'Crying Northwestern Kid' Becomes Internet Sensation

It only takes one moment on national television to turn a previously unknown person into an Internet meme forever. But for "Crying Northwestern Kid" on Saturday, it was many moments. He became the camera’s favorite subject during the second half of the Wildcats’ second round NCAA Tournament loss to Gonzaga, especially after a CBS camera got up close on his face after a bad call.

The kid cried and could be seen yelling “Oh my God” as the camera zoomed in. He's been identified by 247Sports.com as the son of Northwestern Athletic Director Jim Phillips.

The youngster was decked out in purple and reacted — strongly — seemingly after every play. After a meltdown that followed an official call that went against the Wildcats, he grabbed the spotlight even from "Seinfeld" actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus, whose son Charlie Hall plays for Northwestern.

He’s probably too young for a Twitter account, but he’s already an Internet sensation.

That kid tho... #Northwestern pic.twitter.com/oEZHWseI4B
— Crying Jordan (@CryingJordan) March 19, 2017

That poor crying Northwestern kid will be a meme for years
— Dan Shuftan (@StateStSports) March 18, 2017

Step aside Villanova crying piccolo girl. You've got serious competition with Northwestern crying kid #MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/lLXI0wTtdY
— Leti (@leti4u) March 18, 2017

With his epic fan performance on Saturday, Crying Northwestern Kid joins the likes of the “Girl Scout fire girl,” “Grumpy Cat” and yes, the “Crying Michael Jordan.” But the world probably isn't ready to have this kid replace Michael Jordan when it comes to Photoshopping his head onto every athlete, artist or entertainment figure following a big loss or mishap.

Crying Northwestern Kid and Jordan aren’t the only ones to have come up big in the crying memes game.

There was “Crying Bengals Fan," a woman caught on camera crying after one of the Cincinnati Bengals’ many recent playoff losses; “Villanova Crying Piccolo Girl,” who became a trend after an upset loss by Villanova in the tournament two years ago; and actor James Van Der Beek, whose crying scene on teen soap "Dawson’s Creek" has been synonymous with the “first world problems” meme.