Nissan and 1991 Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard have announced the Innovate The Heisman Pose contest, challenging college football fans to take the iconic symbol of gridiron greatness to the next level. Launched on the brand’s U.S. Facebook page, fans are asked to submit photos of themselves doing the Heisman pose in the funniest or most creative situation for a chance to attend college football’s biggest game.

 

One grand prize winner, as determined by Desmond Howard and a panel of Nissan executives, will receive an all-expenses paid trip for two to the Allstate BCS Championship game. Three runners up will receive a trip for two to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl (2nd Place), Allstate Sugar Bowl (3rd Place), or Discover Orange Bowl (4th Place).

 

“When I crossed the goal line that day in 1991 and struck the Heisman pose, I had no idea fans would still be emulating it 20 years later,” said Desmond Howard. “To this day, people ask me to strike the pose for photos. After all these years, I’m happy Nissan is giving me the opportunity to turn the tables and see what innovative ideas fans will create.”

 

Interested applicants can enter their photo on the Innovate The Heisman Pose page found at http://qr.net/innov8. The contest opens November 21, 2011 and submissions will be accepted through 9:00am EST on Wednesday, December 14.

 

“Nissan is proud to be an official sponsor of both the Heisman Trophy and the Bowl Championship Series, so we wanted to bring those two partnerships together in a fun and engaging way for our Facebook community," said Erich Marx, Director Social Media & Interactive Marketing. “We’re excited to join forces with Desmond Howard, who isn’t only a college football legend, but also created one of the sport’s most iconic images when he struck his famous Heisman pose.”

 

The 2011-2012 college football season marks the fifth year of Nissan’s sponsorship of the Heisman Trophy and partnership with Sports Illustrated to co-host the Sports Illustrated Heisman Tour Presented by Nissan, a 10-stop national tour and interactive fan experience at the season’s marquee matchups. Additionally, this season Nissan brought 11 former Heisman Trophy winners together under one roof in the Heisman House, creating a series of 45-second spots airing each week before ESPN’s Saturday Night Football on ABC.