Now the kid has his scholarship too. https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1172196828546248704 Somebody at that school REALLY understands public relations.
I kinda feel like they went too far with the scholarship. I mean, the kid is 10. Who wasn't made fun of, or called a name at 10? I was good with the 35lb box of Tennessee schwag. I was good with the outpouring of support from the fans and alumni. It was cool when they decided to make the shirt and his mom asked if they'd donate all the proceeds to charity to stop bullying. I was alright when they offered his family an all expense paid trip to Knoxville for a game... But now a 4 year scholarship? I mean, are they going to offer him the head football coaching job next? Can he play QB?
I am not judging whether it's deserved or not. Just saying it's great for the kid (and his parents) and good publicity for the school. But yeah, I thought it was already a great story and that they had done more than enough with the initial response.
UT probably got far more value in the publicity than the cost of the scholarship. It will suck when the kid decides to go to another SEC school.
I'm becoming a cynical old bastard. Free swag because of his crappy homemade t shirt and people making fun of it? Awesome! A free 4 year education because he got shit over a crappy homemade t shirt? Welcome to the pussified new america. Probably a nice enough kid but . . .
We're talking UT and not UPenn here. I'm sure there's a dumbass or two floating around UPenn because Grandpa built them an International Airport or Donated 2/3rds of Westchester PA to the school but chances are there's a few more Lunkheads at UT and it didn't cost them more then tuition.