Skip to main content

College student asks mom for beer money on ‘College GameDay,’ gets over 2,000 Venmo donations

zelle big banks venmo
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Ask and you shall receive. That is, if your name is Sam Crowder, and you’re asking your mom for beer money. Under normal circumstances, such a request may not have yielded much of a payout, but when that request is broadcast on an episode of College GameDay at Bristol Motor Speedway, things happen. Big things happen. Over 2,000 people took to Venmo and sent Sam Crowder beer money, including Venmo itself, who chipped in a not-too-shabby $50. Sometimes, it pays to be in the right place (on screen) at the right time.

More than 200 people have paid this kid. We counted. pic.twitter.com/2Hxm5HtgRR

— College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) September 10, 2016

While it’s unclear how much Crowder ultimately made from his little stunt, as the minimum transaction on Venmo is naught more than a measly penny, TechCrunch notes that it’s “more than likely most [donations] were at least a dollar.” SB Nation even sent Crowder a dollar, writing, “For what it’s worth, we’ve reached out to Sam the only way we could — by sending him a dollar on Venmo and hoping he notices.”

Update: More than 2,000 users have paid Sam. We counted. https://t.co/s6kMWEWXW4

— Venmo (@venmo) September 10, 2016

Rest assured Crowder either has his beer budget taken care of for the rest of the year, or can start paying off his student loans (though being a college kid, we think we know what he’ll choose).

And while you may think that the internet or television-watching populace of the United States was just feeling particularly generous on Saturday, let us remind you that this isn’t the first time someone has taken to national television to ask for money. In fact, three years ago, another student made an appearance on the same show with a sign bearing a QR code that directed viewers to his Bitcoin address. That resourceful guy made $24,000. Again, a lot of beer money.

So if you’re a bit cash-strapped these days, your best bet may be to find a live taping somewhere. You never know how many generous souls your posterboard may move to donation.

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Arsenal vs Chelsea live stream: Can you watch for free?
top tech stories 08 04 2017 weekly rewind soccer goal getty8 4 17

Locked in an impossibly tight three-team battle for the Premier League title, Arsenal face Chelsea in an important mid-week fixture today at Emirates Stadium. Though the Blues are in the midst of a disappointing season, they still certainly have the talent to play spoiler as the Gunners chase their first league title in 20 years.

This one is starting very soon, at 3:00 p.m. ET, and will be televised on USA Network in the U.S. But if you don't have cable or don't have that channel, we've put together all the different ways you can watch a live stream of Arsenal vs Chelsea for free or cheap.
The Best Way to Watch Arsenal vs Chelsea Live Stream

Read more
The best sci-fi movies on Hulu right now
Caesar rides with a grim expression on his face in War for the Planet of the Apes.

Among the new movies on Hulu in April, the only prominent additions to the lineup of sci-fi movies were The Fifth Element and Pacific Rim, both of which have been on Hulu before. But as long as Hulu has top-tier titles like War for the Planet of the Apes and the 2021 remake of Dune, then sci-fi fans should be very happy with their options.

You can find the rest of our picks for the best sci-fi movies on Hulu below. They include the original Alien, Blade Runner 2049, and more. Not all of these films on this list are owned by Disney or 20th Century Studios, so catch them while you can. They won't be around forever.

Read more
The best hidden gems on Netflix right now
Ahn Eun-jin in Goodbye Earth.

Have you ever come across a show on Netflix that was so particular to your taste that it felt like the series was made for you? If so, chances are good that it only got a single season on Netflix. No one has enough time to watch every series on Netflix, and the vast majority of them come and go with such speed that it's almost like they were never there at all.

This roundup of the best hidden gems on Netflix is dedicated to finding shows that deserve a second look, or at least an elevated push on Netflix's algorithm. This month, we're putting the spotlight on Goodbye Earth, a new Korean drama that dropped this week, as well as a nature documentary called Our Living World and a sitcom that was one of Netflix's one-season wonders: The Good Cop. You can find these three and more below in our roundup of the best hidden gems on Netflix.

Read more