Sun Devils Unite: ASU Football Fans Rally Behind Player Stranded After Car Trouble

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State University linebacker Jordan Crook received an unexpected gift of support from the community after a tough series of events surrounding his vehicle. His previous car, a Nissan Altima, broke down earlier this month, just as smoke billowed from under the hood.

“I got out (of) the car fast. I grabbed everything. I didn’t really know what I was going to do, to be honest,” Crook recalled. Facing a daunting situation with limited options, he took to social media, asking for help in finding local car deals.

Enter Parker Jones, the general manager of Jones Ford Verde Valley, who quickly recognized Crook’s plight. “It was clear that repairs weren’t really going to be an option,” said Jones, a fellow Sun Devil. He took the initiative, posting Crook’s story on the recruiting site SunDevilSource, seeking to raise $15,000 for a used SUV he had located for the athlete.

Within a mere ten hours, the community came together, raising the full amount required. “I put a challenge out there to the message board, and people responded tremendously,” Jones stated. Just a week before Thanksgiving, Crook was able to sign the paperwork for his new vehicle outside Mountain America Stadium.