May 10, 2010
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
The Maryland football program has an on-going relationship with the Hyattsville Elementary School and the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association of Washington, D.C.
Each Friday of the past few years, members of the Terrapin squad have spent time with their 'Little Brothers' of Hyattsville Elementary School.
The players, or 'Big Brothers,' normally traveled to the school for an afternoon, but last Friday the boys came to campus in order to experience life as a Terp for a day.
The `Bigs and Littles,' as they are called, normally spend time playing games, working on homework, sharing recent experiences, and most importantly, discussing their goals for the future.
A group of approximately 35 players and elementary students toured the Gossett Team House complex on Friday. The players and kids also played football and soccer on the Byrd Stadium field and capped off the day with lunch in Young Dining Hall.
The Big Brother-Little Brother program is a collaboration between the Maryland football players and students at Hyattsville Elementary School. The program began in 2006 and gives the Terps another opportunity to be involved in the local community.
Among those participating from the football team were Ronnie Tyler, Maurice Hampton, Devonte Campbell, Adrian Cannon, Torrey Smith, Dexter McDougle, Travis Hawkins, Ben Pooler, Adrian Moten, Justin Anderson, Zachariah Kerr, Haroon Brown and Lansford Watson.
Cannon and Moten were in the inaugural group in 2006 and continue to mentor the same 'Little Brother,' while Tyler has been interacting with the same 'Little' for two years.
Maryland men's soccer players Doug Rodkey, Taylor Kemp and Paul Torres also joined in the action. That trio spent time instructing the kids on the finer points of soccer.
