Frank Noland knows a thing or two about masters of self-promotion and marketing.
For 13 years, he’s lived in northern Nevada, where he raised current Razorback pitcher Connor Noland and befriended a local basketball coach named Eric Musselman.
As a college head coach, Musselman has been ahead of the curve when it comes to creating social media buzz. As coach of the Nevada Wolfpack, he was known to tear his shirt off during on-court celebrations and twirl it around like a scalp. The two were close enough that, back in the spring of 2019, Musselman came to Noland with a problem.
Musselman had just lost out to Nate Oats in his bid to become the next head coach of Alabama. “He called me on a Sunday night,” Noland recalled on “Hit That Line” from ESPN Arkansas.
“He said, ‘Frank, I’m supposed to be hired by Alabama in the morning. They were going to send the jet to pick me up, and I was going to be introduced. They just picked another coach.’”
So Musselman tried pivoting to another attractive destination, and he knew Noland’s Razorback connections could be of help. “He goes, ‘Do you happen to know how to get a hold of the athletic director at Arkansas [Hunter Yurachek]?’”
“I said, ‘Coach, I think I could figure that out for you.’”
The Super Bowl Streaker
Now as Arkansas’ head coach, Musselman’s abilities to grab the spotlight have remained impressive. But in terms of sheer audacity, they aren’t quite at the same level as the man Frank Noland randomly met Monday in Tampa, Florida.
On his way to the airport after a business trip, he stopped at a restaurant for a quick lunch. Saddling up to the bar, he started watching ESPN coverage of the previous day’s Super Bowl in the same city. The focus was on Yuri Andrade, a 31-year-old man who partially nude streaked near the end of the game, inspiring announcer Kevin Harlan to make the greatest Super Bowl streaker call of all time:
Kevin Harlan’s call of the idiot on the field (w/video from @rlacey23) : pic.twitter.com/iAI7WDi5xx
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) February 8, 2021
A few minutes after Frank Noland noticed a man arrive at the bar and start intently watching the coverage, someone asked “I wonder what that idiot’s doing today?”
The new arrival broke in: ‘Hey, that’s me. I’m the streaker.’ Noland and the others doubted it, so someone asks him to show his tattoos to prove it.
He ended up with his shirt off, showing off tattoos that include a cross on the chest, the word “locura” (Spanish for madness) on his back and, on his left arm, the words “Mind on my money, money on my mind” and clowns.
“Everybody’s taking pictures with him and talking to him, Noland recounted. Noland pulled Andrade over to the side and went into the details.
They would have included him telling Noland that the idea was hatched by his friend, a publicity stunt extraordinaire named Vitaly Zdorovetskiy. In the last four years, Zdorovetskiy had spent $80,000 on Super Bowl tickets and tried, unsuccessfully each time, to streak across the field.
So he decided to let Andrade, who manages his mother’s landscape and janitorial companies, have a crack at it.
So Andrade and a decoy paid $25,000 each for two spots at the edge of the end zone. They plan was to recoup that and much, much more.
The online sports betting site Bovada was giving +750 odds that someone would streak during Super Bowl 55. “So a $1,000 bet gets you $7,500,” Andrade told the Tampa Bay Times. “‘I called everyone I knew.’ Some bets were limited to $800, so he seeded friends to invest. He also contacted bookies in Vegas and at other betting sites.”
“Zdorovetskiy put $10,000 on the table. Andrade bet $40,000.”
Before Andrade rushed onto the field to secure his place in Super Bowl streaker lore, however, he had to inject some liquid courage. In the fourth quarter, he chugged four Bud Lites and popped a melatonin pill.
That would help him sleep in jail, which he had prepared for with $2,000 in cash stuffed into his pocket for bail.
“It was pretty bizarre,” Frank Noland said. “It was a brilliant plan and very well organized, and it was quite impressive what they pulled off, in my opinion.”
***
How much loot Andrade will actually make off with is still very much in question.
He claimed he and his pals had profited $374,000 off the stunt, but Bovada issued a statement saying they wouldn’t pay anybody “associated with irregularity.” Translation — no way in hell Andrade and his cronies are going to get paid by Bovada. However, it’s unknown how much he was set to make through other sites and bookies.
Regardless, later on Monday, Andrade was still feeling as confident about his chances of striking it rich. He decided to party at the Penthouse Club in Tampa. There, he jumped on the stage, threw a bunch of money in the air, hopped on a stripper pole and ran around like a cocaine addict until security guards tackled him to the ground.
