Mike Esposito and Nicole Urteaga, the individuals who inspired the iconic logo for the East West Shrine Bowl over 50 years ago, reunited at the game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. The logo features a football player comforting a 2-year-old Shriner’s Hospital patient, Urteaga, who was scared during a media event. The photo, taken in the San Francisco Bay area, became synonymous with the game and was seen on billboards, buses, and milk cartons.
Now, as the game celebrates its 100th anniversary, Esposito and Urteaga reconnect to recreate their iconic pose before the game. They expressed gratitude for being a part of the anniversary celebration and emphasized the importance of supporting charitable causes, including the Shriners Hospitals for Children, through the game. Esposito reflected on the divine intervention that brought them together in 1974, stating, “It was all God’s doing. He put us there.”
Both Esposito and Urteaga have kept in touch over the years, but their reunion at the game marked only the second time they have met in person. They will take the field together to recreate the heartwarming moment that captured the spirit of compassion and care for children in need. Esposito expressed that if their reunion and the iconic logo can help children in any way, that is all that matters.
The East West Shrine Bowl game not only showcases talented college football players but also serves as a platform to support charitable causes through the Shriners Hospitals for Children. Esposito and Urteaga’s reunion highlights the lasting impact of a simple act of kindness captured in a photograph that continues to inspire and resonate with fans of the game.
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