Girl who got TD gift from Panthers enjoys 15 minutes of fame
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The happiest girl in Pantherland is named Isabella. She's 8, in the second grade, likes math, and her dad farms Christmas trees.
Isabella was a recipient of a Carolina touchdown ball, a tradition that has become almost as well known as the Panthers winning games. Early in the first quarter here on Sunday, Jonathan Stewart burst into the end zone to make it 6-0 over Seattle and jogged over to the rail in front of Section 120. There was Isabella with her family. She reached out, got the ball from Stewart, and her shocked smile went viral on social media within minutes.
"I was surprised!" she said a few moments later.
So was her dad, Kelly Bottomley. He's a season-ticket holder from Alleghany County but he traded his usual tickets in Section 520 for better seats. It cost him and his wife, Renee, about $600 per ticket.
"Well worth it," he said, smiling just as broadly.
Isabella, "the girl in the pink hat," became a little bit of a celebrity in her section, which by halftime was overrun with delirious fans and fist-pumping police officers as the Carolina lead swelled to 31-0. One woman came over to take a selfie with her.
"Hold onto that forever," the woman told her.
Not to worry.
"I'm gonna put it on my shelf," Isabella said. Her older brother, Kellen, 10, was proud and betrayed no envy.
The ever-growing Panthers touchdown club of kids grows every week, so much so that children are starting to file down the aisles as the team enters the red zone. Cam Newton has noticed the trend and he has said he loves seeing the anticipation.
Isabella was wearing a Newton jersey on Sunday but perhaps Stewart will become her favorite player?
Nope.
"Kuechly!" she said.
Quite a present for the family that makes a living off cabbage, pumpkins and Christmas trees.
But Isabella said this was not her favorite Christmas gift.
"I got a better one," she said. "My mom is having a baby!"
