We’ve all seen championship trophies. Many of them are metal sculptural trophies on bases, or cup-shaped trophies. But Waterford, the leader in beautiful crystal craftsmanship, creates many crystal awards for different sports organizations. (They’re the best – that’s why we use them for some of our products, too!). Unfortunately, crystal isn’t exactly the sturdiest material; it’s a type of glass. So occasionally, these elegant pieces collide with the ecstatic celebration of a team who has just won a tournament, and what was once a beautiful trophy ends up on the ground in thousands of pieces.
Mishaps with Glass and Crystal Championship Trophies
Some fun highlights of sports teams that accidentally destroyed the thing they spent the season working so hard for are:
- The 2006 BCS Championship Waterford Crystal Football Trophy
In 2008, a new recruit was just touring the Florida Gator’s facility. He accidentally knocked the football off its base and into a million pieces. - The 2020 Duke’s Mayo Bowl Lenox Crystal Football
Just a few months ago, a player from the winning team, the Wisconsin Badgers, fumbled the crystal football, which fell off its base and all over the locker room floor. - The 2020 Russian Cup Glass Trophy It’s not just Americans who can’t seem to care for glass and crystal trophies. A soccer player in last year’s Russian Cup broke his team’s glass trophy on live TV. Whoops.
- The 2006 BCS Championship Waterford Crystal Football Trophy
The Superbowl XXXV Waterford Crystal Trophy
When the Ravens won Superbowl XXXV, they were gifted a beautiful, mouth-blown crystal Waterford football trophy to commemorate the event. Eight master craftsmen spent over 150 hours creating it, and it features a frosted hexagon with the Ravens name and an image of their helmet. Waterford took the reins with this one, and donated it to the Hall of Fame. It has stayed intact so far; fingers crossed it stays that way. But given how many times Waterford and others have been burnt by players that are too excited and a little clumsy? No offense, but it might be time for pro sports to think about acrylic trophies.
