College football fans know their team’s colors, chants, and rivalries by heart. But have you ever noticed the artwork at your local Firehouse Subs? The mural on the wall was almost certainly created by Joe Puskas, the man behind nearly every Firehouse Subs mural across the country. And often, these murals feature some serious college football flavor.
Puskas’s journey to becoming Firehouse Subs’ signature artist is an interesting one. With no formal art training, he started by painting signs and eventually caught the eye of the Sorensen brothers, Firehouse Subs’ founders. They commissioned a mural, and the rest is history.
What makes Puskas’ work so special is the local touch. Each mural is customized to reflect the community where the restaurant is located. And for college towns, that often means incorporating the local College Football team. Think mascots, rivalries and…grilling opponents over a barbecue?
One particularly notable example is the mural at the Auburn Firehouse Subs. Dubbed “Tiger Meat,” this piece depicts the Auburn Tigers barbecuing 5 of their rival SEC mascots. It’s a cartoonishly over-the-top depiction of Auburn fighting for one of the most intense conferences in the sport.
Puskas’ process is meticulous. He researches the local area, including its history and, for college towns, the local college football scene. He then creates a pencil sketch, ensuring the fire truck depicted is from the local fire station. Finally, he and his team bring the mural to life, incorporating local landmarks and, in these cases, college football mascots, as you see in these pictures.
So, next time you’re grabbing a sub at Firehouse, take a look around. You might just see your team immortalized on the wall, thanks to the artistry of Joe Puskas. He’s not just painting murals; he’s capturing the spirit of college town.
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