Popeyes Meme Kid I Got An NIL Deal ... And A Billboard, Too!!!
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Popeyes meme kid Dieunerst Collin's dreams are finally coming true ... the internet-sensation-turned-college-athlete just inked an NIL deal with the popular fast food chain!!
Popeyes tells TMZ Sports ... the chicken joint is officially partnering with Collin after it was brought to its attention that he was the kid in the viral Vine video from back in the day.
As part of the newly-cemented business relationship, Collin will be featured on a billboard near his hometown in New Jersey.
As we previously reported, 18-year-old Dieunerst publicly campaigned to join forces with Popeyes, writing on social media, "@popeyes I JUST WANNA TALK BUISNESS."
The current Lake Erie College offensive lineman asked people on social media to help him secure the deal ... and it actually worked out for him!!
"A lot can happen with the power of the internet behind you!" Collin said. "I can’t believe I can say I’m officially sponsored by Popeyes."
"Thank you to everyone who helped spread the good word!"
Collin's NIL deal with Popeyes is the latest good news for the 6'1", 330-pound football player ... he won a state championship with his high school, East Orange Campus, in NJ in 2021.
Congrats!!
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PETA Hey, Georgia ... Stop Using Live Mascots!!!
Fresh off Georgia's blowout national championship win, the Bulldogs already have a new enemy -- PETA -- 'cause the animal rights org. is calling for the victors to officially retire their live mascot, Uga.
TMZ Sports has learned, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals fired off a letter to University of Georgia president, Jere Morehead this week ... asking the school to replace its iconic English bulldog, Uga X, with a human at sporting events.
The org. claims Uga's presence at games increases demand for breathing-impaired breeds like pugs, bulldogs and boxers ... and they want Georgia to lead by example.
PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman released a statement on the matter ... saying, "As the back-to-back national champion, can’t UGA find it in its heart to honestly examine the impact of its promotion of deformed dogs and call time on its outdated, live-animal mascot program?"
"PETA is calling on Jere Morehead to be a peach and replace poor Uga with a human mascot who can support the team in a winning way."
Of course, Georgia has used live mascots since the 1950s ... starting with Uga I. The current mascot, Uga X, did not make the trip to Los Angeles for Monday's game due to the five plus hour flight.
PETA clearly thinks it's time for a new tradition ... but don't expect Georgia to do away with the doggo anytime soon.
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Ex-USC Star Charles White Dead At 64 ... 1979 Heisman Trophy Winner
Former USC star Charles White -- the 1979 Heisman Trophy winner -- died on Wednesday, the Trojans announced. He was 64 years old.
According to the school, White passed away in Newport Beach, Calif. after battling cancer.
"He was the toughest player I've ever coached," White's former head coach John Robinson said in a statement following the news of the former running back's death. "He was really unusual in that regard."
SC athletic director Mike Bohn added in a statement of his own that White was "one of the all-time great Trojans."
"He will always be remembered by the Trojan Family for the history he made on the football field and the legacy he left at Troy," Bohn said.
White got to SC's campus in 1976 -- and went on to have one of the most legendary college football careers ever. He totaled 6,245 rushing yards -- still a school record -- and earned unanimous selections to two All-American teams.
In addition to the '79 Heisman Trophy, White also won the Walter Camp and Maxwell awards that same season.
White, who also helped USC win a national title and three Rose Bowls, went on to be picked by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 1980 NFL Draft. He spent five seasons with the team, before finishing his pro career with the Rams.
He was eventually inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
RIP.
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Texans' John Metchie III Kicking Cancers Ass, Could Return Wk 1 Next Season ... Says General Manager
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John Metchie III is inching closer to playing football again ... Texans GM Nick Caserio says the young wide receiver, diagnosed with cancer last year, could be ready to go by week 1 next season!
Caserio joined SportsRadio 610 in Houston Wednesday morning ... where he provided an update on the 22 year old, 2nd-round draft pick, who missed his entire rookie season because of Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia (APL).
"I'd say there's a chance that he'll be ready for the start of the offseason program," Caserio said. "I think there are still some things that he has to complete or go through. Quite frankly, it's amazing what he's done to this point."
"He actually looks better now than he did when we drafted him in the spring," Caserio said. "He's improved his strength, he's improved his lower body strength. His attitude has been great, even though he's been dealing with a lot of things medically."
