Nesbitt jokes he may go into acting
Photo by Artem Nazarov, courtesy of Georgia Tech's Sports Information Department.
Vote for me, my friends.
With those words, Georgia Tech quarterback Joshua Nesbitt’s Heisman campaign has started.
Spoofing the “Most Interesting Man in the World” commercials for Dos Equis beer, Georgia Tech has taken a humorous approach to try and help Nesbitt become the first Yellow Jacket to win the Heisman Trophy, given annually to college football’s best player.
On a website devoted to him, nesbitt4heisman.com, Nesbitt will give a weekly take on a different aspect of football, from punting, to going for it on fourth down. At the end of each video Nesbitt says, “Vote for me, my friends,” instead of the “Stay thirsty, my friends,” made famous by the Equis pitchman.
“I was happy for the whole situation, but overall just happy putting the team out there,” Nesbitt said. “When you look at the site you think of Georgia Tech. It’s great for the program.”
Tech’s entire campaign costs less than $500, or the cost of the tuxedo that was rented for Nesbitt to wear and a photographer to shoot a few photos. Tech coach Paul Johnson said he liked what he saw of the spot.
“It’s catchy. It’s good,” Johnson said. “He’s certainly deserving. Hopefully, he’ll have his best year.”
As for what it will take to win, Johnson answered with his typically dry humor.
“Get more votes than the other guy,” he said. After the laughter died down, Johnson elaborated a bit, saying that a player can’t go out and try to win the Heisman. All he can do is go out and try to win the games.
Nesbitt did a lot of that last year, leading Tech to an 11-3 record and the ACC championship. He passed for 1,701 yards and rushed for 1,037 yards. With 2,079 yards in three seasons, Nesbitt has already rushed for more yards than any quarterback in Tech’s history and is just the second to rush and pass for more than 1,000 yards in a season. A Greene County High School product, Nesbitt needs 692 yards to become the most prolific rushing quarterback in ACC history.
The videos for the Heisman campaign were shot on Aug. 4 at Opera, a local nightclub that former Tech quarterback Taylor Bennett works for. They donated a three-hour window of time for the Tech to shoot the spots. A company that handles Tech’s online media guides put together the website for free.
In the videos, Nesbitt wears a tuxedo and football cleats, while teammates, Tech cheerleaders and dance team members, and Buzz mill about in the background, just like beautiful people do in the TV commercials. Former teammates sing Nesbitt’s praises. In one, guard Cord Howard says that Nesbitt once fumbled to see what it felt like, didn’t like it, and snatched the ball back. As Howard’s voice-over plays, there is video playing of Nesbitt famously snatching a fumble away from FSU linebacker Nigel Carr in last season’s 49-44 win in Tallahassee. The scripts were a collaborative effort from Tech’s sports information department and videographers.
The website features photo galleries of Nesbitt, video highlights, story links, downloadable items and a comments section.
Nesbitt said he ad-libbed a little bit during the shoot to personalize it. He said he also may go into acting. “I’m the next Denzel Washington,” he joked.
Nesbitt’s teammates said they have no problem with him getting more attention.
“If he just keeping doing what he does, I think he’ll be fine,” defensive end Jason Peters said. “He’s shown that he has the talent, that he has the presence, that he has the arm. I just hope everything works well for him.”
Florida State is the only other ACC school to start a Heisman campaign this season. They began promoting quarterback Christian Ponder at the ACC media meetings in Greensboro in July by handing out leather notebooks and cards. Last season, Clemson used a life-size poster of running back C.J. Spiller to tout his Heisman chances.
The last Tech player to have a Heisman campaign was Joe Hamilton in 1999. He finished second. The theme was “Hamilton for Heisman.” The campaign included mouse pads, a website, envelopes and mailing labels featuring Hamilton. Mike Finn, formerly Tech’s sports information director who now works in a similar capacity for the ACC, said the entire campaign cost “a couple thousand dollars.” He and former assistant SID Allison George, who now works at Georgia State, put the push together. Interestingly, it was the first time that a CD was used to promote a player.
