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Greg Hurst didn鈥檛 hesitate. Not even for a second. Why bother? The answer was a no-brainer.

Despite his new side gig, the New Mexico United forward prefers his day job.

Yes, it comes with training and matches and even some media responsibilities. Sure, some days 鈥� like any line of work 鈥� are better than others. 

All of it, however, is admittedly easier for the 29-year-old Scotsman than the side gig he picked up 鈥� well, more strolled into 鈥� on May 5. One that came with memorizing lines and a starring role in front of a camera as part of the club鈥檚 1-minute release video that took the form of a student-teacher skit for its third kit. 

The turquoise look with a throwback black collar will make its debut Saturday against Charleston Battery.

鈥淥h, playing a football match, that鈥檚 my comfort zone,鈥� Hurst said with a laugh.

Fortunately for the fans, Juan Aguerrevere, United鈥檚 director of marketing and creative services, and Fabrice Nambona, the club鈥檚 videographer, had other ideas.

The video project was their vision.

鈥淭he idea was to have a futuristic 鈥楤reakfast Club鈥� type vibe to it,鈥� Aguerrevere said, referring to the 1985 John Hughes film, 鈥渟hooting video in places where soccer shouldn鈥檛 be played like a library or something like that.鈥�

That was Plan B. 

The pair originally thought of shooting at Buffalo Exchange with players looking for vintage jerseys before stumbling across the new kit. But it didn鈥檛 feel right to United鈥檚 creative team, so they went looking for a better option. 

Aguerrevere and Nambona found it in a lecture-hall style classroom at Eldorado High School. They went to work from there. Augerrevere wrote the script, while Nambona 鈥渕akes the magic happen鈥� with his direction.

The video was shot May 6, the Tuesday before United hosted El Paso Locomotive FC. It was released on May 14, a day before the jerseys went on sale at the club鈥檚 store. Initial reviews before and after the release came in strong. Hurst said the jersey is probably his favorite of his career.

鈥淚 loved it,鈥� forward Jake LaCava said. 鈥淚 thought it was one of the best jersey release videos in the league.鈥�

But like any good show or movie, Aguerrevere and Nambona needed the right cast to make the vision come to life. The casting director 鈥� Aguerrevere 鈥� was rather successful.

Defender Ousman Jabang played the nonchalant cool kid wearing headphones and sunglasses. Forward Grady Gilchrist and midfielder Valentin No毛l were the class troublemakers, throwing crumbled papers or making veiled threats. 

Their target? Developmental academy defender Kyle Hofmann, who ended up with the high-profile role of teacher鈥檚 pet. (Hofmann had the other speaking responsibilities outside Hurst.)

鈥淚 wasn鈥檛 nervous, but maybe not super stoked about my role as the nerd,鈥� Hofmann said. 鈥淏ut it turned out great. It was funny because both Grady and Val, who were the bullies in that skit, are both actually super nerds in real life. It was a flip of roles.鈥�

Hurst, meanwhile, was the professor leading the class through his lesson of collared soccer jerseys from the late 1800s through the Eric Cantona era at Manchester United (1992-97) 鈥� a shoutout Hurst appreciated having grown up a Man U supporter. 

The forward was supposed to have a smaller role playing a student air drumming with pencils. That quickly changed when Aguerrevere and Nambona鈥檚 first choice for the professor part had a scheduling conflict. So, in strolled Hurst, complete with props (a briefcase and glasses that could be used to point) and the right attire (a sweater with the collar of his dress shirt popping out as an easter egg for the new jersey).

Hurst looked and played the part well because 鈥渉is accent helped a lot,鈥� Nambona said. 鈥淭he whole foreign professor thing.鈥�

鈥淭he most challenging part for me definitely was just remembering the lines and trying to deliver them the right way and clearly,鈥� Hurst said. 鈥淭hat was the unique bit. 鈥� You don鈥檛 want to mess them up. You don鈥檛 want to do too many takes. You know everybody鈥檚 there and they got a job to do, and want to get it done as quickly as possible, so you do feel the pressure. You want to make sure you get it right.鈥�

Hurst figures it took the cast and crew 鈥渇our or five takes鈥� to get everything right. 

Not too bad.

鈥淣o notes,鈥� forward Dayonn Harris said. 鈥�(Hurst is) a natural.鈥�

Maybe too much of a natural in the professor role?

鈥淭he hardest part was not laughing and looking up at Greg, and having to be like, 鈥楤ut sir, what does this have to do with New Mexico?鈥欌�� Hofmann said. 鈥淲ith the line, I had to make sure I didn鈥檛 rush through it. I did the first couple takes, so it was good to get a couple of tries to get the tone of voice right. It was a cool experience.鈥�

No arguments from Hurst there. Although, it took him a few days after the video release to go watch the final product, convinced by some feedback. He isn鈥檛 a fan of watching himself on film unless it鈥檚 for the sport.

Fair. Hurst did say he prefers his usual job. But perhaps some future acting roles?

鈥淚 think that鈥檚 up to whoever鈥檚 watching,鈥� Hurst said with a laugh. 鈥溾�� If they need a Scottish accent around 鈥︹��

David Glovach covers New Mexico United and other sports for the Journal. Reach him at dglovach@abqjournal.com or via X .