Metchie was diagnosed with APL -- a blood cancer characterized by a marked increase in a type of white blood cells known as promyelocytes -- last July, and spent last season fighting the disease. Fortunately, doctors said APL is the "most curable form of Leukemia."
The Texans selected Metchie in the second round of the 2022 NFL draft ... after he started for Nick Saban at Alabama. Metchie compiled over 2,000 yards and 14 touchdowns in his last two seasons with the Crimson Tide.
During the NFL's "My Cause, My Cleats" initiative earlier this season, the Texans wide receivers, led by veteran Brandin Cooks, paid homage to Metchie with custom cleats that read "Metchie Strong" in honor of his fight against cancer.
While Caserio didn't give a definitive date for Metchie's return to the field, he did sound encouraged the receiver is making positive strides in the right direction.
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Ex-UGA Star Nakobe Dean Erect A Stetson Bennett Statue In Athens!!!
Clear out some space at UGA and start getting the bronze ready ... ex-Georgia star Nakobe Dean says following the Bulldogs' second national championship in as many years -- the school needs to erect a statue for Stetson Bennett on campus ASAP!!
The former Dawgs captain made the proclamation on the SoFi Stadium turf after Bennett and UGA blew out TCU to win the title in Los Angeles ... explaining the quarterback has now done everything necessary to receive the permanent honor in Athens.
"Nobody has done what he has done at Georgia," the ex-Georgia linebacker told 11Alive's Maria Martin. "Nobody has done what he has done in life. His whole story and everything -- he's just going to be a great story."
Bennett was nearly perfect in UGA's victory over the Horned Frogs ... completing 18 of his 25 passes for 304 yards and four TDs. He added 39 yards and two more TDs on the ground as well.
And, Dean, who played with Bennett and won a title with the 25-year-old last season, called it all awesome -- and a performance deserving of a campus fixture forever.
"I'ma be there when they reveal it!" he said.
The bad news for Dean? Bennett's time in Georgia is now over -- and the Philadelphia Eagles rookie linebacker might have to face off against the guy in NFL games next season.
But, hey, that isn't for another eight months or so -- so enjoy the natty for now, guys!!
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UGA Fans Flood Athens Streets After Title ... Play W/ Fire In Road!!!
The national championship game might have been a snoozer, but the party in Athens afterward certainly wasn't ... as UGA fans swarmed streets, climbed light poles and set fires in roadways to celebrate the big win over TCU!!
Thousands of people clad in black and red hit the streets near the Univ. of Georgia campus on Monday night to party after the Bulldogs whooped the Horned Frogs, 65-7, in Los Angeles ... and they created quite the scene.
Videos shot by people in the area showed there was standing room only on the roads ... and, at one point, someone set a massive blaze in a crosswalk for fans to play with.
You can see in footage from the scene, UGA fans gleefully jumped over the fire -- before one actually picked up the flames and held them over his head.
Elsewhere in the city, students and Dawgs supporters were seen climbing to the top of street lights, as hundreds cheered them on and chanted.
A spokesperson for the Athens-Clarke County Police Department tells TMZ sports ... there were "several arrests" made -- however, cops did not receive reports of property damage to cars, street signs or public art.
Meanwhile, back in L.A., UGA's players celebrated the big W at SoFi Stadium by smoking cigars on the field with none other than Quavo!
To the victor go the spoils, indeed.
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Popeyes Meme Kid I'm A College Football Player!!! ... Wants NIL Deal
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Remember the TerRio look-alike who went viral for giving the side-eye at Popeyes??? That kid from the famous meme is now a college football player -- and we're all officially old.
TMZ Sports has confirmed ... Lake Erie College freshman offensive lineman Dieunerst Collin is, in fact, the little kid in the yellow shirt who became internet famous on now-defunct social media platform Vine back in the day.
As it turns out, the 6'1", 330-pounder went on to be a successful athlete since becoming a meme ... and won a state championship with East Orange Campus high school in New Jersey in 2021.
But Collin isn't shying away from his past -- in fact, he wants the fried chicken chain to hook him up with a Name, Image and Likeness deal!!
"@popeyes I JUST WANNA TALK BUISNESS," Collin said on social media this weekend.
According to Collin's bio on the team site, he's currently studying sports management and comedian studies ... and hopes to become a sports analyst.
Someone from Popeyes better pick up the phone and call Collin ASAP.
