DEL.ICIO.USCOLLEGE FOOTBALL: GEORGIA TECH
Actor Aaron joins Jackets’ practice to train for film
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Eric Ciano, Georgia Tech’s intense strength-and-conditioning coach, has guided lots of large young men through grueling workouts.
But no one like Quinton Aaron.
Johnny Crawford/jcrawford@ajc.com
At 6-foot-7, and about 440 pounds, actor Quinton Aaron is larger than any player on the Yellow Jackets. ‘I’ve never seen somebody this big,’ said Eric Ciano, Tech’s strength-and-conditioning coach.
“I’ve never worked with somebody this big,” Ciano said. “I’ve never seen somebody this big.”
Aaron is not a football player — he aims to look like one. The 24-year-old actor is preparing for the lead in “The Blind Side,” the movie adaptation of Michael Lewis’ best-seller about Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher. Filming starts April 20 at various locations in metro Atlanta.
Executive producer Tim Bourne was familiar with Tech, having shot scenes from “Drumline,” “One Missed Call,” and “ATL” on campus.
So Bourne asked if Aaron could join the Yellow Jackets during spring practice.
When Aaron arrived about three weeks ago, the 6-foot-7 Bronx native weighed 472 pounds.
He has dropped 34 pounds already, leaving him about 100 pounds heavier than Tech’s biggest player, 6-foot-7 defensive tackle T.J. Barnes. Aaron’s goal is 399.
He trains two hours a day, twice a day, seven days a week. He eats six healthy meals a day prepared by a nutritionist.
At Tech’s first spring practice, Aaron participated briefly, shuttling side to side in a warmup drill. He wore size-20 cleats stretched to fit his size-22 feet.
“He’s got some big mountains to climb, but he’s really doing what it takes,” Ciano said. “Obviously he’s not prepared to go through a full practice or the same lifts as the players, but he’s in here with those guys.”
Aaron has appeared in several films, including “Be Kind Rewind,” and often has been cast as a bouncer or bodyguard on TV. He played some high school football, according to Bourne, and his experience at Tech will give him “a general feel” for a major program.
Aaron won’t do interviews until filming begins, Bourne said.
“The Blind Side” traces Oher’s journey from homeless Memphis teen to big-time college prospect, using the ensuing recruiting battle to illustrate the importance of the left tackle position. Sandra Bullock will play the matriarch of the white family who took in Oher.
A likely first-round pick in next month’s NFL draft, the 6-5 Oher said in an interview that he weighed about 350 when he enrolled at Ole Miss. He was down to 306 for his pro day last week.
The book came out in 2006, and Oher finally got around to reading it a couple weeks ago.
“It was a book that was made to sell, but it was a good book,” he said. “Not everybody has a book written about them.”
John Lee Hancock (“The Rookie”) wrote the adaptation and will direct the movie for Alcon Entertainment.
Oher said he heard a movie was in the works, but he has no involvement.
“I’m just worrying about the draft and football — that’s my life; that’s my career,” he said. “I’m not worried about that other stuff.”
Tech is not getting paid for the arrangement with Aaron. But the school will get valuable exposure in “Behind the Scenes” footage released with the movie, associate athletics director Wayne Hogan said.
Aaron’s regimen includes a lot of cardio, circuit training and lifting. Former Tech long snapper Bret White, who has done some footwork drills with Aaron, is impressed by his agility and dedication.
“You don’t see a big man moving like that too often,” White said. “There’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears in there. And he’s getting accustomed to it all because Ciano is definitely not taking it easy on him.”
For the Oher role, Aaron needs to keep losing weight and become more athletic. Bourne said Aaron will keep working out at Tech even after filming starts.
Ciano said the making of the film is only one objective for the conditioning work.
“He needs to do this for his own life,” Ciano said. “He can’t afford to be that big.”
