Georgia Football: Jake Fromm gives young fan an unforgettable birthday
By Ashley Espie
The inaugural edition of Dawg Beat features a heartwarming story about one young fan’s love for former Georgia football starting quarterback Jake Fromm.
The Bulldog Nation is the heartbeat of Georgia football. Players and coaches may change, but the fans remain the same. We come from a variety of backgrounds, but come together united by our love for the red and black – our Dawg Beat.
Brantley first fell in love with Jake Fromm while watching the Netflix show QB1. Enamored by Fromm due to their shared interests in football, baseball, hunting, and fishing, Brantley was ecstatic that Jake would also be attending his favorite school, The University of Georgia.
While most Georgia fans were worried when Jake Fromm first took the field against Appalachian State after an injury to starting quarterback Jacob Eason, Brantley went “ballistic” according to his mom Amanda Turner. After that game, Brantley’s adoration for Jake Fromm began to affect his actions at home. He started “mimicking him. The snap, the pointing up to Heaven after the throws, and the yelling ‘Let’s gooooo!’”
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Brantley admired Fromm so much that he only asked for two things for his fifth birthday – a Jake Fromm jersey and for Fromm to come to his UGA party. Having frequently watched clips of Fromm on his mom’s phone, Brantley was under the impression that his mom could simply call Jake and invite him. After asking numerous times for her to invite Jake, Amanda finally relented, “Fine! You invite him and I’ll send it to him.”
Brantley’s then 7-year-old sister Layknn, who is also a huge Georgia and Jake Fromm fan, quickly volunteered to help. After gathering every UGA item they owned, the two siblings began brainstorming what to say and created their script. Brantley’s mom filmed and posted the video on Instagram where Jake Fromm’s mom saw and commented on it.
The next day Amanda posted the video on Facebook to share with family and it began to go viral. A UGA student asked her to post it on Twitter and the video exploded. Dawg Nation rallied behind Brantley and Layknn, sharing and retweeting the video.
“We had people from his old high school, other players’ moms, people from his hometown and church, literally Dawg Nation showed up and showed up BIG for my kid,” said Amanda.
A couple of news stations called and within two days of the video being posted on Twitter, Jake Fromm had responded. He couldn’t come to the party, but he promised to FaceTime Brantley during it.
Someone please tell Brantley and his adorable sister that I’m sorry I won’t be able to make it but would love to FaceTime and be apart of the party! https://t.co/2u16ImzTX1
— JakefromStateFromm (@FrommJake) January 21, 2018
Once he heard the news, Brantley “ran around the house screaming and crying … he was so excited.” Jake messaged Amanda to get the details for the party and, when the day arrived, he called right on time from the woods. “Brantley was star struck,” said Amanda, and he still calls it “the greatest day ever.”
I don’t know if the Sugar Bowl was your last game for UGA or not..either way you’ve earned the incredibly bright future you are walking toward. To his first “superstar” role model who made a little boys 5th birthday magical- Thank you Jake! Your example extends far past football! pic.twitter.com/P9Shw7nZPM
— Amanda Turner (@asturner01) January 3, 2020
However, the story doesn’t end there. Brantley signed his “national letter of intent” to play football for Coach Kirby Smart and UGA as part of the 2031 class at his party.
The UGA hockey team also saw Brantley and Layknn’s video and sent them autographed shirts and pucks for their birthdays. Brantley attended his first UGA game in 2017 against Kentucky, with a front row seat as the Dawgs clenched another SEC East Title.
After the game, Brantley saw and recognized Jake’s dad, running right over and hugging him like “he was his own Daddy.” No other player has yet to compare to Fromm for Brantley. While he cried after hearing the news that Fromm was declaring for the draft, Brantley is excited to continue watching him play on Sundays.
Brantley will be a Fromm fan for life and will always remember the day that he received a call from Jake, thanks to his family and a little help from DawgNation.
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DawgNation is a unique fan base full of history and touching experiences and I want to share your story. Whether it’s meeting a favorite player, a memorable game with family, a funny story, or UGA getting you through a tough time, I want to hear it! Share your story using #DawgBeat and you just might be featured.