How did an Erie Express co-owner help others in the aftermath of a family tragedy?
Erie Express co-owner Anthony Rodrigues experienced satisfaction during the last two games of the team’s 2023 season.
That the former Gridiron Developmental Football League (GDFL) champions won both of those games at Veterans Stadium was almost secondary for the 2004 Iroquois graduate.
The Express, despite victories vs. Baltimore United and the Washington Bulldawgs, went 3-5 overall in the semi-professional GDFL.
That losing record occurred two years after the franchise was the Gridiron Bowl champion and a year after it finished first in the league’s Eastern Xtreme North Division.
But it’s what happened during halftime of those games, plus another before them, that resulted in cathartic joy for Rodrigues and financial joy for three fortunate fans.
The U.S. Air Force veteran, who briefly played for the Express, presented each with $10,000 in cash from his own pocket.
The $10,000 giveaways
The team advertised such giveaways on their website and through radio advertisements. Fans who registered online for the contest also received free tickets.
Those who showed up were given opportunities to throw miniature footballs at an inflatable receiver with a net in its center. The fan who threw the most balls into the net was declared the winner.
“The whole purpose of having them go out onto the field, rather than have a random name draw, was so people could say, ‘Wow, this is legit!'” Rodrigues said. “But we also wanted someone to win. We wanted it to be an easy prize.”
The online rules stated contestants must be Erie County residents and have no immediate relation to any team personnel. Rodrigues said that latter stipulation led to the eventual disqualification of the original winner during the Express’ July 15 home opener against the Columbus Fire.
The contest’s confirmed victors were Chris Ingram and Kaleigh Yudt. Neither could be reached for comment.
Rodrigues, the digital media manager for Cunningham Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Edinboro, dreamed of holding such a contest even before he joined Paul Pennington as Erie’s co-owner four years ago.
The reason why such giveaways became a reality for Rodrigues originated on May 21, 2022.
It’s a date he and his wife, Samantha Rodrigues, won't forget.
'Something we can make out of it'
The money Rodrigues has given away is from an insurance settlement for the death of his son.
Rodrigues and his wife were in Pittsburgh for business related to the Express. They left their 3-year-old son, Anthony III, and his brother, Isaiah, with his mother-in-law at her home on Northview Drive, Harborcreek Township.
Northview runs atop a small cliff. At its bottom is Lake Erie and its shoreline.
“He loved the water so much,” Anthony Rodrigues said about his son. “Apparently, once he saw the water and the door was unlocked, he got out.”
Anthony III was reported missing around 5 p.m., according to the Pennsylvania State Police report.
Various land and water personnel began their search for Anthony III. It was members of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission who found his body floating roughly 120 yards from the shore.
Anthony III was pronounced dead less than two hours later at UPMC Hamot. Although a police investigation followed, the Erie County Coroner’s Office ruled his death as accidental.
Anthony Rodrigues didn’t want to dwell on that day beyond what was formerly reported. Nor did he comment on the settlement's worth.
What his already-financially secure family chose to do with it was another matter.
“We have this money that we never asked for and — really — didn’t care about,” Rodrigues said. “We looked at it as something we can make out of it that we can be proud of, or (directly invest) it into the Express.”
“That’s where we came up with this marketing plan.”
What’s next?
Rodrigues was unsure if he’ll resume his $10,000 giveaways during Erie’s 2024 home games. He said he was disappointed that the contests, combined with the Express’ success in recent seasons, didn’t draw more fans to this summer’s games at the Vet.
Whatever decision Rodrigues does make, though, it’s likely to be in some pay-it-forward manner.
“My wife and I have always been very faith-driven people,” he said, “and this is something we wanted to do even before this opportunity happened. You hear people say, ‘Wow, I never win anything!’ Then you hear how thankful they were even for (receiving) a $20 gas card. It’s crazy to see how something like this can really affect somebody.”
“We’re just blessed knowing we were able to do these (giveaways) for these families.”
Preseason prep: Everything you need to know for the 2023 District 10 football season
More: Can a coaching change lead to success for the Iroquois football team in 2023?
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie Express co-owner helps others in aftermath of family tragedy
