N-P alum to compete for $100k at Big Ten title tilt

By Bob Fenske, editor@nhtrib.com

Caleb Lines had just taken a biology exam, but a chemistry quiz was 30 minutes away as he made his way around the Wartburg College campus recently when his phone rang.

He gave it a quick glance and saw it was from a Texas number and silenced it. But the phone rang again, and when Lines saw it was from the same number, he answered it.

And that decision may garner the 2018 Nashua-Plainfield High School graduate $100,000 in the annual Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway.

“It was one of those crazy days, but I thought if they’re calling twice like back to back, maybe it was important,” Lines said with a laugh. “I’m glad I answered it, but the Dr. Pepper people were talking a lot and I’m looking at the time, ‘Uh oh, am I going to miss this quiz?’ But I didn’t want to be rude, either.”

The good news he made it to the chemistry class in time to take the quiz, and next week, he is heading to Indianapolis to see the Big Ten championship game … and oh yeah, take a shot at winning $100,000 for his college tuition.

Lines learned about the scholarship program through his former National History Day advisor, Suzy Turner, and although he played just one year of youth football, he decided why not apply?

With the help of two high school friends — Drew Moine and Lucas Pierce — he filmed a one-minute video that featured Lines’ family farm, his goal to “eliminate food insecurity” around the world, and, of course, Dr. Pepper.

The “hook” in the video is scenes in which Lines can’t quite jump up on a Wartburg College entrance sign … until he takes a drink of Dr. Pepper.

“We had a lot of fun making it,” Lines said, “and we shot it all in one day. Drew then did his editing magic and I thought it turned out pretty cool.”

So, too, must have the Dr. Pepper folks.

And now he’s on to Indianapolis, with a $2,500 scholarship in hand. But it can multiply that by 40 if he can beat out the other three contestants — students from Texas-El Paso, Spelman College in Atlanta and Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C.

The competition begins next Friday when the “final four,” if you will, compete in a 30-second challenge in which contestants will try to throw as many footballs into a large Dr. Pepper can from five yards away. 

The top-two finishers will receive a $25,000 scholarship and the right to compete at halftime of the Dec. 1 Big Ten championship game that will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium. On that night, the two finalists will compete in a same 30-second challenge, and the winner receives a $100,000 scholarship.

“Trust me, I’ve been practicing,” Lines said, “but no matter what happens, it’s going to be a fun trip.”

That’s because Dr. Pepper will fly Lines and his father, Dean, to Indianapolis, where they will enjoy a three-night stay.

“I’ve seen them before,” he said of the contests that have become a part of conference championships in recent years, “so I know a little bit what I’m getting into. I just have to try to be as quick and accurate as I can be.”

And he already knows what side of the question — chest pass or regular football overhand pass — he’s on when it comes to the tuition giveaway.

“I’m definitely going to do it kind of like a chest pass,” said Lines, who played basketball in high school. “I’m definitely more comfortable with that and we’ll just see what happens.”