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Bowling Green linebacker Gideon Lampron has the most bizarre middle name in college football. His father somehow managed to convince his wife to name him after the Worldwide Leader in Sports, ESPN.
I am dead serious. This is not a prank. This is not a nickname!
Gideon Lampron’s legal middle name is spelled E-S-P-N. All capital letters. No spaces. Gideon “ESPN Lampron” is how the rising redshirt junior’s name is written, verbatim, on his birth certificate. For real.
Lampron began his college football career as a zero-star recruit on the FCS level. The Ohio-native spent three years at Dayton from 2022-2024. He redshirted in 2022. He got his first action in 2023.
Even though the 5-foot-11, 215-pound redshirt freshman made only one start, Lampron finished sixth on the team with 51 total tackles. 32 of those tackles came in the last five games of the season.
A breakout year was imminent and sure enough, Lampron recorded 99 tackles (56 solo), 23.5 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles for the Flyers in 2024. The Associated Press named him to the Football Championship Subdivision All-American First Team last season.
— Gideon ESPN Lampron (@EspnGideon) December 9, 2024
The impressive redshirt sophomore campaign allowed Lampron the opportunity to transfer up to the FBS level. More than 10 schools reached out with offers, including Kent State, UTEP, Ball State and Eastern Michigan. Bowling Green and first-year head coach Eddie George ultimately received his commitment!
When you go to Gideon Lampron’s page on the Falcons roster, you might be confused.
Why does it say ESPN between his first and last name? That’s his middle name!
My dad is a huge sports guy.
— Gideon Lampron
Gideon’s dad, Marty, liked the name Larry Bird. His wife, Jenniffer, shot it down.
He has a brother who’s 10 years older named Gabriel. I grew up in Boston. I went for months trying to talk my wife into letting me name him Larry Bird. It didn’t go well.
— Marty Lampron, via Dayton Daily News
Marty decided to take matters into his own hands when it came to Gideon. Jenniffer also vetoed ‘ESPN,’ pronounced ES-PEN, but he went with it anyway.
Then she delivers Gideon and she’s out of it. The nurse comes in for me to sign the birth certificate. When I signed it, I literally printed ESPN in capital letters. She was out cold when I did it. When she woke up, I told her I did it, and she said, “No, you didn’t.” She didn’t realize I did it. She wasn’t happy with me.
— Marty Lampron, via Dayton Daily News
I’ll be honest. When I first discovered Gideon ESPN Lampron’s middle name, I thought for certain it was a super lame attempt for a parent to make his child go viral. Like a Baby Gronk type of thing. Chasing clout.
Upon learning the real story, which stems from Marty’s love of sports and his willingness to go against his passed out wife while deciding on his son’s name, I am all-in. That takes some serious cajones!
Gideon ESPN Lampron joined the Falcons in time for spring practice.
He will likely fit right into the starting lineup at linebacker. Do not be surprised if he ends up on ESPN!