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Olivia Dunne Crazed Fans Camp Out At Her Meet ... Gymnast Calls For Respect
Olivia Dunne -- an LSU gymnastics star and one of the most followed college athletes on social media -- is calling for respect from her supporters ... after a group of them were seen in a disturbing video parked outside one of her meets wildly screaming for her.
The gaggle of college-aged boys posted up at an exit of the Jon M. Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City on Friday just after the Tigers and Utah Utes battled on the floor ... and the sea of males could be seen in the footage not just chanting her name, but asking repeatedly where she was.
At one point, after the camera panned down the line of yelling people, one of the men in the video said, "Please. Do you know where Livvy is? I'm serious."
According to the mother of Utes gymnast Jillian Hoffman, the scene away from the camera grew even more unnerving ... as Jennifer Hoffman said in a Facebook post several of the fans in the area were "so rude and disrespectful" to her daughter and teammates.
"They literally said to their faces," Jennifer wrote, "you are not Livvy but you will do, can we get a picture."
The reporter who shot the clip called the site "scary and disturbing and cringey." Another reporter on the scene said LSU actually had to move its team bus to avoid the crowd.
Livvy eventually sent a tweet on Sunday night asking her fans to be more "respectful" going forward.
"I will always appreciate and love the support from you guys," said Dunne, who has 6.7 million followers on TikTok, "but if you come to a meet, I want to ask you to please be respectful of the other gymnasts and the gymnastics community as we are just doing our job."
Dunne had interacted with some of the fans at the meet -- after they were seen inside of the stadium holding signs and chanting her name. She took selfies with them, and appeared to thank them for coming.
She faced criticism, though, for acknowledging the mob at the arena -- backlash that Dunne's mother said in a tweet on Sunday was completely inappropriate.
"It is not ok to blame any athlete/celebrity when fan behavior crosses the line," Katherine Dunne said. "In a sport where all the girls wear nothing but leotards stop suggesting that how Livvy dresses means she deserves this in any way. Stop shaming girls for the behavior of boys."
Livvy's popularity has exploded in the past year -- piling up millions of followers on all of her social media platforms, while securing NIL deals reportedly worth north of $2 million.
It's unclear if LSU has plans going forward to beef up security at her events -- the Tigers' next meet is slated for Friday at Kentucky.
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NFL Draft Prospect KD Davis Cops Iced-Out Shark Pendant ... 35 Carats of Diamonds!!!!
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College football star KD Davis is celebrating the start of his NFL rookie season just a little early ... recently coppin' a diamond-filled shark pendant!!!
TMZ Sports has learned the senior linebacker at University of North Texas hit up Atlanta's "Scoobie Da Jeweler" in December to make a piece that resembled his love of the game.
"He's a shark at what he does," Scoobie told us on Friday, "relentless in his passion for football."
The final piece came out awesome ... you can see the massive pendant looks just like the villain from "Jaws" with its fangs and dark eyes.
We're told the new bling is filled with 35 carats of moissanite diamonds and .25 carats of sapphire for the blue eyes.
Scoobie -- who also made the Kobe and Gianna Bryant pendant for Lamar Odom last year -- tells us he educates players on each metal and stone, so they spend their money wisely.
"I always encourage them to think about general wealth," Scoobie said. "I don't want these players to be exploited into diamonds and be put in a crunch."
Davis led the Mean Green in tackles for three consecutive seasons and was top 10 in the nation with 71 solo tackles this year. He also had 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 1 interception this season.
The Texas native declared for the draft on Dec. 19 ... and you can expect to see the prospect iced out when his name is called at the selection show in April.
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Texas Longhorns Fire Chris Beard After Felony Domestic Violence Arrest
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2:58 PM PT -- Chris Beard's attorney, Perry Minton, released a statement on the decision ... saying his client is "crushed at the news" of his termination.
Minton says the university promised to do a thorough investigation into the allegations ... but did not speak with Beard, nor did they interview his fiancée.
The attorney believes the charges against Beard will be declined ... and claims Texas made its decision "based on Twitter feeds and editorials -- and not the facts concerning a truly innocent man."
Chris Beard is no longer the head coach of the Texas Longhorns basketball team -- the university just announced he has been fired from his position after his felony domestic violence arrest last month.
The team made the move official just minutes ago ... with athletic director Chris Del Conte saying, "This has been a difficult situation that we've been diligently working through. Today I informed Mr. Beard of our decision to terminate him effective immediately."
