Leading by example
The day before the championship game, the Bulldog football team also took time out to give back in a visit to Minshew Elementary School in McKinney, Texas, where team members donated books and read with students.
Members of the Ferris State football team visited Minshew Elementary School in McKinney, Texas, on Dec. 14.
“It means a lot,” said offensive lineman Cooper Clapp. “You never know what some of these kids are going through. Us just coming here can have a big difference in their life, or teach them, anything we can. I know it would have been a lot of fun for me if a bunch of football players came to my school when I was little.”
“Any time we have other people come in to read to the students to kind of help them set those goals and aspirations, it’s amazing—and then for them to come in and donate books,” said Minshew Elementary Principal Inetra Nelson. “It’s important that our kids have a great foundation for literacy, and then they saw people that are adults read, so that’s amazing.”
The team also attended art class with and signed autographs for students. Several team members also wrote motivational messages.
“I wrote to never give up,” said linebacker Malik Hazzard. “If you’ve got a dream, keep chasing it.”
“It’s everything. Making a kid’s day is probably what every college athlete wants to do. When I was a little boy, I always loved having bigger people come make me smile,” receiver Sy Barnett said. “Probably our number one goal as college athletes is to see those kids smile, inspire them and make them happy.”