"It smells," Robby Schweitzer said.

He was engulfed in a glossy white helmet, with a thin blue stripe running vertically across his head. He was trying on All-America linebacker Paul Posluszny's helmet, which was a little too big on the 8-year-old's head.

Robby was one of the Interfraternity Council/Panhellenic Dance Marathon children who was given the opportunity to pair up and hang out with members of the football team as a part of the Thon Wish Hour Saturday afternoon.

Wish Hour gives Thon kids the opportunity to participate in a program catered to their love of Penn State. They can spend an hour with different groups, such as the cheerleaders or the lionettes or the football team.

Families were given a full-access, guided tour of the Lasch Football Building, with each family enjoying two of the players as personal guides.

They were allowed to see places in the building, such as several of the coaches' offices, various meeting rooms, the workout facility and the training room.

Fran Ganter, associate athletic director for football administration, said these tours are normally reserved for high-level recruits.

He said that when he posted a sign-up sheet for the Thon Wish Hour, more than enough players signed their name to the list to help out.

"The kids are great, and it makes us feel really privileged to do what we can for them and their families," center Pat Weber said.

Robby brought along his family -- mom Julie, dad Craig, sister Jordan and grandmother Judy Shanabrough -- to enjoy the grand tour.

The Schweitzers' tour guides were senior safety Jason Ganter and Weber.

Robby's favorite part of the tour was hanging out in the players' lounge with a few of the 20 players who led individual tours. He played foosball with the players and his sister, and even got a few pool lessons from one of the players.

Robby, who has been in remission since February 2001, is attending his sixth Thon, his mother said.

Each year he chooses to spend his Wish Hour with the Penn State football team, she added.

His grandmother, Judy, said the tour given by Ganter and Weber was "wonderful."

"I'm surprised I even got to go on it," she said, after saying that over the past few years she missed the opportunity because she did not attend Thon.

Guard Gerald Cadogan, who participated in Thon Wish Hour last year, said he liked to see the Thon children who played and hung out with the football players smile.

"Just to see the smiles on their faces, to kids it means a lot to them, it means a lot to you," he said. "I remember last year kids tackling me," he added, laughing.

Many of the players had words of support and admiration for the students dancing.

"We appreciate everything they do," tight end Jordan Lyons said. "We understand everything is for the kids."