The University of Alabama's crystal prize for winning last season's college football championship had a pretty short shelf life – and somewhere, a player's parent is blushing crimson.
The roughly $30,000 Waterford crystal football that tops the trophy from the American Football Coaches Association fell and shattered on Saturday when the father of an Alabama player caught his foot on a rug where the trophy stood at Alabama's Mal Moore Athletic Facility, according to CNN affiliate WIAT and ESPN's Alex Scarborough.
The accident is said to have happened after the Crimson Tide's annual intrasquad spring game, which 78,526 fans watched Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.
Scarborough's Twitter account has a picture of what he says is a tiny piece of the broken crystal prize, made in Ireland.
Alabama was awarded the trophy after beating LSU 21-0 in the Bowl Championship Series title game on January 9.
Mel Pulliam, marketing director for the AFCA, which issues the trophy to BCS-winning teams, told CNN on Tuesday that Alabama would be responsible for paying for a replacement, and that he didn't know whether the university had insured the prize.
Alabama's sports information department didn't immediately return a call seeking comment. But Pulliam said the AFCA would work with a supplier "as fast as we can so that (Alabama) can display" a replacement.
"It's rare that these things happen. The trophies make hundreds of appearances and celebrations - it’s got a pretty good track record," Pulliam said.
Rare, perhaps, but Alabama isn't the first Southeastern Conference school to see its BCS trophy fall to pieces.
When high school recruit Orson Charles visited Florida in 2008, the tight end knocked over Florida's 2006 championship trophy, the Anniston Star reported. Charles ended up playing for SEC rival Georgia.
For Alabama, the celebration of January's BCS win goes on without the trophy. Members of the team collected their championship rings on Monday, and they will visit the White House for a traditional champions' visit with the president on Thursday.
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$30,000 for a trophy? Why?
you cant do much really but laugh. You know that person is probably gonna move to a different state because of this.
Why is it made in Ireland?
It's Waterford. Some of the best crystal in the world. It's been made there since the 18th century.
bama will make a bundle out of this. they will sell pieces of the crystal. problem solved
GREAT IDEA! Make jewelry out of the shards. Roll on!! Perhaps Allstate, the BCS prime sponsor and insurance giant will want to get in on the action? I lover your thinking!! – Sonoma Jim...
Why make a football trophy out of glass, especially one that travels around the country?
a fitting metaphor for the state of college football
Not to worry. There will be lots more in the future. Roll Tide!
Hell, don't be too tough on the poor guy who broke the trophy. It's hard to trip in Tuscaloosa without knocking over a National Championship Trophy!
to bad the whole state of 'ol ala bama ain't worth $30K