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U of M alumnus wins $25,000 and America's heart on reality TV show

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University of Memphis alumnus Frank Eudy's likable, outgoing personality, wide grin and curly, groomed hair became iconic when he was shown on TV sets across the nation this summer as he competed on CBS' hit reality TV show "Big Brother."

Eudy, 28, hails from Marion, Ark. and graduated from the U of M with a degree in marketing in 2007. He lives in Naples, Fla., but for three months this summer he was sequestered into a house with 11 strangers as he plowed through social and mental competitions on "Big Brother," a show loosely themed after George Orwell's novel "1984."

Twelve houseguests were filmed 24/7, and clips were meshed to create three episodes each week. Houseguests voted out one of their own every Thursday on the live eviction night, with the goal of being the last one to remain to accept the $500,000 prize.

"At times you're super aware you are being watched, but there are times where you completely forget about it," Eudy said. "I was always pretty aware of what was going on, and kept myself from saying something that might get me in trouble."

Eudy competed on the 14th season of the show and made show history for being nominated for eviction more than any other previous player for a total of six times. He eventually was voted out of the house on day 62, and was then sequestered into a jury house with other evicted houseguests to wait for the finale night when jury house members voted for the winner of "Big Brother 14."

The jury voted live on Sept. 19 for Ian Terry, a 21-year-old engineering student at Tulane University, to win. Also announced was which houseguest won America's Favorite. The $25,000 prize went to Eudy, who said he wasn't sure that he would get it.

"I didn't know how I was edited," he said. "So, I knew there were those times that I got heated and raised my voice."

Eudy said he doesn't know what he will spend the money on yet, but he will likely save it since he is unemployed. After the show ended, Eudy took a trip to Las Vegas with his show romance Ashley Iocco, his best ally on the show - Big Brother veteran and former winner Mike "Boogie" Malin - and a group of hometown buddies that rallied behind Eudy while he was in the house.

Eudy's two best friends became known as "Zebra-Cake Chris" and "Jungle Juice Dan" after Eudy told his housemates on national TV about how one would always get a zebra-cake before school when they were younger and the other would always have jungle juice.

Daniel "Jungle Juice Dan" Robertson, "Zebra-Cake" Chris Miller and others developed "Team Frank," equipped with a website (frankbb14.com,) Twitter handle (@teamfrankbb,) and T-shirts for sale iconizing Eudy's bushy hairdo.

"I mean when I came out and saw that, it just meant the world to me to know that they had my back like that," Eudy said.

Robertson said he had plenty of time to prepare the social media support for Eudy.

"I knew I was going to do a T-shirt the whole time," he said. "Frank had been trying a few years to get on the show and whenever I found out he finally made it I was like, 'Okay, it's time to get the T-shirt going.'"

This was Eudy's third year trying to get on the show. He was a finalist in 2010 and an alternate in 2011. There was nothing he didn't do to prepare himself, from finding someone to live with him on couchsurfing.com so he could test his social skills to reading strategy books.

"It's just all about trying to work on my mental and social game," he said.

His blonde-and-carrot-colored mop was immediately recognized as he landed in the Delta. His first night back in Memphis, he went to Beale Street where he was bombarded with fans asking to take photos with him.

Local fans said they rooted for Eudy because he was a likable hometown guy. But fans and friends weren't all Eudy had going for him.

He said his younger brother, Gunner, 19, capitalized on his summer of fame by starting a Big Brother lawn care service in Marion.

"It's been fun," Robertson said. "I wish he would have won, but he made us just as proud by getting in there and representing Memphis and us. It's been surreal. He's still the same ole' Frank. Just whenever we go to a bar, all the girls want to take a picture with him."

Frank represented his alma mater by wearing two Memphis Tigers shirts repeatedly throughout the show, which gave local fans something to buzz about on Twitter.

Fans from all over the world have been contacting Eudy on Twitter via his handle @FrankEudy. While some have asked him for hair tips and others have said they love him and Ashley Iocco together, the weirdest he's gotten, he said, asked him if he is ticklish.

"@Frankeudy Luvd u on BB! Funny question. U were the "tickle monster" in the house sometimes. R u ticklish? Where?" wrote @Ali_Parker17.

The most common question, and most annoying, according to Eudy is people asking why he trusted Dan Gheesling, a rivalry of sorts of Eudy's on the show, who ended up being the mastermind to vote Eudy out.

"If you watched the feeds you know I was always apprehensive about that. So, that kind of irritates me," Eudy said. "People just think, 'If you would have sent Dan home that week you probably would have won.' But not really. I was still going up against a lot of people."

Those who didn't follow Eudy's journey this summer can watch the episodes on CBS.com/bigbrother. And of course, there's always the chance that he is invited back to the All Stars season.

"I've heard some talk of it," Eudy said. "Of course I'd go back in a heartbeat. I'd go back today if I could."

9 Facts for Super Fans

• Frank's most recognized phrase, "Preesh," came from when he was sequestered in a hotel before the show and he would say "I appreciate it," when he got room service. He shortened it to "Preesh."

• Frank said he has a connection with Ashley, who will visit him for a week in Naples, Fla. soon, but is unsure of the next step since they live across the country from each other.

• Frank used to work for Physical Plant at the University of Memphis and rigged his garage opener to open all the parking gates on campus. "I could show up five minutes before class and have a parking spot," he said.

• Frank isn't mad at Ian for backing out of the alliance with Frank and "Boogie," and Frank and Dan have been cordial since the show.

• Ian told Frank that he wants them to go on Big Brother All Stars together and Ian will take Frank to the end and ask people to vote for Frank.

• Frank said he didn't realize how many people were against him in the beginning. He said what hurt him most in the game was the coaches being there to manipulate players.

• Frank skipped a lot of school in high school, where he played baseball and basketball. He went to Marion High School, but graduated from Cordova High School.

• Ironically, Frank always prided himself in having a small digital footprint on the Internet. "Of course, now that's out the window," he said.

• Frank and "Jungle Juice" Dan are talking about going into retail together and making "Preesh" T-shirts.

 


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