DAPHNE, Ala. — The United States Sports Academy on Thursday unveiled the 2009 college football “Game of the Year” painting along with 41 paintings of the Alabama-Auburn football rivalry.

Daniel Moore was the artist of the “Game of the Year” painting, which is showcased annually since 2006. University of Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy was the subject of the painting as he converted a third-down play along the sideline against the Florida Gators in the 2009 Southeastern Conference Championship game.

“While most star quarterbacks are starting their junior year in high school, he was holding a clipboard while being backup to future Missouri Heisman Trophy candidate Chase Daniel,” Moore said at the event, held at the Daphne campus. “But while he did not have the physical skills that other quarterbacks had, he knew what it took to be a winner.”

McElroy led Alabama to a 32-13 victory in the game, and then led the Crimson Tide to a National Championship win over the University of Texas.

Moore was the American Sport Art Museum and Archives 2005 Sport Artist of the Year.

“There’s some top-notch work being done here,” Moore said. “It’s such an honor to be selected the 2005 Sports artist of the year.”

There was a silent auction for each painting, with the minimum bid being $100. The paintings depict each of the Alabama-Auburn games, the rivalry which is called “The Iron Bowl.” The paintings are of games played from 1948-1988. The “Game of the Year” painting was not auctioned off.

The academy’s game of the year is selected annually by an expert committee headed by Jack Lengyel, the former Marshall University head football coach who rebuilt the program after a plane crash. His story is told in the 2006 film “We Are Marshall.”

The committee also includes Hall of Fame coach Vince Dooley from the University of Georgia; Dr. Homer Rice, the former head coach at Rice University; and Ron Dickerson, the first black head football coach in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A history.

Moore’s book “Iron Bowl Gold,” which includes the paintings auctioned off, among others, was sold at the event. Communications Coordinator Leigha Bolton said the books nearly sold out.

“Everything that is raised goes to the American Sport Art Museum Archives, which is part of the museum,” she said. “We have what we believe to be the largest collection of sports art around.”

The academy did not have the exact amount raised from the event as of Tuesday morning, but its spokesperson indicated the benefit was successful.

“We were very pleased with the funds that we raised” Bolton said. “The amount on the art pieces and book sales exceeded our expectations.”

The United States Sports Academy unveils the "Game of the Year" painting.

(Staff video by Devin R. Golden; edited by Thomas Boni)

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