Big Score for Georgia Tech, After Alumnus Wins Bid for a Relic

ATLANTA — Ryan Schneider has refrained from visiting some social media sites lately. He can only imagine the mocking comments set off by his purchase of an ancient football at a cost comparable to the more traditional midlife crisis indulgence — a shiny sports car.

“I’d probably say the same thing: ‘You spent that much money on an old piece of leather?’ ” Schneider, a 46-year-old patent lawyer, said.