In college, Jon Reep was not sure he wanted to be a comedian. But when he was kicked out of a football game for goofy behavior, everything changed for tonight's Gator Growl comedian.
Reep, 36, is known for uttering what has become a cultural idiom - "That thing got a Hemi?" - having played a grizzled redneck in commercials featuring Dodge Ram's high-performance Hemi engine.
"I'm always going to be the Hemi guy to some people, which I'm cool with," he said.
About 16 years ago, Reep was just the guy who stole the show at an NFL game.
While enrolled at North Carolina State University, Reep attended a Carolina Panthers game in Clemson, S.C.
Encouraged by his friends and a bit inebriated, Reep said, he stood on his seat to get his groove on during breaks in the game. His behavior eventually attracted so much attention that he was invited onto the football field by the team's mascot, Sir Purr.
The police didn't see the invite, however, and hurried over to grab Reep, who was doing the worm on the 5 yard line, and pulled him up by the seat of his pants.
"They just thought I was some big drunk idiot," he said. "I was, but I was invited."
The supportive crowd rose to Reep's defense, along with the team's mascot.
"He was cussing like a sailor under his fluffy head," Reep said.
Although Reep was removed from the stadium, he later received free Wildcats paraphernalia and an apology letter from Sir Purr.
After a brief stint as a production assistant at a local television station following college graduation, Reep booked three months worth of gigs, left his job and hit the road.
"And I haven't had a job since then," he said, then paused. "Like a real job."
Since his Hemi stint, the North Carolina native has branched out in recent years from commercials and stand-up comedy.
Recently, he was named the 2007 winner of NBC's "Last Comic Standing," played Gerald Bob on the ABC sitcom "Rodney" and played a role in "Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay."
Despite his growing stardom, Reep's small-town roots still show through.
Originally from Hickory, N.C., a town noted for its furniture, Reep said living in Los Angeles is a "necessary evil."
"You've got to be there to have those auditions," he said. "It's really crowded, but the weather's always great."
Just because he's known for Southern-based humor doesn't mean his act is country a la Blue Collar Comedy.
"I'm blue-collar, but I'm educated," he said. "I'm blue scholar."
Although he's taken strides in his acting career, Reep said stand-up comedy is his favorite way to perform because of the personal connection forged with the audience.
Performing at Gator Growl, which typically attracts a crowd of about 50,000, will be a new challenge, he said.
"I mean, that's crazy," he said. "Not many comedians have done that."
Reep said he chose to come to Gator Growl because of the legendary line of comic performers in the event's history.
The $25,000 paycheck helped, too, he said.
Reep said his Swamp routine would likely touch on small-town Southern activities, Gatorade and the Suwannee River.
Although more of a pro-football fan, Reep recognized the Gators' success at nabbing championship titles.
Unfortunately, he said, he can't stay for the game.
"I would have liked to," Reep said. "You have the world's largest pep rally, and you have the world's largest cocktail party."
