MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- Indianapolis Colts super fan and South Bend native Aaron Charles is having the best week of his life.
Five days after proposing to the love of his life, the Bethel senior learned he would be taking his new fiancé on an all-expense-paid trip to Super Bowl XLIX.
Charles entered Colt’s “Big Game Giveaway” Wednesday morning along with 5000 other applicants. He said he only decided to enter because he wanted the accompanying certificate that said he’s part of “Colts Nation.”
“I was printing off a paper for class and I saw a tweet for this contest and I was like ‘Oh, I'll do that real quick’ so I was actually a little late to class, which I'm really glad about now,” Charles said.
At about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Charles said he received a call from a downstate number. That’s when a representative from the Colts told him to pack his bags for Sunday.
“At first I was like ‘No this isn't real, you've got to be kidding me’ and then they kept telling me about how it's all-expense-paid, you know, they're getting me a hotel. They're getting me plane tickets,” Charles said. “And then I just flipped out.”
NewsCenter16 is particularly thrilled for Charles' big win; he worked as an associate producer at WNDU during his junior year at Bethel.
Charles roommate, Nathaniel Montiel, said the Colts could not have picked a bigger fan.
“He’s got Colts stuff all over the place. He’s got Colts slippers on his desk,” Montiel said. “His fantasy football team’s name is "Luck for President” as in Andrew Luck."
But Charles said the win was the second biggest prize of the week. On Saturday he proposed to his girlfriend, now fiancé, Sarah Schoettle.
“This is the best week of my life, I think I can safely say that,” Charles said.
When the Colts heard about Charles’ recent engagement, they offered the couple an extra $1,000 as an early honeymoon gift to make their stay in Arizona even more comfortable.
CONGRATS to official #ColtsNation member @AaronCharles18! He is going to the BIG game on Sunday! pic.twitter.com/J8fQBD4Wcp
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 28, 2015I'M GOING TO THE SUPER BOWL!!!!!
— Aaron Charles (@aaroncharles18) January 28, 2015