The Heisman Trophy, overseas for the first time, pictured with the Keough-Naughton College Football Trophy.
The Heisman Trophy Makes First Oversees Trip At Aer Lingus College Football Classic
The Heisman Trophy will be on display through the Aug. 24 kickoff of the 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic Game between Georgia Tech and Florida State University.
For the first time in its 90-year history, the Heisman Trophy has left the country, arriving in Dublin, Ireland, for the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in celebration of the 2025 “Week Zero” season opener. While the Heisman Trophy will be on display throughout game week, Georgia Tech and Florida State University will be competing for the Keough-Naughton College Football Trophy and the Coach’s Award, which will be presented at the end of the game to the respective winners.
The Heisman Trophy will be exhibited through the Aug. 24 kickoff, including appearances at the Georgia Tech Pep Rally, Georgia Tech Welcome Experience for fans attending via On Location travel packages, on the set of ESPN’s College GameDay Built by The Home Depot, inside Aviva Stadium, and around Dublin. With over 47,000 tickets sold, the 2024 Aer Lingus Classic game is officially a sellout for the second consecutive year. Over 25,000 Americans will travel to Dublin to attend the game and experience local culture.
“The Aer Lingus College Football Classic spotlights the best of college football in one of the most culturally rich countries in the world,” said John Anthony, Co-Founder of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic. “As we continually aim to elevate the experience for fans, players, and participating schools, we are pleased to have on display an iconic trophy annually awarded to the top college football player, a symbol of both individual and team greatness on and off the field.”
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic was announced in 2015 as part of a series that was intended to bring college football back to Ireland and promote the country as a travel destination. This is the third consecutive season that college football kicks off in Dublin. ESPN’s College GameDay will be on hand for the Aer Lingus Classic, broadcasting live from Dublin ahead of the game.
“The love and passion for college football extends beyond the United States, and we’re pleased to bring the Heisman Trophy overseas to further promote the game and the Heisman Trophy’s legacy of athletic excellence,” added Rob Whalen, Heisman Trophy Trust Executive Director.
The Heisman Trophy is named after John Heisman, whose standout coaching career included 15 years at Georgia Tech, where his team was a scoring powerhouse and tallied 33 consecutive wins. During his coaching career, Heisman changed the face of the game. Amongst his many contributions to college football, he legalized the forward pass. Following retirement, Heisman organized and set in motion the structure and voting system to determine the best collegiate football player in the country.
The House of Waterford Crystal manufactures the Keough-Naughton College Football Trophy and the Coach’s Award. The Keough-Naughton trophy bears the names of two powerhouses of Irish America – Don Keough, former head of Coca-Cola and the first inductee into the Irish America Hall of Fame in 2010, and Martin Naughton, whose support fostered Irish studies programs in the United States. The trophy is an American Football mounted on three individual sculpted pillars of crystal, resting on a beautiful base and plinth. The Coach’s Award is a masterful replicate of an American football helmet. The design, sparkle and quality reflect the unique design and craftsmanship of Waterford Crystal.
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About the Heisman Trophy Trust
The Heisman Trophy Trust’s mission is to grow the legacy and preserve the integrity of the Heisman Memorial Trophy, which is annually awarded to the outstanding college football player in the United States, whose performance epitomizes great ability combined with diligence, perseverance, and hard work. Beyond awarding the trophy, the Trust has a charitable mission to support and fund both youth development programs in underserved communities and the Heisman high school scholarship program which recognizes community-minded scholar athletes. Additionally, the Trust annually presents the Heisman Humanitarian Award to outstanding individuals in the sports world who further the Heisman vision. Our goal is to harness the power of the Heisman Trophy’s legacy of athletic excellence to positively impact our nation’s youth and provide more equitable opportunities for underserved communities.
About the Aer Lingus College Football Classic
The Aer Lingus College Football Classic aims to bring American college football to Ireland each year to promote Ireland as a travel destination. The historic 2023 game between Notre Dame and Navy attracted over 49,000 attendees, with 39,702 from the US, 1,063 visitors from other parts of the world, and over 8,000 from Ireland. The event marked one of the highest revenue-generating sporting events ever held in Ireland and witnessed the largest-ever single movement of U.S. citizens outside of the U.S. for an individual sporting event. Over 25,000 U.S. fans will travel to Ireland to watch Georgia Tech and Florida State compete on Saturday, August 24, 2024. The 2025 will feature K-State vs Iowa State and the 2027 already confirmed between Pittsburgh and Wisconsin.
The “Much More Than A Game” initiative in association with the game further showcases the strength of Irish American bilateral relations. The games offer huge publicity potential, practical economic benefits, and a genuine expression of the close ties between Ireland and the U.S.