"The Victors" is a celebration of the rich tradition that is Michigan football.  This piece is the embodiment of two of the greatest coaches in football:  Fielding Yost and Bo Schembechler.  Fielding Yost was the father of all coaching legends at the University of Michigan.  From 1901 to 1905, the Wolverines won 56 straight games and outscored their opponents 2,821 to 42.  By the end of his coaching career, he had won 6 national titles.  Bo Schembechler holds the distinction of winning more games than any other U of M coach.  Bo's teams won 13 Big Ten titles and played in 10 Rose Bowls.
This piece also allows the Wolverine fan to observe a few of the greatest players from the gridiron past running beneath the "Go Blue" banner one last time... players such as President Gerald R. Ford #48, Bennie Oosterbaan #47, Al Wisert #11, Ron Kramer #87, Dan Dierdorf #72, Stefan Humphries #76, Anthony Carter #1, Jamie Morris #23, Jim Harbaugh #4, Jon Jansen #77, and the three Heisman Trophy winners... Tom Harmon #98, Desmond Howard #21, and Charles Woodson #2.
There are the three Wolverines tackling an Ohio State Buckeye, who encompass more than just a tremendous play for the Maize and Blue.  The players also divulge the history of the "winningest" program in collegiate football.  As of the year 2004, the Michigan Wolverines have won 11 National Championships, defeated their rival Ohio State 57 times, and won the Western and Big 10 Championship 47 times.

In forging the concept for the painting, the artist wanted to paint "The Victors" as it appeared on the 1898 program, when it was introduced by Louis Elbel.  He also wanted to create the sense that you are part of the crowd in Michigan Stadium on an autumn Saturday afternoon.