 300 , particularly its pithy quotations , has been " adopted " by the student body of Michigan State University ( whose nickname is the Spartans ) , with chants of " Spartans , what is your profession ? " becoming common at sporting events starting after the film 's release , and Michigan State basketball head coach Tom Izzo dressed as Leonidas at one student event . Nate Ebner , a football player with the New England Patriots in the National Football League and formerly with the Ohio State Buckeyes , was nicknamed " Leonidas , " after the Greek warrior @-@ king hero of Sparta acted by Gerard Butler in the movie 300 , because of his intense workout regimen , and his beard . 
