Tarantino, 17, exceeded the number within a few hours and Bell responded, "wellll a deal's a deal ... I'll see youu at your prom."
Officials at Waukesha West High School put the brakes on the dream date because the 25-year-old running back violates a longstanding district policy regarding the age of prom dates. Officials said they have had to enforce the rule before and had to be "equitable."
The district also said Bell is also in violation of a policy prohibiting dates who have been arrested for underage drinking or drug use. Bell was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana in 2014, which netted him a two-game suspension.
The district did say Bell could attend events outside the prom itself, including the school's pre-prom photo session and parade.
Tarantino's father, Jim, said he hoped the school would make an exception for Bell because the nature of his attendance is as a celebrity, not a normal prom date. (Bell has said he intends to bring his family along for the trip.)
"I'm hoping we can come to something that would be beneficial for everybody," Jim Tarantino said.
