."
Artist Jeff Davenport:
"The journey of creating the Pat Tillman sculpture has been incredibly rewarding, and ever so emotional for me. I am still finding it hard to believe that this honor has been given to me. I will be forever grateful to Arthur Pearce for having the confidence and trust in my ability to see this project to fruition. The fact that I am an ASU graduate also makes the project that much more important to me. I have felt a kindred spirit with all the people whom I have been in contact with that are fellow graduates. What an amazing project this has been for me. For those who know me, I'm sure they would not be surprised to hear that I have shed several tears along the way, both happy and sad. This sculpture is truly the highlight of my artistic career and indeed the highest honor I have achieved."
Head football coach Todd Graham:
"It is something that is very important. Obviously, who he was as a person, giving his life for his country, but who he was as a Sun Devil. That is pretty special. Obviously, I have a tremendous respect for the football player that he was. I mean he was a warrior … It means a lot because of the person that he was. We talk a lot about brotherhood and how important his family was to him. What type of son he was, what type of brother he was, what type of teammate he was. That is one of the things we changed about the Tillman Tunnel. We put his teammates in there because that very important to him. I am excited because of what he did on the field, off the field, in the classroom, in the community, and for our country. He is the only person that is on every wall, but also too he is such a great representative with his life and who he was and what he was about, about what it is to be a Sun Devil to us. To take the field through Tillman Tunnel and now to have his statue there now. We start the tradition this year of every player touching the that statue before they take the field. I can tell you what my message is going to be is don't talk about it. If you are going to go out there and touch that statue, you get out on that field and you bring it like he did. If we do that, great things are going to happen. I think it is important to all Sun Devils, who Pat was to Sun Devil Nation and who he was to our country. It is pretty amazing. It is a special deal and moving from that end down here, I thought it was real important because we had an opportunity to really do something special about that. I think it is going to be one of the most special things about our place as far as an entrance and how we do things. Also, a way to honor and remember someone that gave so much. It means a lot to me personally. I know that."
The bronze statue, which stands at approximately 6-foot, 400-pounds will forever stand in front of the new Tillman Tunnel that leads players from the new Student-Athlete Facility onto Frank Kush Field.
The statue, which was donated by Sun Devil alumni Arthur Pearce and crafted by fellow ASU alum and local artist Jeff Davenport, depicts Pat walking onto the field with his helmet on and glove in his right left hand. As an added element, Pat's pants show a tint of gold with his jersey donning a shade of maroon over the bronzing, while his helmet shows the iconic Sparky logo.
Vice President for Athletics Ray Anderson:
"Sun Devil Athletics is extraordinarily proud as we pay tribute to one of the greatest and most well-respected Sun Devils in history. The magnitude of Pat's legacy extends far beyond this university, this community and the state of Arizona. Through the generosity of Arthur Pearce, the Pearce family, Jeff Davenport, and the Tillman family, Pat Tillman and his legacy will not only lead our football team onto the field, but will continue to inspire our student-athletes, fans and all who encounter his statue at Sun Devil Stadium."
Board Chair & Co-Founder of Pat Tillman Foundation Marie Tillman:
"We're grateful to Arizona State University and the Sun Devil community for honoring Pat's legacy. Pat made his mark as a student, athlete and soldier. We hope his statue stands as a reminder of the principles he lived by and his dedication to empower those around him on and off the field."
Statue Donor and Sun Devil alum Arthur Pearce:
"My family comes from a long history of ASU attendees and graduates going back to my grandfather who graduated in 1899. My grandfather played football for the Tempe Normal School in 1899, so I've always wanted to recognize him for doing so. When I was approached and asked if I was interested in funding the statue for Pat, I immediately said yes. Pat symbolizes courage and persevered to be the best he could be. He was convicted to his principles that we would all like to say we also strive for. What I personally hope, and know will happen, is this will become a permanent part of Arizona State University."
Artist Jeff Davenport:
"The journey of creating the Pat Tillman sculpture has been incredibly rewarding, and ever so emotional for me. I am still finding it hard to believe that this honor has been given to me. I will be forever grateful to Arthur Pearce for having the confidence and trust in my ability to see this project to fruition. The fact that I am an ASU graduate also makes the project that much more important to me. I have felt a kindred spirit with all the people whom I have been in contact with that are fellow graduates. What an amazing project this has been for me. For those who know me, I'm sure they would not be surprised to hear that I have shed several tears along the way, both happy and sad. This sculpture is truly the highlight of my artistic career and indeed the highest honor I have achieved."
Head football coach Todd Graham:
"It is something that is very important. Obviously, who he was as a person, giving his life for his country, but who he was as a Sun Devil. That is pretty special. Obviously, I have a tremendous respect for the football player that he was. I mean he was a warrior … It means a lot because of the person that he was. We talk a lot about brotherhood and how important his family was to him. What type of son he was, what type of brother he was, what type of teammate he was. That is one of the things we changed about the Tillman Tunnel. We put his teammates in there because that very important to him. I am excited because of what he did on the field, off the field, in the classroom, in the community, and for our country. He is the only person that is on every wall, but also too he is such a great representative with his life and who he was and what he was about, about what it is to be a Sun Devil to us. To take the field through Tillman Tunnel and now to have his statue there now. We start the tradition this year of every player touching the that statue before they take the field. I can tell you what my message is going to be is don't talk about it. If you are going to go out there and touch that statue, you get out on that field and you bring it like he did. If we do that, great things are going to happen. I think it is important to all Sun Devils, who Pat was to Sun Devil Nation and who he was to our country. It is pretty amazing. It is a special deal and moving from that end down here, I thought it was real important because we had an opportunity to really do something special about that. I think it is going to be one of the most special things about our place as far as an entrance and how we do things. Also, a way to honor and remember someone that gave so much. It means a lot to me personally. I know that."