“I thought it made a difference. It got his name out,” Finn said. “It got a nice bump for him in the preseason with the CD going out. People really took notice of him.”
Tech in the Heisman Trophy voting
2006: Calvin Johnson, WR 10th
1999: Joe Hamilton, QB 2nd
1978: Eddie Lee Ivery, TB 8th
1966: Lenny Snow, TB 14th
1963: Billy Lothridge, QB 2nd
1962: Billy Lothridge, QB 8th
1943: Eddie Prokop, HB 5th
1942: Clint Castleberry, HB 3rd
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203 comments Add your comment
Red-N-Black
August 31st, 2010
5:04 pm
Why? Don’t you need to be the best?
Red-N-Black
August 31st, 2010
5:05 pm
Mu-hahahahahaha Listen to ALL the HATER’S I love it…. It’s great to be a YELLOW JACKET! You mutts love sniffing around our blogs, and he-hum excuse me, Heisman websites.
Not hating – Truth telling, not even in the same zip code as you guessed it = A.J. Green
boots
August 31st, 2010
5:06 pm
Seriously? Come on…
Burdell
August 31st, 2010
5:07 pm
How lame is it to pretend to be a fan of a certain team just to be able to denigrate said team under the guise of concern for the program? LAME indeed…and pretty transparent as well.
GO JACKETS!!!
Tech2008
August 31st, 2010
5:09 pm
Kevin, Mark Ingram won the Heisman despite a 16 carry 30 yard game in his team’s biggest rivalry game. You can have a bad game and still win the Heisman.
padre1941
August 31st, 2010
5:19 pm
I hope he wins the Heisman. However, I think the award is for the most outstanding player which is not necessarily the best or most valuable.
kevin
August 31st, 2010
5:27 pm
Tech2008,
Nice point. But even so, Nesbitt is no Mark Ingram.
ray barone
August 31st, 2010
5:29 pm
When you are Tech you gotta push something to get people to your games, might as well be Nesbitt
paul01
August 31st, 2010
5:32 pm
padre1941 is correct. The Heisman is in fact awarded to the most outstanding. The best player award is the Walter Camp or the Maxwell Award.
sech tucks
August 31st, 2010
5:33 pm
Tech is still living in a dream world.
db
August 31st, 2010
5:36 pm
kevin <- and no bulldog is a Nesbitt either. Get your rookie qb and bring it on.
sech tucks
August 31st, 2010
5:39 pm
Hey DB or what ever your name is, we will bring it on like we do most every year. YOu just be ready for the freight train, cause its coming.
db
August 31st, 2010
5:40 pm
So your name is sech tucks? Well, tuck this! And yea, bring it on. Your field, our year. Mark it beeech!
sech tucks
August 31st, 2010
5:49 pm
Yea thats my name, Sech Tucks. You never heard that Sech Tucks?
Whats yours Dumb Blond?
Juiceman195
August 31st, 2010
5:51 pm
Now i know college football is out of control when they vote “nerds” to become heisman. He would get more respect from me if he was playing rb. After all that is what he is right?
GOOD DEAL
August 31st, 2010
5:54 pm
this is by far the best work by the GT sports information office..too bad after Dwyer won the ACC player of the year in 2008 would have liked to seen him given a campaign as well. Clemson was pushing Spiller in 08 even before and after losing to Dwyer for player of the year. Just feel like Dwyer deserved that honor to at least have had a campaign in his honor. Just saying
db
August 31st, 2010
5:58 pm
actually gomer it’s Luann Pooby. Now bring your little silver britches over here for a good ol’ smackn’.. You haven’t had anything good since the early 80’s.
db
August 31st, 2010
5:58 pm
And seriously, why aren’t you guys on the Ugay site where MB is building up your redshirt qb? Obsessed a little?
