CANTON, Ohio — While enshrinement weekend attracts thousands of visitors, including living Hall of Famers and NFL legends, the Pro Football Hall of Fame's signature exhibit all year long is its Hall of Fame Gallery.
“There’s a reverence there," Blair Buswell said. "People are whispering. A lot of excitement outside. But once they go through where the busts are, there’s a reverence there.”
After this weekend, there will be 378 bronzed bust busts in the Hall of Fame Gallery. Together, they tell the story of Pro Football. On their own, they tell the story of each Hall of Famer.
“It's great for them to go through and see their heroes and talk about them," Buswell said.
For about 40 years, Buswell has been sculpting bronze busts for the game’s greats.
He’s given John Madden his 70s sideburns and Michael Strahan his signature gap-toothed grin.
Buswell has done scores of busts, working out of his Utah studio.
“I don't want you to leave until you're comfortable with the direction I'm going,” he said.
So, like he’s done dozens and dozens of times before, Buswell sat down with a newly-named Hall of Famer.
Panthers great, Julius Peppers.
“Julius is just a big guy," he said. "And really easy to be with.”
Buswell chooses photos and lets the Hall of Famer pick the features they’d like to be reflected.
"Tell me what picture you like, what expression, what age, what hairstyle you want," he said.
In 17 NFL seasons, Peppers had a lot of looks to choose from. Both in his expression and style.
It all factors in to the bust Buswell scultps.
“Do you want to bite someone's head off? Do you want to be glad you're there or somewhere in between? Do you want to smile or you want an intense look?
Peppers had many options.
"He wanted to smile," Buswell said. "He just had some real strong features. And that’s what’s fun for me.”
Of course, there’s the hair. Pep going with the close-cropped look from his younger days.
"I wanted to do Julius with the dreads and tied back in a ponytail," Buswell said, "and he didn't want to go there.”
Contact Nick Carboni at ncarboni@wcnc.com and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.