Russell Saunders, an All-American fullback at the University of Southern California, capped off a stellar career by being named MVP of the 1930 Rose Bowl in a 47-14 victory over the University of Pittsburgh. That same year an iconic life-sized bronze statue named “Tommy Trojan” was unveiled and placed at the center of the USC campus. Roger Noble Burnham sculpted this iconic statue using several USC players as inspiration, including Saunders.

     Offered is the award Saunders was presented in 1937 to honor the USC All-Time Team of which he was named a member. Making this award all the more special is the incorporation of “Tommy Trojan” in the design of this award that was in large part designed using Russ Saunders as a model. This award has a 5 ½ x 8 ¾ inch wood base plaque with a 4 ½ x 7 ½ inch steel tarnished gold plate that has “UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA” arched across the top with “ALL TIME FOOTBALL TEAM” and “HOMECOMING 1937” all surrounding “Tommy Trojan” painted red on a pedestal. “RUSSELL SAUNDERS” is below the Trojan and the award reads: “HAS BEEN SELECTED BY THE SPORT WRITERS, RADIO BROADCASTERS, AND COACHES THROUGHOUT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AS A MEMBER OF THE ALL TIME TROJAN FOOTBALL TEAM AND IN RECOGNITION IS PRESENTED IN TESTIMONY THEROF THIS AWARD.” Also offered as part of this lot is an 8 x 10 photograph of Russ Saunders and 8 x 10 photograph of Roger Noble Burnham, the designer of Tommy Trojan.

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