Jose Rivas, 22, was one of the actors assembled to film a remake of the legendary Coca-Cola commercial that starred Steeler defensive great Joe Greene in 1980.

The modern-day version of the commercial, featuring Mr. Polamalu -- also a Steeler defensive star -- and Mr. Rivas in the role of a photographer, will be unveiled today during the Super Bowl.

In the original commercial, Mr. Greene portrayed a sweaty, tired, and battered player limping through the exit tunnel of a Football stadium. A sympathetic boy offers Mr. Greene a bottle of Coke and after a little coaxing, Mean Joe accepts the beverage and drinks the entire bottle.

In a magnanimous gesture of appreciation and with a broad smile creasing his face, Mr. Greene tosses his No. 75 black-and-gold jersey to the boy and says, "Hey, kid, catch!"

The ad won a Clio award as an outstanding commercial and is considered by many to be the best Super Bowl commercial ever filmed.

Fast-forward 29 years and Mr. Polamalu, a four-time Pro Bowl strong safety, will reprise the role.

Topping that commercial, or at least equaling its impact, would be a tall challenge, but Mr. Polamalu, a film crew and a group of about nine actors, including Mr. Rivas, were willing to give it try.

"We started early in the day, and we weren't finished until 11 or 12 at night," Mr. Rivas said. Although they put in some long hours, he added they still found time for some fun.

"Troy's a great guy. He's very down to earth and will take the time to talk to you," he said. "He gave us a tour of the Steeler locker room."

Mr. Polamalu also autographed some Nicaraguan currency for Mr. Rivas, who is of Nicaraguan heritage.

"He asked me if I was Samoan, and I told him, 'No, Hispanic,' " Mr. Rivas said. "He asked me some questions about Nicaragua and he autographed a Cordoba for me, which is like Nicaragua's version of a dollar bill. It was all I had for him to sign."

He keeps the bill tucked in his wallet.

Mr. Rivas portrays a news photographer dressed in a long-sleeved blue sweater and tan vest. He is shooting pictures of Mr. Polamalu walking through the tunnel after a tough game when a policeman pushes him aside. A young boy then offers Mr. Polamalu a Coke -- just like the 1980 commercial. But, for this version, it's Coke Zero.

We don't know what happens next because the rest of the commercial is under wraps and is to remain a closely guarded secret until it is broadcast this evening.

Mr. Rivas said when Mr. Polamalu made his interception in the championship game, he was happy that the Steelers were going back to the Super Bowl. But, he said, he knew the Steelers playing in the big game would be great for the commercial, too.

During the day, Mr. Rivas works as a Spanish language translator, and after work he usually drops by to help at the family restaurant, Rivas, a Nicaraguan restaurant on West Main Street in Carnegie. Dishes are prepared by his mother, Angela, and sister, Izayana.

This is not his first acting job. Mr. Rivas had a speaking role as a student in the movie "Smart People," filmed mostly in Oakland and starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Dennis Quaid.

He also appeared on stage last year in the play "Take Me Out" during the Three Rivers Arts Festival and has worked as an extra on the movies "Sorority Row" and "Zack and Miri Make a Porno," both filmed in Pittsburgh.

He also played a role in the Spike TV mini-series "Kill Point" filmed in Pittsburgh.

"I was a photographer in that one, too. If acting doesn't work out, maybe I can find a job as photographer," he joked.

Mr. Rivas tried his hand at acting in New York City, where he appeared in several workshop productions, but after a while in the Big Apple, he wanted to return to Pittsburgh.

"I like the city," he said of Pittsburgh. "It's big and small at the same time. Once you go through the Fort Pitt tunnels, there's a lot of little towns, but you still have all the advantages of a big city."

Eventually, he said, he may have to move to Los Angles or New York to take advantage of more opportunities in the film and television business, but for now he's happy in Pittsburgh.

"I'm just chasing my dream," he said.

Michael Henninger