Football: UL graduate creates 2nd consecutive NO Bowl MVP helmet – Thomas ‘Tuna’ Seither’s helmet

Daily Advertiser, Dec. 20, 2013

This head-on view shows the front of the MVP helmet created by Thomas ‘Tuna’ Seither. / Submitted photo

Thomas ‘Tuna’ Seither’s helmet creation was presented to Terrance Broadway in 2012

Thomas “Tuna” Seither has completed the trophy for the New Orleans Bowl … again. Returning as the trophy artist for the 2013 game between UL-Lafayette and Tulane, Seither, an accomplished sports artist, created this work of art for the most valuable player of the game.

Instead of a traditional trophy, the 2013 R?L Carriers New Orleans Bowl MVP will receive the coveted custom helmet. The trophy is etched with scenes of New Orleans and features both bowl teams with accompanying local themes and images. The trophy is unique to the event and its players.

"The key to this year’s concept was being able to incorporate both teams’ logos, their helmet decals, into the design of this helmet," Seither, a 1989 UL graduate, said. He played rugby while at UL.

"Being a Ragin’ Cajun alum and already having a relationship with the Tulane football program, I was lucky to have both teams’ cooperation."

Seither said that the teams’ cooperation was crucial to his idea. He took great care with the opportunity because the pairing of these two teams in the New Orleans Bowl is really something special to him personally — his father, a sportswriter, went to Tulane.

"The collaboration between me and the two teams’ equipment staffs is evident in my design, and I’ve never seen anything like it," he said. "This unique situation allowed me to push the envelope for what could be done artistically with an actual helmet."

The first MVP trophy Seither created last year was presented to UL Lafayette Terrance Broadway, the 2012 MVP, and was heralded as "wonderful" by CBSsports.com. It’s a tradition he hopes to continue repeating. He wants his custom trophies to be one of the reasons teams want to get to the New Orleans Bowl.

Seither has earned commissions with NFL teams and players, with the Sun Belt Conference and with a number of New Orleans-based sporting organizations and events.

With his home town as the venue, he is especially honored to have been asked to design the trophy once again.

The trophy will be awarded following the match-up between UL-Lafayette and Tulane at the 2013 R?L Carriers New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 21.