A classy end to an unforgettable 36-hour stretch, I’m sure.
Hear Frank Noland’s entire interview below. The part about him ribbing Musselman for not being able to get Yurachek’s number through his agent is especially funny.
Super Bowl Prop Bets
These things are hilarious in their specificity and quirkiness (one even includes Mr. Snuffleupagus) Below are some examples provided by BetOnline.com.
Pre-Game Entertainment Odds
Will Miley Cyrus Navel be Seen during TikTok Tailgate Pre-Game Show?
Yes EVEN (1/1)
No -140 (5/7)
Will Miley Cyrus Side Boob be Seen during TikTok Tailgate Pre-Game Show?
Yes +300 (3/1)
No -500 (1/5)
Anthem Specials
Length of US National Anthem
Over/Under 2 minutes
Length of Last ‘Brave’
Over/Under 6 seconds
Will the Anthem Singer Forget/Omit a Word during the US National Anthem?
Yes +1200 (12/1)
No -5000 (1/50)
Who will be shown first during the National Anthem?
Andy Reid -140 (5/7)
Bruce Arians EVEN (1/1)
Who will be shown first during the National Anthem?
Patrick Mahomes EVEN (1/1)
Tom Brady -140 (5/7)
Who will be shown first during the National Anthem?
Jason Kelce -140 (5/7)
Rob Gronkowski EVEN (1/1)
Will Any Player Kneel on Sideline During Anthem?
Yes +1200 (12/1)
No -5000 (1/50)
Will Any Player Raise Fist on Sideline During Anthem?
Yes +800 (8/1)
No -2500 (1/25)
Will Any Scoring Drive Take Less Time Than Anthem Length?
Yes -350 (2/7)
No +225 (9/4)
Game Broadcast Specials
What will be said first?
Super Bowl MVP -300 (1/3)
Super Bowl Ring(s) +200 (2/1)
What will be said/mentioned 1st?
Tom Brady’s 10th Super Bowl -140 (5/7)
Tom Brady’s Age 43 EVEN (1/1)
What will be said/mentioned 1st? (no action)
Mahomes will be a father/daddy/having a kid -150 (2/3)
Mahomes is engaged/getting married +110 (11/10)
How many times will Kindergarten be said?
Over/Under .5
Note: Tom Brady started in his first Super Bowl when Patrick Mahomes was in kindergarten.
How many times will Home Field Advantage be said?
Over/Under 1.5
How many times will Belichick be said?
Over/Under 1 (push, exactly one)
How many times will Patriots be said?
Over/Under 2
How many times will Gisele Bundchen be shown?
Over/Under 1.5
How Many Times Will Roger Goodell be Shown?
Over/Under 1½
What will be said 1st? (no action)
Warren Sapp 1/2
Ronde Barber 2/1
Derrick Brooks 3/1
Will a clip of Jon Gruden at Super Bowl XXXVII be shown?
Yes -500 (1/5)
No +300 (3/1)
How many times will Tony Romo mention his kids/children?
Over/Under .5 (note, still under review)
Will the spread or total be mentioned be referenced?
Yes +700 (7/1)
No -2000 (1/20)
Note: Must say spread or total of game, no inferences.
What will be said First? (no action)
COVID -350 (2/7)
Pandemic +225 (9/4)
What will be said First? (no action)
Mask(s) -250 (2/5)
Coronavirus +175 (7/4)
What will be said First? (no action)
2020 -140 (5/7)
2021 +120 (6/5)
What Will be Said First by Tony Romo?
Read 1/1
Penetration 2/1
Blitz 9/4
A-Gap 3/1
Trick Play 15/2
Andy Reid Mask Design
Chiefs branded/logo 1/20
Single color/no logo 7/2
Hawaiian-themed 7/1
Coach to Have Nostrils Seen First During Game
Bruce Arians -200 (1/2)
Andy Reid +150 (3/2)
Which Coordinator Will be Shown First?
Eric Bienemy 3/2
Steve Spagnuolo 2/1
Bryon Leftwich 5/2
Todd Bowles 5/2
Sarah Thomas 1st be Mentioned During Broadcast
First Half -300 (1/3)
Second Half +200 (2/1)
How many Times Will Queen Latifah be Said by Jim Nantz?
Over/Under 1
Will “Burger” be Said by Andy Reid during a post-game celebration? (no action)
Yes +250 (5/2)
No -400 (1/4)
Will “LeBron” be Said During Broadcast?
