North Carolina State University Athletics
Wolfpack Fans Respond to Spring Game
4/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 20, 2011
RALEIGH, N.C. -
NC State fans have always been passionate and vocal, but over the past few days several letters of appreciation have flowed in to thank members of the football program for their hospitality this past Saturday at the annual Kay Yow Spring Game.
Listed below are just two examples of what we have been receiving in the football office.
As always, we thank Wolfpack Nation for its incredible support of NC State athletics.
Letter #1
I wanted to take a moment and send you a message explaining why I am a proud Wolfpack Alum, and have been a lifelong fan. I had the pleasure of attending the spring game this past Saturday, and I was very impressed with all the events. I was even more impressed with the players, but in particular, #52 J.R. Sweezy.
After Coach O'Brien called the spring game, several players met the fans in the concourse. I was amazed at how Mr. Sweezy took the time to greet the fans, and how he made time to sign every child's poster, shirt, or football, and posed for countless pictures, all with a smile on his face.
I think people forget the pressure these young men are under all the time. I had a hard enough time graduating from NC State as a student, and I can't imagine the effort needed to do so as a high profile athlete.
I said all that to say this. Young men like J.R. Sweezy make me proud to wear my Red and White, proud to hang my football poster in the Lowe's corporate office, and proud to be an alum of NC State.
Please pass this along to the coaching staff and players because even when they don't think people are watching, they are, and I was as proud as I have ever been to know that young men like Mr. Sweezy are making time for the fans, their kids, and representing the university with pride in what they do!
Letter #2
I just wanted to take a minute to thank you and your players for making my 8-year-old daughter's day on Saturday at the spring football game. She has been battling an eye disease for four years and is an outpatient at Duke Children's Hospital. After being on chemo for 18 months and was so sick, I promised her that when she got well, we would take her to the State football games. Although we have been unable to be at each one, we have made it to a lot. She still has her eye disease, Uveitis, but is doing better. This was her second spring game.
During the game, she sat on the front row on the "White Side" of the field and watched. She then moved over a few sections, still on the front row, and watched the cheerleaders a while. After the game, we went to meet the players and have them sign her football. She was so excited to have you both take pictures and sign her football also. She was happier than winning a million dollars.
The players that she was able to get to sign her football and take pictures were Mike Glennon, George Bryan, and Tyler Brosius among others. Each was so nice to her and willing to sign her football and take pictures and made her feel like she was the only one there. We had to follow Coach Bible around until she could find someone with a pen for him to sign her football because she would not leave until he did.
Please tell your team and staff what a difference they made in her day. A minute to say hey, smile and take a picture meant the world to her. When we left on the way to the car she counted the number of people who signed her football. I can't tell you how excited she was. Your players should be commended for taking time out for the young fans.