Del Conte acknowledged Rodney Terry for filling in as interim coach during Beard's suspension ... promoting him to acting head coach for the rest of the 2022-23 season.
"We are proud of our student-athletes, coaches and staff, who throughout this difficult time have continued to make us proud to be Longhorns," Del Conte added.
As we previously reported, Beard was arrested on December 12 ... after he was accused of strangling, throwing and biting his fiancée in their home. He was immediately suspended without pay.
The woman, Randi Trew, later apologized for her accusations ... saying Beard did not strangle her. She also did not refute Beard's claims that his actions were in self-defense.
"I do not believe Chris was trying to intentionally harm me in any way. It was never my intent to have him arrested or prosecuted," Trew said last month.
Beard -- a UT alum, who joined the program in 2021 -- went 34-14 in 48 games at Texas ... and is 176-74 overall.
Beard is still facing the criminal charge ... and has a court date later this month.
Originally Published -- 12:03 PM
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USC Legend LenDale White Rips Trojans After Tulane Loss ... 'F***ing Joke!!!'
USC legend LenDale White was so furious after watching his alma mater lose to Tulane that he took to social media to unload on the team ... at one point calling the Trojans defense "a f***ing joke."
Lincoln Riley's offense looked good against the Green Wave in Monday morning's Cotton Bowl -- but the defense ultimately let the team down ... giving up a game-winning TD with just seconds left to lose the contest, 46-45.
White was HOT about it all immediately afterward on Twitter ... rippin' everyone on the Trojans' D -- and then Riley himself.
"Our defense and whoever's a part of it is a f***ing joke," the former SC tailback said. "That bend don't break Defense s*** you brought from OU ain’t gonna cut it..!!!!!!"
He added, "It’s a shame to be a Trojan right now."
White's barrage on his old team didn't stop there ... he also tweeted "Tulane whooped our ass" and retweeted a fan who wrote, "USC is a joke."
SC had a promising start to the season -- it went 11-1 and appeared headed for the College Football Playoff.
But, the Trojans' defense was bad in the 47-24 loss to Utah in the Pac-12 Championship Game, and then again on Monday.
The Trojans will still likely finish in the top 20 in the final rankings ... but, clearly, White ain't impressed by that.
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Atlanta Falcons Delete Tweet Seemingly Aimed At OSU Kicker ... Over CFP Miss
The Atlanta Falcons social media team had a change of heart on Monday ... scrapping a post that appeared to make fun of Ohio State kicker Noah Ruggles for missing a game-winning field goal over the weekend.
The now-deleted tweet was published right after ATL's Younghoe Koo nailed a 21-yarder to lead the Falcons to a 20-19 home win over the Arizona Cardinals ... which read, "This is how you make a game-winning field goal at @MBStadium."
Of course, Ruggles was in a similar, yet much more important, position on Saturday night in the College Football Playoff semis against the Georgia Bulldogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium ... but his 50-yard attempt ended up wide left, ending Ohio State's national championship hopes.
The Falcons' tweet was widely panned on social media ... with many pointing out Ruggles is just a kid, and he's probably already beating himself up over the situation.
On top of that, the Falcons were awful in 2022-23 ... and comparing a game-winning kick to earn a 6th win late in the season to a missed opportunity at a championship is laughable.
The Falcons must've agreed with the backlash ... 'cause the tweet was deleted on Monday.
But, considering this is the Internet we're talking about, the damage was already done ... and plenty of followers screenshot the bad joke and shared it all over social media.
Keep your head up, Ruggles ... and think before you tweet, people.
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Alabama QB Bryce Young Declares For NFL Draft ... Projected Top Pick
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Alabama Crimson Tide star quarterback Bryce Young is going pro -- the 2021 Heisman Trophy winner just declared for the NFL Draft.
The 21-year-old announced his departure from the program on Monday ... and is expected to be a top pick come April.
"Coming here was the best decision of my life," Young said. "I'm forever grateful for the University of Alabama."
Young had a stellar three seasons with Bama ... winning a national championship in 2020 and earning 8,356 yards, 80 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions. He was also awarded the AP College Football Player of the Year in 2021.
Some experts are predicting Young will go as high as first or second overall ... with Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud being another option for the Houston Texans, who will most likely secure the worst record and top pick of the draft.
Bama star edge rusher Will Anderson -- who's also expected to be a highly-coveted prospect in the 2023 class -- also announced his decision to forego the remainder of his college career.
