Postcards From Atlanta - Day 3: Spreading Good Cheer To Youngsters
12/27/2002 7:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 27, 2002
Today's Terp Tidbit: Maryland football video coordinator Mitch Wilkens is the only member of the Terp football staff to have a connection with the Volunteers as he graduated from Tennessee in 1997. On the other side, Tennessee defensive backs coach Larry Slade was a defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach at Maryland in 1992 and 1993.
By Jason Yellin
Maryland Media Relations
ATLANTA --
Today was an enlightening day for many Terps as more than 25 players visited a local Atlanta hospital to meet with sick and ailing children.Maryland players brought smiles to the faces of young boys and girls at the Egelston Children's Hospital near the campus of Emory University in Atlanta.
Among the players that brought the most smiles were running back Chris Downs, kicker Nick Novak and offensive linemen Todd Wike, Lou Lombardo, Lamar Bryant and Akil Patterson who shared high-fives, hand shakes and laughs with many patients.
The players split into four groups and worked the floors at the hospital handing out toy footballs, T-shirts, Chick-fil-A toy cows and Terp necklaces. They were joined by The Chick-fil-A Queen for 2002, Erin, and the Chick-fil-A Cow as they made their good will tour throughout the hospital.
Many of the children and their families posed for pictures which will become special mementos as they get older.
Downs, Novak and Bryant were all interviewed by Fox 5 which was on hand to capture the special time. The players spoke about being so privileged and how they hope their visit can bring a little bit of happiness to the patients which have various illnesses.
Who's Got Your Number?
The Terps began the day with their first outdoor practice of the week, as they worked out at Coach Ralph Friedgen's old stomping grounds - Georgia Tech.
In chilling mid-30 degree temperatures, the Terps hit the field to start drills around 11:30 a.m.
The team continues to have fun with their uniform numbers as many players did not wear their normal jersey numbers. Included in that bunch were a pair of No. 1's and neither of them was Bruce Perry. Both Jafar Williams and Ryan Flynn donned No. 1.
Return man Steve Suter, who had worn No. 1 in the first practice at the Georgia Dome wore Williams' normal No. 19 for this practice.
After the workout Friedgen was questioned as to whether he was worried about Tennessee spies - leading to the number switcheroo. But he said it was really done in fun and in some cases to honor a teammate by wearing his number.
Friedgen was interviewed by about a dozen media outlets after several players did interviews including E.J. Henderson, Brooks Barnard, Steve Suter, Scott McBrien and Scooter Monroe.
As the Terps boarded the buses back to the Marriott Marquis Hotel, they were fed a Chick-fil-A box lunch.
The scout team lifted at Georgia Tech while the dress squad returned to the hotel where many of the players went to the hospital visit.
Also later in the afternoon, the Maryland coaches took part in the Russell Athletic Coaches Clinic at the Georgia Dome.
The players were free to have dinner on their own as they prepared for Saturday's events, which include the Delta Comedy Kickoff in the evening.
