Aug. 9, 2007
After six consecutive days of training camp the New Mexico football team had its first day off on Wednesday. The team stayed productive, however, with meetings in the morning and evening, while a group of 10 Lobo newcomers made a special visit to the new wing of the UNM Children’s Hospital.
True freshmen Brad Gruner, Bubba Forrest, Michael Scarlett, Jaymar Latchison, Brett Kennedy, Mike Muñiz, Drew Zamora and Adam Richards, along with transfers DeAndre Davis and Tyler Boyett spent two hours with the patients at the Children’s Hospital. The players signed hats, shirts, water bottles and posters and got to make plenty of new friends during their visit.
Ana Ontiveroz, with the Child Life Services program at the UNM Children’s Hospital, thanked the group before they entered the patients’ wing.
“You guys are all superstars to these kids and they’ve really been looking forward to your visit,” Ontiveroz said.
A homemade sign made by the patients and staff greeted the players as they entered the media center on the impressive new wing of the Children’s Hospital. After a little initial shyness on both sides, the Lobos quickly made some new friends.
One little girl, wearing an autographed Lobo visor, made short work of Kennedy and Boyett in a game of Connect Four before dispatching Muñiz in a game of Battleship. Latchison and Scarlett, meanwhile, worked on their putting skills with a young fan, while Davis, Zamora, Richards and Gruner took a tour of some of the other units of the Children’s Hospital.
Afterwards, UNM media relations assistant Daniel Archuleta caught up with Bubba Forrest, who talked about the importance of the visit.
Click here to listen to the ALL-ACCESS interview with Forrest.