By Daniel L. Bamberg
Many people from West Blocton know the name, Jeremy Davis. A graduate from West Blocton High School, he left his mark in drawings and murals of the tiger mascot across the facility. Today, as many of you read this Davis has come from hometown boy, to home town hero, to hometown legend – a legend that seemingly will only keep growing.
In July of 2010 Jeremy was commissioned by the Univeristy of Alabama Atheletics department to conceive a statue for Nick Saban to be placed in the Walk of Champions next to statues of every Crimson Tide National Championship winning coach.
On Saturday, April 16 just before the University of Alabama A-Day Game (scrimmage game) a large bronze version of a clay based model sculpted by Jeremy was unveiled. Currently the West Blocton favorite will now be known by many former strangers as the guy who built the model in the most coveted enshrinement in our state of who is arguably the most respected and feared college football coach in the game today.
The University of Alabama Athletics Department contacted the Art Department for suggestions about the construction of the Nick Saban statue. Jeremy’s name was brought up and on a Thursday evening he was contacted about doing some sketches. The next day he presented a few ideas and the Athletics Department along with Terri Saban looked over Jeremy’s ideas.
“Mrs. Saban loved them so much that she decided to go with me,” explained Jeremy. “It was a surprise that she looked at them and it is an honor that she had such a hand in approving me for the job."
After being commissioned in July, Jeremy began doing sketches. After the proper sketch was approved he began sculpting. The project took about 3 months. One of the details which was Jeremy’s own idea, is in setting Coach Saban’s watch to one o’clock p.m. also known as thirteen hundred hours in military time was, representing Saban’s national championship, the school’s thirteenth.
The clay base constructed by Jeremy is just over 3’ tall but the 9’ version, which was unveiled on Saturday, is an enlarged and bronzed precisely replicated version made at a facility in Oklahoma City.
Jeremy stated that his love for drawing stems back to the age of three. His mother still has a picture he drew at the age of a squirrel and a stump.
“When I was a kid anywhere we went I brought my crayons, markers, pencils, and paper,” said Jeremy. “It got to a point where she would pick and choose what I could take with me and what would be too much to take.”
Following graduation from West Blocton High School, Jeremy went to Shelton State Community College by way of an art scholarship. This was quite a pull considering that at the time WBHS did not have an art department, but Jeremy’s extensive work around the high school helped secure his paid tuition to college. After his time a Shelton State, Jeremy decided to take a break from school and work.
In 2007 he signed up for a ceramics class at U of A. It was at this point that he began taking a great deal of interest in sculpting.
“I am honored for being chosen to do this statue and the entire time I was working on it the idea that I may be doing this for a living crossed my mind a lot,” suggested Jeremy. “This is exactly what I want to do. Getting lost working in a studio for hours, that’s a good feeling.”
Jeremy has been commissioned to do the Nick Saban bust, which will be displayed in the Mal Moore Athletics Facility. Jeremy explained that anyone coming up in Bibb County who has big dreams should stick with those.
“Where I am from we don’t even have a red-light,” he expressed with a chuckle. “But I am rubbing shoulders with Nick Saban, and designed something that is going to be enjoyed by Alabama fans from now on. That's a pretty cool feeling and if I can do what I want anyone can."
The clay-based model sculpted by Jeremy will be placed in the Paul W. Bryant Museum in Tuscaloosa.
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