UVa coach a work of CWS art

OMAHA, Neb. — It might be a stretch to say the folks in Virginia will build statues to coach Brian O’Connor for bringing the Cavaliers to the CWS for the first time. But a reasonable likeness of him is already on the “Road to Omaha” statue outside the entrance to Rosenblatt Stadium.

Omaha sculptor John Lajba used a photograph of O’Connor as inspiration for part of the statue, which portrays a group of players celebrating victory. Lajba is a friend of O’Connor’s father.

Poppe said the statue will move to the downtown stadium that will be the new CWS home starting in 2011.

The NCAA commissioned Lajba in 1997 to design the statue that commemorates the 50th anniversary of the CWS in Omaha in 1999.

Lajba said O’Connor is not represented individually in the statue.