Jan. 4, 2008

METAIRIE, La. - Former Colonel standouts of the gridiron teamed up with some current college and prep athletes to produce a commercial that will air as a lead in to the BCS National Championship game on Fox this Monday at 7 p.m.

Joining the former Nicholls players were current players for Southern University, two prep athletes from Holy Cross High School, and one former McNeese State player. All 22 players were split up into two teams with Ohio State on offense and LSU on defense. The two sides ran plays as the cameramen and producers from Fox filmed every movement. The shooting process started at 11 a.m. in the New Orleans Saints training facility in Metairie, La. and lasted until about 5 p.m. this afternoon.

Former Colonel quarterback Josh Son played the role of quarterback for Ohio State in the commercial, while current offensive line coach Joshua Eargle and defensive line coach Skylor Magee served as Buckeye offensive lineman. Former Nicholls offensive lineman Greg Reynolds and wide receiver Kip Rohner also played key roles for the Ohio State side as Reynolds played offensive guard and Rohner hauled in some passes from Son. Benjamin Gombossy, who exhausted his eligibility after this past season, played center for the Buckeyes in the staged shoot.

On the LSU defensive side, former player and coach Burnell Taylor played the role of Glenn Dorsey on the defensive line with former standouts Greg Casnave and Michael Young lining up along side of them. Playing linebacker in a Tiger uniform was former Nicholls standout Cory Vavala, while Rudy August, David Willis, and Jermaine Boggan played roles in the LSU defensive backfield.

Also participating in the commercial shoot were Southern players Kendall Aguillard, Evan Alexander, Warren Matthews, Michael Smith, and Bryant Lee, while former McNeese State Cowboy and current Lake Charles Swashbucklers player Anthony Camp got some reps in as well. B.J. Wilson and Fernandez Garner were the only two prep athletes in the mix, and currently play for Holy Cross in New Orleans, La.

Parts of the footage will be used in player features prior to kickoff for the title game, while the whole promo commercial will be played in its entirety sometime before the game. A complete list of the participants is below with what college/school they represented:

Kendall Aguillard - Southern (current player)

Evan Alexander - Southern (current player)

Rudy August - Nicholls (2000-03)

Jermaine Boggan - Nicholls (2004-07)

Anthony Camp - McNeese State

Greg Casnave - Nicholls (2005-06)

Joshua Eargle - Nicholls Offensive Line Coach

Fernandez Garner - Holy Cross H.S.

Benjamin Gombossy - Nicholls (2004-07)

Bryant Lee - Southern (current player)

Thomas Lorio - Nicholls (2002-05)

Skylor Magee - Nicholls Defensive Line Coach

Warren Matthews - Southern (current player)

Greg Reynolds - Nicholls (1993-96)

Kip Rohner - Nicholls (1993-96)

Michael Smith - Southern (current player)

Josh Son - Nicholls (2000-03)

Burnell Taylor - Nicholls (1999-2002)

Cory Vavala - Nicholls (2005-06)

David Willis - Nicholls (2001-04)

B.J. Wilson - Holy Cross H.S.

Michael Young - Nicholls (2002-05)

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