CHARLESTON, Ill. (AP) – It didn’t take long for New England Patriot quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo’s alma mater to take advantage of the buzz around the quarterback’s first NFL appearance.
Eastern Illinois University on Tuesday said it will give replica Garoppolo No. 10 jerseys to fans who join the school’s Panther Club for $250 or increase their current donation levels by at least $150.
The rookie quarterback replaced the struggling Tom Brady Monday night in the Patriots’ 41-14 loss to Kansas City. Garoppolo threw for a late touchdown.
Garoppolo so far is known mostly as the handsome Brady’s handsome backup. But at EIU, Garoppolo won the Walter Payton Award last season as the top offensive player in the Football Championship Subdivision and led the Panthers to a 12-2 record and the playoffs.