J E A L O U S
August 31st, 2010
5:58 pm
dog fans apparently do not remember Nesbitt taking a knee in 08 at Sanford Stadium, selective memory. Do not recall your heisman dude, Herschel Walker having great performances game in or game out, bowl in or bowl out..Walker sure @s he!! didn’t do anything in the NFL worth talking about. And Mark Ingram sure didn’t do a d@mn thing in the Sugar Bowl loss to Utah. Just saying
Gatorman
August 31st, 2010
6:09 pm
I don’t understand the crapped spilled both sides, never have, never will. No matter which school you’re a fan of, all tax paying Georgians pay for both schools. Hey this rivalry doesn’t even come close to the Hatfields and McCoys, and no they weren’t cartoon characters, but two rival families that vied for the control of a river valley in West Virginia and all of the business interest there. Many people were killed and injured over the years, so is that what you folks want, that kind of rivalry?? Are you too backward yourself to show some class, when talking about a young man’s future. If the situation was reversed and it was UGA, you would expect Tech to show some class as well. Don’t be a follower, be a leader and set the example for all to see.
Juiceman195
August 31st, 2010
6:10 pm
Tech fans you will NEVER EVER win a niational championship running an option offense. This is not the era of the option. Maybe if you went to a Pro Style offense Dennarius Thomas would have been used to catching balls and not dropping them i.e. 2009 Uga vs GT. Go Dawgs!!!!!!
Nesbitt4Heisman.com? A great idea that, alas, won’t pan out – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
August 31st, 2010
6:15 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Nesbitt
August 31st, 2010
6:57 pm
Nesbitt: “I can throw with accuracy…I just choose not to”
ATLcracker
August 31st, 2010
6:57 pm
Clint Castleberry was a true freshman that year. He had an unbelievable year against major competition before he got hurt. He died the next year piloting a bomber in WWII. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clint_Castleberry
Not Disappointed
August 31st, 2010
8:42 pm
Good luck Joshua!
killerj
August 31st, 2010
9:06 pm
Looking for # 5, go baby! Roll Wreck! THWG!
J-Smoove
August 31st, 2010
9:09 pm
I love the ads trying to sell GT football tix on ajc.com! Too bad the UGA vs. GT game is in Athens, because I’m sure GT could sell some of those to UGA fans who just want to see that one game in late November.
killerj
August 31st, 2010
9:17 pm
Manup that was so true and like a Uga football player not arrested the cops aint doing their job.
killerj
August 31st, 2010
9:23 pm
An juiceman in a one to nine five job at mcdonalds,4 to 1 baby! THWG!
Coach Paul's Johnson
August 31st, 2010
10:26 pm
Why can’t we win a bowl game? That’s the question i want answered.
GT Sambo
August 31st, 2010
10:42 pm
To all the UGA haters, you sound stupid when you belittle the Nesbitt for Heisman campaign. Josh is a warrior, and he proved that against you guys two years ago. He proved it last year against FSU. He proved it last year against VT. IF he improves his passing, and IF Tech wins all its early games like I expect them to, then you are going to hear the rumblings. IF Nesbitt starts appearing on some Heisman watch lists prior to our tough stretch in late October and early November, he will have an opportunity to put up a signature win, particularly the game against VT on Thursday night or the Miami game.
SUPPORT THE JACKETS
September 1st, 2010
12:43 am
any of you dog poops ever play a down of football? Just wondering..pee wee league doesn’t count..bet you quit if you did because you didn’t like being hit or tackled…yeah it takes discipline and weight training and guts..ever heard of that? Do you honestly think anyone at GT cares what any of you think? What are any of you going to do if you still lose despite having a Bamaless and LSUless schedule? Imminent disaster could be approaching your season..good luck with that
dagnabit
September 1st, 2010
7:13 am
Wash-on Ealy is going to have broken-heart burn at this year’s game with Tech.
goldrush
September 1st, 2010
7:15 am
Heisman? Please, he won’t even be a top 10 player in the ACC
Hal
September 1st, 2010
7:52 am
To Go Noles. “Stay delusional Tech fans.” OK. It seemed to work last year.
PAUL MANBOOBS
September 1st, 2010
7:54 am
He is already diong a great acting job for us… He ACTs like he can throw the ball.. Im a genuis and the greatest coach in the world because I stole my offense from statesboro high.
GT Sambo
September 1st, 2010
8:11 am
goldrush,
That’s even dumber than belittling the Heisman campaign. He was the runner up ACC player of the year last year behind CJ Spiller. That was while completing 46% of his passes. If he improves his passing this year, look out!
