FYI: A Purdue University student thought he won a two-year car lease, but a technicality led to confusion and eventual resolution.
### Purdue Student’s Win Turned into Controversy Over Car Lease
A thrilling moment at Purdue University’s season opener in West Lafayette turned sour for student Zachary Spangler when a two-year car lease win was snatched away due to a technicality. The event took place during the Boilermakers’ game at Ross-Ade Stadium, drawing a crowd of around 60,000 fans.
#### The Contest and the Technical Foul
Spangler participated in a halftime contest sponsored by the Roman Automotive Group, kicking field goals of 20, 30, and 40 yards. The contest appeared to end on a high note when Spangler successfully kicked the 40-yard field goal, thinking he had secured a two-year car lease. However, a review of the event video showed that the ball left Spangler’s foot 0.07 seconds after the 30-second time limit had expired.
The news came to Spangler via an email from Trey Roman, the company’s director of operations. Roman explained that due to the expired time limit, Spangler was only eligible for a $250 consolation prize.
#### Public Outcry and Resolution
The public and fans expressed their displeasure over the decision, leading to a social media uproar. Roman Automotive Group faced heavy backlash, prompting them to reconsider their stance. As a result, Spangler was offered either the original car lease or a $5,000 cash alternative. The company also pledged to create more transparent and straightforward competition guidelines for future events to ensure such issues do not reoccur.
Roman Auto went a step further and announced a $5,000 donation to support Purdue students’ travel for away football games.
#### Zachary Spangler’s Reaction
Despite the initial disappointment, Spangler maintained a positive outlook. In an interview with the Purdue Exponent, the university’s independent student-run newspaper, he expressed some frustration but largely took the outcome in stride. Spangler pointed out that while he would have appreciated the car, he was more annoyed by the technicality that nullified his hard-earned victory.
The detailed video review showed the timer running out as Spangler prepared for his final kick, leading to debates on the fairness and clarity of the contest rules.
#### Car Dealers Offer Support
Other car dealerships quickly reached out to Spangler with offers of free car leases, hoping to turn the negative situation into a positive one. For instance, Curry Automotive in Bloomington offered Spangler a two-year lease on a Chevrolet Blazer EV, a deal valued at approximately $15,000.
### Conclusion
While the incident initially stirred quite a bit of controversy and public anger, it ultimately led to a fair resolution for Zachary Spangler and improved contest guidelines for future events. The outpouring of support from rival car dealerships also highlighted the community’s goodwill, ensuring that Spangler’s impressive athletic achievement didn’t go unrecognized.
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—Donald Smith, Editor of Automotive.fyi
