When on location at Notre Dame stadium to create composition for the painting The Coach: Knute Rockne in the Locker Room at Notre Dame, Arnold Friberg acted not only played artist, but also detective.

Inside the locker room Friberg studied the benches, the overhead light protected by a wire cage, the blackboard in the corner, and other special features of the room. Notes were taken of the colors to ensure that he knew all the details. Then Friberg studied the brick, noticing areas were paint had chipped off, revealing other colors underneath. The original floorboard was red, but it had been painted over with green. By spotting the chipped paint, Friberg was able to determine the original color and to achieve historical accuracy in his work.