HGTV star Ben Napier had planned to cheer on Duke at the 2025 Final Four, but his travel plans didn’t work out. Thankfully, he received a special letter from Duke (well, he suspects it was from his daughter) to cheer him up. Watch him read the sweet note below.
Ben Napier Shares Letter He Got From Duke
On April 7, Napier took to Instagram to explain how his Final Four plans fell through and read the thoughtful letter he received. His wife Erin recorded the video as their daughter Helen watched.
“Pretty special moment. Thanks for the shirt @dixiereserve. Thanks for the mail @dukembb. We will get em next time!” Napier wrote in the caption.
In the video, Napier explained, “So this weekend didn’t go the way I had hoped, from top to bottom, when it comes to basketball. Because I was going to the game with my brothers and my dad. I had these really cool shirts made by Dixie Reserve because they’re not Duke shirts and he’s a Kentucky fan … and then, our travel got messed up, we couldn’t go, so we had to give our tickets away.”
He pointed to the letter in his hand, noting, “But, Duke University found out and they sent me — on official letterhead — a letter saying some really great things.”
Napier shared, “And I know that people on TV get preferential treatment sometimes, special treatment, so I didn’t think I was going to post this or say anything about it … “
He showed the handwritten letter, noting, “It says it’s from Duke. It says, ‘Dear Ben, I know things have not gone your way today. Love, Duke.'”
“It came in the mail on Saturday so I can’t help but think that if I had been in the game, wearing this shirt in the stadium, things would have ended differently,” Napier explained. “But thanks Duke, I’ll cherish this forever. It’s really special.”
Erin interjected, “Next time, maybe your flight won’t get canceled.”
His wife also commented on the post, writing, “Helen definitely did NOT write that note 🙃💙.” He responded, “@erinapier I could see her behind the camera smiling. She’s so proud that @dukeuniversity sent me that letter.”
Fans Loved That Ben Napier’s Daughter Tried to Cheer Him Up
Fans flooded the post with comments about how sweet it was for Ben and Erin’s daughter to be so thoughtful.
“@erinapier Helen has seen her Daddy write sweet notes to you her whole life … she’s just doing what she knows! 💙” one fan wrote.
When one fan noted, “Huge if true,” Ben responded, “I mean… check it out. It’s on official letterhead.”
Another fan shared, “This you’ll treasure more than any sports game you will ever see! YOU are blessed among men ❤️.”
One follower commented, “Wow. Special treatment for people on TV, indeed. If you were not a TV personality but just some regular schmuck without a thoughtful, compassionate little daughter, Duke never would have bothered.”
Ben responded, “#blessed.”
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Ben Napier Shares ‘Special’ Letter From Duke After Final Four Plans Fell Through