ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Lobo football program has some definite goals in mind, things like a Bowl bid, winning the Homecoming football game against Hawai’i, and a fourth straight Rio Grande Rivalry game over New Mexico State. Those are very tangible things. They also have other goals. Community goals.
The squad took another step in that direction as part of the program’s summer long community service initiative as the defensive backs made the short trip over the UNM Children’s Hospital, where the players and coaches got the chance to spend a few hours with sick and long-term care young patients. At times it was hard to tell who was having more fun.
Fans will have to forgive the out of tune singing of “Old McDonald”, although safeties coach Charles McMillian can do a pretty good duck quack imitation, one that delighted the kids. Lee Crosby and Kenneth Maxwell were taken to school so to speak in a friendly hoops competition, Ryan Santos and newcomer Travis Green passed on Spades for a good ol’ fashioned game of “Go Fish”. Green even had a little arts and crafts time, while Jake Rothschiller and Jacob Girgle had a little fun setting up football formations with the various Marvel action figures the kids had.
“You learn that every day is a gift,” said Daniel Henry, who is looking to return to the lineup after earning a medical redshirt last season. “You learn to not take anything for granted, and even more to give back to those that are struggling. I thin kthat’s part of our duty in being older and a role model for our community, not because it makes you look good, but because you want to.”
The players also spent plenty of time with the children who couldn’t get out of bed, visiting them in their rooms, talking with them, playing games there, and yes, even daring to sing once again.
“It’s so important to these kids to have that distraction, and to have people care,” said Julia Grimes, Child Life Director for UNM Children’s Hospital. “To say I’m here to make your day better than it was before I walked in the room.”