Zanesville’s Cottrill working on statue for Woody Hayes’ hometown

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Renown Zanesville artist Allan Cottrill is currently working on creating a life-sized statue of one of his personal heroes and one of Ohio’s favorite sons.

About two years ago Cottrill was contacted by Eleven Warriors, a website that extensively covers Ohio State athletics. They asked him if he’d consider making a statue of famed Ohio State football coach Woody Hayes to be displayed in Hayes’ hometown of Newcomerstown.

Cottrill said he jumped at the opportunity.

“Woody Hayes was my hero. I started playing football in 1960 and played through 1970 and that whole time Woody Hayes was the man. He was almost a god to a young man playing football. Thousands of us were just waiting for a phone call from Woody Hayes to come play football at Ohio State,” said Cottrill.

Hayes was born in Clifton, Ohio in 1913, but grew up and went to school in Newcomerstown, a small village about 50 miles to the northeast of Zanesville. Cottrill created a statue of Hayes in 2013 that was placed in front of the athletic facility that bares Hayes’ name at Ohio State.

The statue he is working on now shows Hayes standing with his left hand on his hip and his right hand pointing towards an invisible player or referee. He is even wearing the iconic Woody uniform, complete with the block ‘O’ ball cap.

Cottrill said he’s happy that Hayes will finally be properly recognized in his hometown.

“I have had a number of his old players come in [Cottrill’s studio] and say what a wonderful coach he was and that they would of walked through fire for him,” said Cottrill.

The life-sized statue is schedule to be unveiled Aug. 18 at the Newcomerstown Historical Society.

The project is being funded through a “Gofundme” account. To donate you can visit the link https://www.gofundme.com/woodyhayesstatue