GT Sambo
September 1st, 2010
8:14 am
Yes and belittling our coach is really smart, too, since he only wins wherever he coaches with that “high school offense”. Now he has a Super Bowl winning DC on his staff. The future looks bright for Tech, and all the UGA fans are getting nervous because most of them aren’t thrilled with Bobo’s play calling and they have an unproven DC who was fired from his last DC job.
James T. Kirk
September 1st, 2010
8:34 am
Why wouldn’t he go into acting? He looks and sounds just like Denzel Washington. But first he needs to win the Highsman contest and bring yet another world championship to campus. Jason Nezbit for Highsman!!!!!!
BuzzKIll
September 1st, 2010
9:00 am
Nesbitt doesnt need to go to Hollywood to “act” like the “Terminator.”
Nesbitt……….IS……….”The Terminator.”
And, he’s coming to getcha..Georgie.
BuzzKill
September 1st, 2010
9:02 am
Nesbitt aka The Terminator to GeorgiE fans:
“I’ll be Back.”
dawgdawgdawg
September 1st, 2010
9:57 am
Sorry guys – Nesbitt is a great athlete, but he’s not winning the Heisman. The QB from Houston will have more pass attempts in 1 game than Nesbitt will have the entire season…an option QB is not going to win it
GT Sambo
September 1st, 2010
10:28 am
I don’t think he’s winning the Heisman either. But I also think he’s got a better shot than A.J. Green. Right now A.J. Green is listed on the ESPN Heisman watch. By the end of the season, he won’t be there but Joshua will. Who was the last pure receiver to win the Heisman… Still waiting….
JM
September 1st, 2010
11:20 am
these blogs are a pitiful waste of AJC resources.
the insults aren’t even funny… just the same old line.
scott
September 1st, 2010
11:21 am
Joke or not – great publicity for the school and program. I think Tech is a big enough program and definitely has the tradition to win a Heisman in the future (perhaps before UGA). I think with the right player for 3 or 4 years and national title runs that a RB or QB could bring the Heisman to GA Tech.
Hamilton not winning it in 99′ was the real joke. Seriously Ron Dayne at Wisconsin sheesh.
Headlinin’: Houston WR goes to court for his pound of cartilage | Lifs News
September 1st, 2010
11:22 am
[...] • Stay awkward and wooden in front of the camera, my friends. Is Georgia Tech quarterback Josh Nesbitt the most interesting man in college football? Compared to the former teammates Tech got to contribute to this Heisman promo, probably: [...]
Stoopnagle
September 1st, 2010
11:42 am
Jaybo Shaw thinks this is awesome!
dawgfan
September 1st, 2010
1:30 pm
I’m I the only one that caught the fact that a former Georgia Tech starting QB is now working at a nightclub?
Joe Hamilton: Arrested for DUI
Reggie Ball: Dropped out of school and never graduated.
Taylor Bennett: Works at a nightclub. Techies, how does calculus help you work at a nightclub?
Just a few examples of the “well rounded student athletes” coming out of the Flats.
This is the part where the Techies go crying to mommy because a UGA fan is being a big fat meanie. They can call our players thugs, criminals, and illterates but won’t be able to take their own medicine. Watch and see. Classic Techie hypocrisy.
GT Sambo
September 1st, 2010
2:01 pm
No dawgfan, I am not calling all of your players criminals, just the ten that got arrested over the past year or so. Newsflash! Joe Hamilton, not on the GT tean in 2010. Reggie Ball, not on the team. Taylor Bennett, not on the team! CMR has a responsibility to UGA as the leader of the football team to try to ensure that these behavior things don’t happen. Maybe its dumb luck that all those players got arrested, and maybe its a deeper issue… I don’t know.
What I do know is that both Tech and UGA should have solid records this year, with each having 8-9 wins when they meet. Now for GT with its recruiting classes that is acceptable. At UGA, that is clearly underachieving, because if Dawg fans have shown us anything, its that football is above all.
Tech Nerd
September 1st, 2010
2:48 pm
Nesbitt is a joke!!