Husker athletes hang out with special needs kids

[Nexus]

Husker athletes taught more than 200 children with special needs how to tackle a dummy, do a touchdown dance and the Heisman pose on Sunday night.
The Husker Heroes outreach event was a first for Nebraska, and will probably not be the last -- the kids loved it.

Eight groups sponsored the event that was created for kids and their families to have fun with Husker athletes. Freshman athletes in the Husker Life Skills course volunteered to sign autographs and hang out with their admirers.

"Our student-athletes enjoy interacting with youth, setting aside some of their daily challenges and pressures to have a positive impact on others," said Keith Zimmer, associate athletic director for Life Skills.

Kansas City has a similar event for children with autism to hang out with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Cathy Martinez, with the Nebraska Autism Family Network, contacted Athletic Director Tom Osborne's office earlier this year to ask if the university would be interested in having a similar event and he was all for it. Except Osborne wanted to include children with all kinds of intellectual disabilities.

"It's really cool that our kids have this opportunity to interact with athletes," Martinez said. "It's hard for our kids to go to a real game because it's difficult for them to filter out noises. It can be overwhelming."

Johnny Rodgers enjoyed interacting with kids, too. He posed over and over with his Heisman trophy. A line to take pictures with him seemed never ending.

Some kids went home with Wiis, iPods and Husker apparel. Martinez's 7-year-old son, Jacob, hoped to win a Husker jersey with Taylor Martinez's name on it.

Erin Phillips, 22, brought a football for her favorite athletes to sign.

"Hanging out with the athletes is fun," she said.

Jackie Wallgren, Life Skills class assistant, said they had more participants sign up than they could allow into the Hawks Indoor Champion Center. About 800 attended.

"Given the turnout, I think we will do it again," she said.

LINK

 

[walksalone]

Always good to hear stuff like that...

 

[Nexus]

Always good to hear stuff like that...

I'm a fan of human interest stories like these too. Just goes to show that there is more to life than the game itself. Plus it's a nice change of pace posting something that doesn't have anything to do with on-field performance.

 

[walksalone]

Always good to hear stuff like that...

I'm a fan of human interest stories like these too. Just goes to show that there is more to life than the game itself. Plus it's a nice change of pace posting something that doesn't have anything to do with on-field performance.

Not too mention that, but the fact that they're helping kids, makes it that much better. Stuff like this doesn't always get as much pub as it should.

 

[Nexus]

Always good to hear stuff like that...

I'm a fan of human interest stories like these too. Just goes to show that there is more to life than the game itself. Plus it's a nice change of pace posting something that doesn't have anything to do with on-field performance.

Not too mention that, but the fact that they're helping kids, makes it that much better. Stuff like this doesn't always get as much pub as it should.

Agreed. Randy York from huskers.com does a lot of Husker human interest stories. He's always a good read.

 

[walksalone]

Always good to hear stuff like that...

I'm a fan of human interest stories like these too. Just goes to show that there is more to life than the game itself. Plus it's a nice change of pace posting something that doesn't have anything to do with on-field performance.

Not too mention that, but the fact that they're helping kids, makes it that much better. Stuff like this doesn't always get as much pub as it should.

Agreed. Randy York from huskers.com does a lot of Husker human interest stories. He's always a good read.

As much hell as I give gameday, their human interest stories are generally pretty good too...

 

[Nexus]

Always good to hear stuff like that...

I'm a fan of human interest stories like these too. Just goes to show that there is more to life than the game itself. Plus it's a nice change of pace posting something that doesn't have anything to do with on-field performance.

Not too mention that, but the fact that they're helping kids, makes it that much better. Stuff like this doesn't always get as much pub as it should.

Agreed. Randy York from huskers.com does a lot of Husker human interest stories. He's always a good read.

As much hell as I give gameday, their human interest stories are generally pretty good too...

That's the best part of their show, IMO.

 

[walksalone]

Always good to hear stuff like that...

I'm a fan of human interest stories like these too. Just goes to show that there is more to life than the game itself. Plus it's a nice change of pace posting something that doesn't have anything to do with on-field performance.

Not too mention that, but the fact that they're helping kids, makes it that much better. Stuff like this doesn't always get as much pub as it should.

Agreed. Randy York from huskers.com does a lot of Husker human interest stories. He's always a good read.

As much hell as I give gameday, their human interest stories are generally pretty good too...

That's the best part of their show, IMO.

I strongly concur. Nothing like seeing an AARP recipient putting on headgear to the delight of 18 yr old college chicks.

 

[NUpolo8]

Isn't it a little early for the CU game discussion thread?

(I'm sorry I'm sorry, sometimes low hanging fruit is sooooo tasty)

 

[Chaddyboxer]

Great to hear. Participating with special needs children is always rewarding IMO. The littlest things you do and the time you give to them can mean the world to them. It's amazing that anyone can have an impact like that.