There isn't a proverbial wall Steve Hutchinson wouldn't run through, if necessary, for his newest teammates at the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
But even one of the greatest guards in NFL history wasn't comfortable with the thought of having to battle coronavirus for 3,300 miles over 48 hours as he traveled from his home in Nashville to American Fork, Utah, and back for his bronze bust sitting with sculptor Ben Hammond.
"I rescheduled my trip at least twice because I would have rather gone out there and done it in person," the former Vikings standout said by phone Monday. "And if this coronavirus ordeal hadn't happened, I would have been out there [Monday and Tuesday]. No questions asked. I guess everyone is having to alter how they do everything nowadays."
Hutchinson canceled Monday's travel plans and did the first of three virtual sittings with Hammond. According to Hammond, all 12 living members of the Hall's 20-member Centennial class have or are expected to do virtual sittings.
"Typically, when guys come sit for us or we go to them, it takes six to 10 hours," said Hammond, one of three Hall of Fame sculptors — along with Texan Scott Myers and Blair Buswell, Hammond's acclaimed mentor and a 37-year veteran of creating Hall of Fame busts from his studio in Pleasant Grove, Utah.
"Eight to 10 hours is ideal. It makes for a long day, but it makes a big difference in trying to get that likeness just right. Doing it virtual isn't ideal, but it's definitely doable. And I don't expect anybody to travel with all that's going on."
Hutchinson originally had a direct flight to Salt Lake City. He was going to fly out early, rent a car, drive 90 minutes to Hammond's studio, do the sitting and catch a flight home the same day.
"Then I got an e-mail from Delta that my flights were canceled," Hutchinson said. "Then the only way to get there was through Atlanta. One of the busiest airports in the world. And taking the little train between terminals and all that. Throw in having to stay in a hotel and … to me, it's just too many unnecessary steps. I just didn't feel comfortable."