FSCC Greyhound football players spend day with Eugene Ware students

FSCC sophomore linebacker Matt Glades looks on as a group of Eugene Ware Elementary School students chase down a ball during a dodge ball match on Sept. 27 at the school. A group of FSCC football players visited the school to speak to students and engage students in a variety of physical activities.

The Fort Scott Community College football team sent some of its players back to elementary school last week.

A group of Greyhounds visited Eugene Ware Elementary School on Thursday, Sept. 27 after receiving an invitation from the school's principal, Billie Jo Drake, FSCC officials said.

The players began each class they spoke to by giving a few words of encouragement to the students. They spoke about the importance of staying in school and then answered a few questions posed by some of the children.

"This helps to show that our guys care about the community," Greyhound linebackers and special teams coach Chass Williams said. "It also helps our players learn there is more to life than just class and football. We would also like to stress early education is important if the students want to be successful."

The activity for the day at the elementary school was dodge ball, which the children played together with members of the football team. FSCC officials said the football players, knowing the children were full of energy, decided to tire them out by showing them some of the challenges they face during football practice.

Each student ran a lap around the playground and participated in other training exercises. The young students enjoyed their time with the football players, who appeared to be relieved when the final whistle sounded that day. They had played hard with the children and needed to get their own practice, college officials said.

The visit received a positive response from both the students and the football players. The youngsters were so enamored with the players, FSCC officials said, that they asked for autographs and the teammates happily obliged.

The players were very surprised and pleased to sign the autographs, FSCC officials said.

FSCC sophomore linebacker Matt Glades explained why the football team's trip to the school was such an important activity.

"It's a lot of fun to come back and an honor to be a positive influence for the kids," Glades said.