Back in 1999, Visa decided that they wanted to be more involved with the NFL. Shying away from the typical sports marketing methods of promoting athletes, Visa elected to promote the fans instead. They created the Visa Hall of Fans and went on a national search to find the craziest, most avid fans from each team in the NFL to put on permanent display inside the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. By 2005, the promotion had run its course and Visa ended its sponsorship with the NFL.
Fast forward to 2019 and Ford Motor Company has picked up where Visa left off. The Ford Hall of Fans, as it’s called now, inducted its first class during the NFL’s Hall of Fame weekend. Three amazing fans from different parts of the country were nominated by a Hall of Fame player from their team and then voted in by other NFL fans. They were evaluated based on their support of the team, the commitment, courage, respect, and excellence in their fandom and contributions to their community. Roger Avila, aka “Dol-Fan Maniac”, was nominated by Dan Marino. Don Wachter, aka “BearMan”, was nominated by Brian Urlacher. And Rick Holman was nominated by Terry Bradshaw. Each Hall of Famer arrived at their fan’s house sporting their gold HOF jacket courtesy of a Ford F-150 truck or Ford Explorer and personally delivered the exciting news. All three fans were honored with their own exhibit in the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame, complete with a plaque honoring their accomplishments with their likeness on it, memorabilia like Avila’s Miami Dolphin helmet and jersey, Wachter’s bear head and Holman’s grandmother’s yellow Terrible Towel, pictures donated by the three fans and the videos of their favorite players knocking on their doors. The three were also given Hall of Fame rings courtesy of Ford Motor Company.
Now it’s time for a new class, the 2020 Hall of Fans inductees, and our very own Keith Kunzig, aka “Big Nasty” has been nominated as Tampa Bay’s biggest and best fan by none other than Buccaneers Hall of Fame linebacker Derrick Brooks. For those of you who may be new to Buc Nation, or just living under a rock, “Big Nasty” has been the painted face of Bucs Nation for nearly three decades. You’ve all probably seen him around the stadium or on the Jumbotron during games or at a tailgate prior to the games. He’s the big, crazy looking guy with the face covered in war paint and wearing a hard hat with the big rhino horn on the front. A season ticket holder for 30 years, Kunzig was the third Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan to be voted into the Pro Football’s Ultimate Fan Association (PFUFA) in 2001 and is now one of six finalists chosen for a chance to be a 2020 Hall of Fans member and there’s no fan more deserving of that honor than him.
Kunzig’s bigger than life persona not only supports his team and gets other fans going in the stadium on game day, but he also uses his “Nasty-ness” to better the Tampa Bay community as well. He has his “Drugs Are Nasty” program, where he visits elementary schools in and around the Tampa Bay area talking about the dangers of drug abuse. He also has his “Nasty For a Day” experience where he auctions off a chance for one lucky Bucs fan to spend a game day with “Big Nasty” complete with face paint and game ticket. The funds raised from the auction go towards fighting drug abuse in the community. He loves to spread his optimism and positive outlook to little Bucs fans with life-threatening illnesses during his regular visits to Johns-Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. And he and his family host an annual “Big Nasty Christmas Party”, which provides food, clothes, and toys to families in need during the holiday season. He’s a larger than life character with a larger than average heart who loves helping others in his community. And now it’s the communities turn to return the favor.
Voting has already started for this year’s nominees on FordHallOfFans.com/football and continues until January 27th. “Big Nasty” needs everyone who’s reading this to go there and vote every day, multiple times a day, in order for him to have a chance at this once in a lifetime honor. Go vote. Tell your family to go vote. Tell your friends to go vote. Tell your co-workers to go vote. Tell your kids teachers to go vote. Tell everyone you know to go vote for one of Tampa Bay’s legends and a Buccaneers’ icon and let’s get one of our own in the HOF.
Keith “Big Nasty” Kunzig is one of the biggest reasons why I wanted to be a “superfan”. His fandom is like no other. His passion is unquestionable. His kindness knows no boundaries. His dedication to his team and his community is unwavering. His love of family, friends, and football is evident. And I’m proud to call him my friend. With your help, soon we’ll all be able to call him a Hall of Famer.
Until then, as always…GO BUCS!!!
And GO “BIG NASTY”!!!