BCS Crystal Football

a replica of the crystal ball is located in the LSU sports museum on campus. The real one, as someone mentioned, is more than likely locked up in some bad-azz glass case with lazer detectors! :thumb:

 

The school sold it to repay the shoe stores for the shoes the football team got a few years ago. :hihi:

 

They had a real one (not the EXACT one LSU won) on display at the Oregon State game on the parade grounds. ESPN Gameday was offering to get your picture taken with it (and I did). They had some guys standing around it to make sure it stayed safe. Apparently that mofo is worth a pretty penny and is heavy to boot.

 

The one in the Lawton Room is a replica. Otherwise, people could just walk in and take it, I've been in there and there is no security around it.

 

there's also a replica in the Andonie Musuem next to the Lod Cook Alumni Center:thumb:

 

Since 1987, the winner of the UPI or USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll has received a national championship trophy and a donation to the school's athletic department. The current presenter, Sears, awards a $20,000 academic scholarship to the winning school along with the Sears Coaches' Trophy.

The trophy - valued at $30,000 - features a football made of Waterford crystal and an ebony base. After displaying the original trophy on the campus of the winning school for a period of time after its presentation, it is replaced with a replica that becomes the property of the institution.

The Coaches' Trophy was first presented to the winner of the UPI Coaches' Poll in 1986, when it was sponsored by the Gerrits/Pepsi Cola Foundation. The intent of the award was to recognize and convert achievement on the playing field into direct benefits for students not involved in intercollegiate athletics. Originally, the scholarship was given to a specific incoming freshman at the winning school who was not involved in athletics. Currently, the administration of the school that receives the scholarship decides how it will be used.

As part of the AFCA's involvement with the Bowl Championship Series, the winner of the national championship game each year is presented with the Sears Trophy in an on-field ceremony following the game.

Sears also awards trophies to the national champions in NCAA Divisions I-AA, II, III and the NAIA, along with plaques to all AFCA-member head coaches whose teams win conference championships or, if they are not affiliated with a conference, finish in the Top 10 in the final poll in their respective NCAA or NAIA division.

The national championship trophies and conference plaques are awarded to the winning coaches at the Sears-AFCA Awards Luncheon, held during the AFCA Convention each January.

The AFCA-member coaches accepting 1999 national championship trophies were Bobby Bowden of Florida State University (NCAA Division I-A), Paul Johnson of Georgia Southern University (NCAA Division I-AA), Mel Tjeerdsma of Northwest Missouri State University (NCAA Division II), Frosty Westering of Pacific Lutheran University (NCAA Division III), and Tim Albin of Northwestern Oklahoma State University (NAIA).

Sears' involvement with the AFCA is part of a larger collegiate awards program that recognizes national champions in each of the men's and women's sports on the NCAA Division I level and more than 920 conference champions on all NCAA and NAIA levels.

Sears also awards the Director's Cup, which is presented to the universities in five divisions which had the highest "all-sport" ranking at the end of the athletic year in all men's and women's sports.

Visit the current USA Today/ESPN Coaches' Poll.
( the link has 2005 poll, but it reads "2004" on it)

I have a small Waterford crystal replica in my office at home. Came from Lee Michaels. Only 5,000 made.

 

I think this is the most "telling" argument for why LSU was THE national champion last year. Oh well, nice memories, but gotta stop living in the past and look to the future.

 

Yes, MacArthur is another. Just thought the "crystal" football thread was talking about the Sears.

I know we'll always remember the NC from last year, and hope that more will follow. Odds are low in getting another NC. Just so many things have to fall into place. Just hope we don't drag it around with us like a dead body chained to our leg.