Yes +325 (13/4)
No -550 (2/11)
Color of liquid poured on winning coach
Orange 5/4
Red/Pink 3/1
Yellow/Green/Lime 4/1
Purple 6/1
Clear 6/1
Blue 7/1
Player(s) to pour liquid on winning coach
Defensive 2/3
Offensive 3/2
Both 2/1
Halftime Show Specials
The Weeknd 1st Song Performed at Halftime
Blinding Lights 9/5
Save Your Tears 2/1
Pray For Me 5/2
Can’t Feel My Face 3/1
Starboy 3/1
I Feel it Coming 9/1
Hawaii 10/1
The Hills 10/1
In Your Eyes 12/1
Earned It 16/1
Love Me Harder 16/1
Lost in the Fire 20/1
Will Doja Cat Appear w/The Weeknd During Halftime Show?
Yes +500 (5/1)
No -900 (1/9)
Will Drake Appear w/The Weeknd During Halftime Show?
Yes +500 (5/1)
No -900 (1/9)
Will Kenny G Appear w/The Weeknd During Halftime Show?
Yes +500 (5/1)
No -900 (1/9)
Will Michael Jackson Hologram Appear w/The Weeknd During Halftime Show?
Yes +1200 (12/1)
No -5000 (1/50)
Color of The Weeknd’s Jacket When First Seen
Red 2/3
Black 5/4
White 4/1
Blue 7/1
Purple 7/1
Will The Weeknd First be Seen with Gloves on his Hands?
Yes -300 (1/3)
No +200 (2/1)
Will The Weeknd First be Seen with Sunglasses?
Yes EVEN (1/1)
No -140 (5/7)
Will The Weeknd Perform with Bandage(s) on Head?
Yes +600 (6/1)
No -1500 (1/15)
Postgame Specials
Who will MVP Refer to 1st in Speech?
Teammates 1/1
God/Religion 9/4
USA 7/1
Winning City 7/1
Family 9/1
Coaches 10/1
Team Owner 20/1
Will “Disney” be said by MVP?
Yes +400 (4/1)
No -250 (2/5)
Super Bowl Commercials
Actor to portray #FlatMatthew in Doritos commercial
Matt Damon 3/2
Matthew McConaughey 3/2
Matthew Broderick 7/2
Matthew Stafford 7/2
Matt Dillon 5/1
Matt LeBlanc 8/1
Matthew Perry 10/1
Who will speak 1st in Frito-Lay pregame commercial?
Peyton Manning -200 (1/2)
Eli Manning +150 (3/2)
Will Jerry Rice make paper football FG in Frito-Lay commercial? (no action)
Yes -180 (5/9)
No +140 (7/5)
Which bag will be seen first during Frito-Lay commercial? (no action, multiple bags shown at once)
Lay’s 2/1
Doritos 9/4
Tostitos 9/4
Cheetos 3/1
Will there be a COVID vaccine commercial?
Yes +200 (2/1)
No -300 (1/3)
How many commercials will show a person wearing a mask?
Over/Under 2½
First Anheuser-Busch brand commercial to run
Bud Light 1/1
Michelob Ultra 5/4
Bud Light Seltzer Lemonade 9/2
Michelob Ultra Organic Seltzer 5/1
How many commercials will have a dog in it?
Over/Under 3½
Will there be a commercial for major motion picture?
Yes -200 (1/2)
No +150 (3/2)
Will there be a Star Wars commercial?
Yes +150 (3/2)
No -200 (1/2)
Will Mila Kunis appear in Cheetos commercial with Ashton Kutcher?
Yes -400 (1/4)
No +250 (5/2)
Will an M&M’s spokescandy be wearing a mask?
Yes +200 (2/1)
No -300 (1/3)
First character to appear in DoorDash commercial
Grover 2/1
Cookie Monster 5/2
Kermit the Frog 3/1
Big Bird 7/2
Elmo 5/1
Oscar the Grouch 6/1
Ernie 8/1
Bert 10/1
Rosita 12/1
Count von Count 16/1
Abby Cadabby 20/1
Mr. Snuffleupagus 25/1
Will Daveed Diggs sing in DoorDash commercial?
Yes -1000 (1/10)
No +550 (11/2)
Which device will be shown 1st during Fiverr commercial?
Laptop 5/4
Tablet 3/2
Phone 2/1
Will “wax on” be said by boy in E-Trade commercial?
Yes +550 (11/2)
No -1000 (1/10)
Will a face shield be seen in WeatherTech commercial?
Yes -800 (1/8)
No +425 (17/4)
