A Purdue student originally thought that he had won a kicking competition during halftime of the Boilermakers' season opener before a review revealed he finished the challenge after the clock expired. As a result, Zachary Spangler had his prize of a free two-year car lease taken away last week.
Now, Rohrman Automotive Group is attempting to turn the situation into a positive one. In a press release, Rohrman Automotive Group has offered Spangler the option of taking a two-year car lease or $5,000 cash.
In addition, Rohrman Automotive plans to donate $5,000 to Ross-Ade Brigade, the student section at Purdue's home football games.
"Our goal with this challenge is to have fun, and our intention with these new guidelines should ensure just that," Trey Rohrman, who serves as the director of operations for Rohrman Automotive Group, said in a release. "We acknowledge that the process to determine whether or not Zach qualified for the grand prize took too long and his incredible kick should be rewarded. We are committed to an improved and more transparent contest for future games, and we appreciate the public's scrutiny of the process to help us evolve and make this challenge even better and more fun than ever before."
The "Cash for Kicks" competition is going to feature new rules going forward for future participants. Now, the contest won't have a 30-second timer so that the competitors aren't rushed to complete their kicks.
According to the press release, each kick attempt will have its own prize. When a kicker kicks from the 10-yard line, a successful field goal will earn them a $100 Visa gift card. When they kick from the 20-yard line, the participant can earn a $150 Visa gift Card. If they connect from the 30-yard line, the kicker will win a free two-year car lease on a brand-new Honda Civic or $5,000 cash.
Rohrman Automotive reached out to Spangler to offer him the two-year lease or the $5,000 cash prize. According to the Journal & Courier, Spangler is taking the cash offer. Spangler will receive his prize during halftime of Saturday's home game against Notre Dame.
Prior to Rohrman Automotive offering to resolve the matter, other local car dealerships made offers to Spangler. Curry Automotive Center, which is located in Bloomington, Indiana, offered Spangler a free two-year lease on a Chevrolet Blazer EV.
During Purdue's season opener against Indiana State, Spangler connected on 20-, 30-, and 40-yard field goals. However, days after the competition, Spangler was informed by Rohrman Automotive that he wouldn't be receiving a two-year car lease since the timer had struck zero before the final kick was made.
According to Purdue's student newspaper The Exponent, Spangler stated he received an email from the car dealership saying that video of the challenge was reviewed, and his 40-yard field goal was not kicked in time by five one-hundredths of a second. As a result, Spangler wasn't going to earn the two-year lease, according to Bob Rohrman Honda director of operations Trey Rohrman.
How quickly things can change in the college football world.