Amongst all the car ads, restaurant ads and other numerous clips shown on the jumbotron during the football games, the “Physics of Football” segment is one that has remained constant the last four years. Starring Mississippi State University’s own physics professor, Josh Winter, and members of the Bulldog football team, Winter and his chosen “assistant” for each video bring to life a physics experiment by using football plays.
The video segment was started four years ago when the former athletic director Greg Byrne approached Winter and asked if he would like to do one segment for one of the upcoming home games. Little did Winter know the segment would be a hit and would still be airing every home game four years later.
“At first it was just going to be one segment, but after that one, the reaction we got from people was very positive, so Greg Byrne asked if I wanted to make one for every game, and I agreed,” he said.
For every home game, Winter writes the script and comes up with the experiment to be conducted.
He even writes what he calls the “corny jokes.”
“Coming up with new experiments for the first couple years was easy because there was so much I wanted to show everyone, but recently it’s been a little more difficult to come up with new ideas,” Winter said. “As long as I can keep coming up with new experiments, I’ll be set.”
The idea of this segment is to show the crowd that physics is everywhere and in every aspect of life, not just the things seen on television and in textbooks.
“I love physics and incorporating it with what other people love, which is MSU football. I like that it reaches a wide audience, and not just people in physics class,” Winter said.
Freshman cheerleader Sydney Simpson said she is a fan of Winter’s segments.
“I didn’t ever think about physics being in football like that but I enjoy watching the videos. I want to take physics now to learn more about it,” Simpson said.
Because nearly all of Starkville sees these segments on game days, Winter said he is easily recognized around town at restaurants and on campus, almost as if he is a small town celebrity.
“It’s almost surreal seeing myself on the big screen like that, and it’s also weird that when I see people around town, they know me as ‘the physics guy on the jumbotron’,” Winter said. “It’s so strange because teacher and celebrity are two totally opposite things, and it’s like I’m both.”
Freshman biological science major Brooke Brumfield said that she saw Winter in Hilbun Hall one day and once it hit her as to who he was, she was almost a little star struck.
“I knew he was a teacher here, but actually seeing him in person and not on a screen was almost surreal. It was pretty neat, and after watching his clips, I’ve thought about taking physics,” Brumfield said.
Ben Bailey, senior international business major, edits footage and audio, creates graphics and animations and is the mind behind post-production.
“I don’t know how (the show) got arrainged, but it’s kind of a joint project among athletics, the television center and the College of Arts and Sciences,” Bailey said. “I’ve been editing since episode one.”
Bailey also said Winter is the mind behind the ideas and keeps the program fresh.
“This last year has been a little bit more difficult, but he keeps coming up with new things,” Bailey said. “Combining different topics, talking about how physics effects football, there’s always more to cover as far as the physics, but without getting too complex.”
Seeing that the community’s feedback to the “Physics of Football” has been positive thus far, the videos will continue their air time at Davis Wade Stadium.
John Galatas contributed information to this article.