You don't need to be at the Bryce Jordan Center to feel the excitement of THON weekend. A couple of blocks away from the 46-hour dance marathon, members of the Penn State football team personally escorted 15 Make-A-Wish children and their families around the Lasch Football Building Saturday afternoon.
Associate Athletic Director for Football Administration Fran Ganter said the team members wanted to do their part for THON.
"We pair each child up with one or two guys, and they lead the kids all around," Ganter said. "About 50 of members of the team wanted to do this, but we could only take about 30."
Football player DeOn'tae Pannell, who first participated in the Make-A-Wish event last year, said it's a great feeling to contribute to a small part of THON.
"It's really fun for me to see how excited they are to be here," Pannell (sophomore-crime, law, and justice) said.
The children got to put themselves in a football player's shoes - literally -- by suiting up in the locker room with helmets and shoulder pads, being careful not to step on the white 'S' centered on the carpet. The accidental offender would then have to drop down and do push ups.
Stephanie Miller, mother of Make-A-Wish children MacKenzie, 9, and Ryan Miller, 8, said this is her family's fourth year at THON and first time with the Make-A-Wish foundation.
"Our daughter Kyla passed away in 2007, but we still come," she said. "This is such a great experience, and the kids think it's a blast."
Football player Tyler Ahrenhold (junior-labor and employment relations) showed the Miller family the ins and outs of the building, even stopping for a quick game of air hockey in the study lounge with kids.
Ryan Miller even experienced a workout in the football fitness room when football player Andrew Dailey (junior-commercial recreation) helped him run on the treadmill, keeping him balanced as Ryan stretched as far as he could to reach the pedals.
After working up an appetite, the tour concluded about two hours later with chocolate chip cookies and "Peachy Paterno" ice cream. Hugs and high-fives were exchanged, while kids asked their new friends on the football team to visit them later at the BJC.
