The Story

Spoeri ('87) Goes on Jeopardy's Week of Champions

Nov. 10, 2007 | By Megan Hermida, DSJ Staff Reporter

Alumni Jeff Spoeri ('87) competes for the title "Champion of Champions" in the game show Jeopardy.  Courtesy of University Relations.

The College proudly claims alum Jeff Spoeri, ’87, a contestant participating in Jeopardy!’s 2007 Tournament of Champions, which aired this past Wednesday on ABC. Jeopardy! invited him to the quarterfinals after his impressive stint on the show last year during which time he accrued more than $100,000 in winnings.

�"The Tournament of Champions includes the top 14 players for the season, ranked by money won, plus the College Tournament champion,” Spoeri said. �"So, since I was one of the top 14, I was invited to participate. Certainly it's a great honor, but more than that it just was a great deal of fun.”

Spoeri first appeared on the show last fall for a six-episode streak. Interrupted briefly by a Celebrity Jeopardy! Series, his episodes aired throughout November of last year.

After dominating five games, which were taped consecutively in one day, his earnings totaled $104,103.This hefty sum granted him a place in the show’s Hall of Fame, where he ranks 18th among winners of over $50,000.

This year, however, Spoeri failed to seize the coveted �"Champion of Champions” title. Spoeri made an impressive showing on his Nov. 7 episode, one where he monopolized the sports category and succeeded in being the sole contestant to correctly identify the Final Jeopardy! Question. However, Spoeri lacked the gross score needed to continue his race. His loss forfeits his spot in the tournament, which continues until next week.

While he may not have succeeded in winning the quarterfinal match, which taped last month, Spoeri’s seasonal record-breaking performance on the show demanded extensive knowledge and skill. His exact methods of preparation, however, are not easily identified.

�"Last year, one of my opponents asked me whether I'd prepared and I replied, ‘Not really -- I mean, how can you prepare when you don't know the categories?’ Alex cautioned me, though, saying that there are a number of categories and types of clues that appear regularly -- for example, Shakespeare, which is one of my weak areas,” said Spoeri.

For this year’s tournament, Spoeri admitted to studying a �"Shakespeare for Idiots” book on his trip to Los Angeles for the airing.

While his undergraduate education may not have been a direct advantage over his opponents - he explains, �"after all, I’ve been out of college for 20 years!” - Spoeri does contribute some of his success to his knowledge gained at the College.

In fact, last year, one of his questions dealt directly with the College. During his fifth victorious game, the $600 clue within the �"Pre-Civil War America” category discussed the origins of Phi Beta Kappa, the honor fraternity founded at the College in 1776.

Spoeri’s involvement in the show began in March of 2006, when he took an online qualification test.

�"I'd always been a trivia buff and often jokingly said that I would pay off my law school loans on Jeopardy! someday,” said Spoeri.

After performing well on the test, Jeopardy! invited Spoeri to a personal audition. In August of that year, he received the �"call” to do a taping in September.

When a student at the College, Spoeri majored in Government and minored in Theater. He participated in the College’s choir as well as the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, for which he was chapter president.

Spoeri received a Master’s degree in education from Vanderbilt University and his law degree from Washington University in St. Louis.

Currently, Spoeri works for the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science at Florida Atlantic University as Director of Development. In a few weeks, however, he will move to Florida State University as Regional Director of Development.

As for the spoils, Spoeri admits to spending parts of his earnings on loans and on his two children, yet he did not refuse himself.

�"I got LASIK laser corrective eye surgery (no more glasses!) and I splurged on a big screen hi-definition TV for the living room,” said Spoeri.

As for the subject pressing on everyone’s mind -- the true nature of Alex Trebek -- Spoeri has nothing but good comments.

�"Alex is a good guy -- very business-like and not too ‘chummy,’ you know, but he's pleasant enough,” said Spoeri.

Jeopardy!’s Tournament of Champions wraps up on Nov. 16, and while Spoeri may no longer be involved, he strongly urges others to watch.

�"Every game comes down to the wire, and in fact, next week, something happens on Jeopardy! that hasn't happened in a Tournament in 20 years,” Spoeri said. �"So, you'll have to tune in and find out.”