Running back Jahmyr Gibbs also plans to enter the draft ... which might sound like Bama has a ton of holes to fill -- but if we know anything about the program, they always reload.
Young and Co. ended their college careers on a high note ... easily defeating Kansas State in the Sugar Bowl, 45-20.
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Mississippi State Honors Mike Leach With Pirate Helmets ... For Bowl Game
9:04 AM PT -- Mississippi State is going all out for its former coach -- the school's Famous Maroon Band spelled out Leach's name on the field before the game against Illinois.
The Mississippi State football team will pay tribute to the late Mike Leach during its bowl game on Monday ... by wearing custom pirate helmets in honor of the legendary college coach.
The Bulldogs just unveiled the special lids to pay tribute to the coach's famous "Pirate" nickname ... hours before they play Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
The maroon and white helmets feature a flag with a skull and an eye patch ... with Leach's initials "ML" centered in between two swords.
Mississippi State released a hype video ahead of Monday's contest ... showing off the helmets with the caption, "Swing. Your. Sword."
The stadium's iconic pirate ship also has a memorial set up for Coach ... including flowers and a framed picture.
As we reported, the legendary head coach died in December ... due to complications from a heart condition. He was 61. The loss shocked the entire football community ... with former players, coaches and colleagues sharing their condolences.
The school is encouraging fans to arrive at the stadium early ... as officials plan to honor Leach's life and legacy throughout the game.
Originally Published -- 8:24 AM PT
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CC & Amber Sabathia Our Son Is A Baller!!! ... Ready To Make Name For Himself At Georgia Tech
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Heads up, baseball world ... another Sabathia is on the way -- and according to Momma Sabathia, the young infielder is itching to make a name for himself at Georgia Tech this year!!!
CC Sabathia's spawn, Carsten Sabathia, just arrived on GT's campus this year ... and he's expected to play right away as a freshman for the Yellow Jackets this season.
And, when we got his mom and dad out in New Jersey at a charity event earlier this month ... they both glowed about the kid -- with Amber Sabathia telling us Carsten is ready to inch out of CC's huge shadow while on the diamond in '23.
"Spring season hasn't started yet, so we've got some stuff to look forward to -- and he can really make a name for himself," Amber said. "I'm excited for that."
Carsten is a 6-foot-4, 240-pound giant who dominated so much at the dish in high school, he was named to play in the 2021 MLB All-American Game. As a senior this past year, he hit a staggering .363 and logged four home runs.
CC wouldn't give us a scouting report on his boy -- telling us Carsten actually hates hitting off of him -- but he did say he's "super proud" of his son nonetheless.
"It's more about him being happy in life than it is about the sport," CC said. "And he's in a good spot."
GT's season kicks off in February ... can't wait!
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Chris Beard Fiancée Says He Didn't Strangle Her Apologizes For Accusations
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Chris Beard's fiancée, Randi Trew, says the Texas Longhorns men's basketball head coach did not strangle her ... walking back the initial comments she made to law enforcement nearly two weeks ago that led to Chris' arrest.
Trew released a statement on Friday ... saying, "Chris and I are deeply saddened that we have brought negative attention upon our family, friends, and the University of Texas, among others. As Chris’ fiancée and biggest supporter, I apologize for the role I played in this unfortunate event."
She continued ... "I realize that my frustration when breaking his glasses initiated a physical struggle between Chris and myself. Chris did not strangle me, and I told that to law enforcement that evening."
As we previously reported, Chris, 49, was arrested in Texas after law enforcement officials charged him with a felony -- assault on a member of a family or household by impeding breath circulation.
According to court documents, Trew alleged that she and Beard had been upset at each other for a few days and were having "relationship issues" -- and claimed things finally reached a boiling point with Chris slapping reading glasses off her face and choking her with his arm.
Police said in the docs they observed visible teeth marks and redness on Randi's right forearm and an abrasion on her right eyebrow and leg. They also noted a cut to her left thumb.
"Chris has stated that he was acting in self-defense, and I do not refute that,” Trew’s statement continued. “I do not believe Chris was trying to intentionally harm me in any way. It was never my intent to have him arrested or prosecuted. We appreciate everyone’s support and prayers during this difficult time."
Beard posted a $10,000 bond and was released from custody.
Chris, in his second season as the Longhorns' coach, remains suspended indefinitely without pay from the program.