ATHENS, Ga. -- In a sea of red and black, he's the one in the bright green wig. Now, the Georgia Joker will have a spot in ESPN's Fan Hall of Fame.
Pierce Wallace is only a freshman at the University of Georgia, "But I've been a fan my whole life," he told 11Alive's Julie Wolfe. "I knew this was the school I was going to attend. So, when I got accepted to Georgia, I wanted to give back."
He joined the Spike Squad, a group of intense fans that attend all UGA sporting events. They are most visible in section 109 of Sanford Stadium during football games. Wallace said the Georgia Joker character gained instant attention. "I was dressed like the joker for the first game against South Carolina. ESPN took a photo and tweeted it, and that's where it started."
His fan following intensified after his LSU Joker YouTube video. He made another one for Missouri, but then decided to back down. "I got busy. But I guarantee there will be more videos next year," he said.
He saw a commercial on ESPN to enter the Fan Hall of Fame contest. On November 15, he found out he made it to the final 25. He was on his way to the Georgia versus Georgia Tech game when he got another email he'd made it to the final ten. "I knew they would send me an email either way, so I was pretty nervous. Then, I opened the email. I saw 'Congratulations' and I went crazy!"
When asked if his passion took a dip with Georgia's less-than-stellar season, instead Wallace became more passionate: "There's nothing to hang our heads about. The Georgia team gives 100%. I'm proud of how they came together after all of these injuries. When you give your best, and you try your hardest, there's nothing to hang your heads about."
After a ten-day voting period, ESPN announced Monday, Wallace will be inducted. He'll join Barbara Rust "The Sign Lady" and Canaan Sandy for this year's class. The three will be inducted at ESPN headquarters in Bristol, Connecticut in 2014.
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