Nissan: The boys are back in town at Nissan’s popular "Heisman House"

  • 2015 Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry joins the crew; Doug Flutie reunites with his “Dancing With the Stars” partner, Karina Smirnoff; and Tim Tebow and Danny Wuerffel’s music video launches a new musical genre: Gatorcore.
  • Nissan celebrates an 11-year partnership with the Heisman Trophy Trust and six seasons of Heisman House.
  • The first Heisman House Tour stop is on Sunday, Sept. 4 for the Notre Dame vs. Texas game at DKR Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.

 

 

Nashville, Tenn – Nissan and ESPN introduce the latest Heisman House cast with an epic, one-take style 90-second video titled “Welcome to the House,” in which newbie Derrick Henry flies his drone through the House catching the other Heisman winners in unguarded moments.

New additions to the fictional fraternity this year include: Derrick Henry, Tim Tebow and Danny Wuerffel. They join returning House members: Marcus Mariota, Mark Ingram, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Tim Brown, Tony Dorsett, Eddie George, Charlie Ward, Doug Flutie, George Rogers and Herschel Walker.

The Nissan Heisman House campaign supports Nissan’s now 11-year sponsorship of the Heisman Memorial Trophy Award and the Heisman Trophy Trust, a charitable organization focused on outreach to the underprivileged and underserved.

“Each year we take our partnership with the Heisman Trust’s outstanding charity efforts to a new level, and we continue to enjoy the opportunity to entertain fans with our Heisman House campaign,” said Jeremy Tucker, vice president, Marketing Communications and Media, Nissan North America, Inc. “This year’s great cast of roommates will not disappoint and there are a number of surprises in store as we let them loose to showcase their talents, both as the top football players of their eras and as winning performers and media personalities today.”

Now in its sixth year, the Nissan Heisman House campaign stars 14 Heisman Trophy winners in a series of TV spots airing on ESPN beginning Sept. 1 and running throughout the season. It gives  fans a glimpse of what it might be like if the winners of football’s highest individual honor – the Heisman Trophy – lived together under one roof.

The 2016 campaign includes four 45-second spots and five 15-second spots. Eight Nissan vehicles will be featured most prominently throughout the campaign, including the Rogue, TITAN and Armada, which are part of Nissan’s “Year of the Truck” focus. Highlights include:

  • Tebow’s Dream (45 seconds, to debut on Sept. 1), in which Tim Tebow creates a new musical genre with fellow Gator Danny Wuerffel. The result is the most Gatorific music video ever made.
  • Starter House (45 seconds, to debut on Sept. 3), Mark Ingram schools his schoolmate, Derrick Henry, on where the new Heisman winners stay: a tiny Heisman House.
  • Go Deep (45 seconds), Doug Flutie re-lives one of the greatest college football plays of all time: The Hail Flutie.
  • Welcome (45-seconds), a shortened version of the introductory spot.
  • Rook (15-seconds), Charlie Ward takes Heisman House rookie Henry through a driveway filled with current and classic Nissan and Datsun vehicles. Amidst his amazement, Henry realizes that he has some cleaning to do, taking over for last year’s newcomer, Mariota.
  • And, in The Derrick Henry Effect (15-seconds), Marc Ingram demonstrates how people shrink next to Derrick Henry.

 



 

Central to the Heisman House campaign is the online platform, NissanHeismanHouse.com, where fans can cast their votes for the next Heisman Trophy winner, watch for upcoming game-day stops of the Heisman House Tour, and see behind-the-scenes footage filmed during the campaign production.

The Nissan Heisman House Tour features a simulated Heisman House that will travel to different college campuses throughout the U.S. leading up to the College Football Playoff National Championship in January. The Tour provides fans an opportunity to enjoy the Heisman House living room, take photos with the Trophy, and meet Heisman Trophy winners as well as ESPN on-air talent. The tour’s first stop is on Sunday, Sept. 4 for the Notre Dame versus Texas game at DKR Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas.

There is also a robust social campaign this year, including weekly thumb wars of high profile match-ups narrated by SportsCenter anchor, Neil Everett, and other content relevant to college football fans. In addition, there are print ads, radio ads and an interactive website that houses shareable online videos.

About Nissan North America
In North America, Nissan’s operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized annually by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year since 2010. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com, or visit the U.S. media sites NissanNews.com and InfinitiNews.com.

About Nissan Motor Co.
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan’s second-largest automotive company, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan, and is part of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 247,500 employees globally, Nissan sold 5.32 million vehicles and generated revenue of 11.38 trillion yen (USD 103.6 billion) in fiscal year 2014. Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of more than 60 models under the Nissan, Infiniti and Datsun brands. Nissan leads the world in zero-emission mobility, dominated by sales of the LEAF, the first mass-market, pure-electric vehicle. It is the best-selling EV in history with almost 50% share of the zero-emission vehicle segment. For more information on our products, services and commitment to sustainable mobility, visit our website at http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.

About ESPN
ESPN, the world’s leading sports entertainment company, features more than 50 assets – seven U.S. television networks, ESPN International, ESPN Radio, ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, and more.  ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc. (an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company) and 20 percent by The Hearst Corporation.

About the Heisman Trophy Trust
The Heisman Memorial Trophy annually recognizes the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity.  Winners epitomize great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. The Heisman Trophy Trust ensures the continuation and integrity of this award. The Trust, furthermore, has a charitable mission to support amateur athletes and to provide greater opportunities to the youth of our country. Our goal through these charitable endeavors is for The Heisman Trophy to symbolize the fostering of a sense of community responsibility and service to our youth, especially those disadvantaged or afflicted.

 

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Contact

Jeannie Whited
Nissan North America
615-725-6461
Jeannie.whited@nissan-usa.com
www.NissanNews.com

Ana Livia Coelho
ESPN
646-547-5778
AnaLivia.C.Coelho@ESPN.com

Tim Henning
The Heisman Memorial Trophy
212-425-7000
Tim@Heisman.com