Texas A&M to roll out billboard in Times Square

Photo courtesy of Johnny “Football” Manziel for Heisman Facebook fan page.

Texas A&M is no stranger to erecting billboards in places other than their home state, however, this time it’s not in Gainesville, but in the bright lights of New York City in Times Square. Coming off a night where Johnny Manziel became the first freshman Heisman Trophy winner in college football history, A&M is looking to spend big on Manziel’s success.

Jason Cook, VP of marketing and communications for A&M expressed “With our move to the SEC, we are building a national brand for Texas A&M, and Johnny winning the Heisman certainly accelerates our efforts”. A&M has come a long way from that brag-a-docious billboard it put up in Gainesville at the beginning of the season. Along with the billboard that will be shown in Times Square, Texas A&M has bought full page ads that will run in Monday’s editions of the New York Times and USA Today.

The ad will read: “They call him Johnny Heisman. The 12th Man stands a little taller today as we congratulate Aggie quarteback Johnny Manziel, winner of the 2012 Heisman Trophy”.

During the Heisman hype surrounding Manziel, the nation learned in an interview that growing up his parents and coaches affectionately called him “Johnny Football”. Per NCAA rules, A&M can not use Manziel’s name, image, or Johnny Football nickname to make any money for the school. Although, Adidas has started producing shirts with the Texas A&M logo and school colors with the Heisman imagery to be sold. Manziel’s family is in the process of trademarking the term “Johnny Football” to preserve the rights to use the nickname on products once his collegiate eligibility has expired.

More Johnny Football >> Texas A&M campus reacts to Johnny Manziel’s Heisman win [Video]

What do you think Gamedayrs?