TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Bucs Thrill Kids At Hometown Huddle

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 15, 2007

TAMPA - Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Ike Hilliard parked near a canopy of oak trees surrounding Sulphur Springs Elementary and strode into the school through a side door.

His step full of bounce, Hilliard was on hand for the Hometown Huddle. But No. 19 didn't know energy until he met 703 children celebrating a special Bucs Day, an opportunity for them to wear pewter and red and scream some cheers.

Students waved red flags made of construction paper, their eyes shielded from the sun by art class-made Bucs visors.

Sulphur Springs Elementary, 8412 N. 13th St., was selected for attention by the United Way and the National Football League, which team up one Tuesday a year to contribute to a school or other destination in pro football cities.

At two pep rallies recently, Sulphur Springs students were presented with about $5,000 worth of physical education equipment ranging from basketballs to Hula-Hoops. Bucs players will return to help redo the school's basketball court and play area.

Science lab teacher Marlin Steward described the scene of Hilliard, guard/center Matt Lehr, wide receiver Maurice Stovall, cornerback Sammy Davis and Bucs mascot Captain Fear delivering the playground goods and greeting the children as a 'beautiful thing.'

United Way of Tampa Bay spokeswoman Elaine Speer said the school was selected because Sulphur Springs, a working-class neighborhood near Interstate 275 and the Hillsborough River, is the focus of a community improvement initiative.

Janis D. Froelich

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT