Eighth-grader Erik Forbes was "super nervous" and almost sick-to-his-stomach just before he walked into the San Diego Chargers training facility Friday.
Todd Forbes gave his son a quick pep talk and reminded Erik of how much fun he was going to have once he was inside the doors.
Dillon Joyce, on the same day, was walking into the Philadelphia Eagles office, 2,700 miles across the country.
He, too, was in awe of what he was about to do.
The 14-year-old Noblesville Middle School students were among 32 Central Indiana ambassadors who delivered Indianapolis' bid to host Super Bowl 2012 to NFL teams. The city is competing with Houston and Phoenix.
The boys, who've been friends since kindergarten at Hazel Dell Elementary and who play football, baseball and basketball together, said they had the time of their lives. It was an experience they won't soon forget.
"My trip to Philadelphia was incredible," Dillon Joyce wrote in an e-mail after his return from the Philadelphia Eagles office, where he met with the Eagles owner's assistant Bridget Michener.
"I told her why they should vote for Indianapolis," said Joyce, whose father Brian Joyce chaperoned the trip.
They toured the training facility, met players, and then Dillon received game-worn jerseys of guard Shawn Andrews and quarterback Donavan McNabb, and an autographed jersey from McNabb. They had lunch in the facility's cafeteria, were chauffeured by team owner Jeffrey Lurie's personal driver, and toured Lincoln Financial Stadium, where the Eagles play.
It's easy to say that that was one of the greatest experiences of my life," Dillon said.
Erik Forbes, whose father Todd Forbes chaperoned his trip to deliver the bid to the San Diego Chargers, met A.J. Spanos, the son of owner Alex Spanos, and toured the offices and practice facility. Erik told Spanos about Indianapolis' new stadium, to Spanos' reply: "I wish we were getting one."
Erik handed Spanos the bid, stuttered a moment, his dad said, then told how honored he was to deliver the bid for the city of Indianapolis.
The teen also met Hall of Famer wide receiver Charlie Joiner, pro-bowl defensive lineman Luis Castillo and all-pro offensive lineman Marcus McNeill. He saw Chargers cornerback Darren Sproles, and received a Chargers hat, photos, calendar and video.
The students, who will be seniors in 2012, will continue as ambassadors until the Super Bowl that year if Indianapolis is awarded the bid.
Original Story:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar....
Todd Forbes gave his son a quick pep talk and reminded Erik of how much fun he was going to have once he was inside the doors.
Dillon Joyce, on the same day, was walking into the Philadelphia Eagles office, 2,700 miles across the country.
He, too, was in awe of what he was about to do.
The 14-year-old Noblesville Middle School students were among 32 Central Indiana ambassadors who delivered Indianapolis' bid to host Super Bowl 2012 to NFL teams. The city is competing with Houston and Phoenix.
The boys, who've been friends since kindergarten at Hazel Dell Elementary and who play football, baseball and basketball together, said they had the time of their lives. It was an experience they won't soon forget.
"My trip to Philadelphia was incredible," Dillon Joyce wrote in an e-mail after his return from the Philadelphia Eagles office, where he met with the Eagles owner's assistant Bridget Michener.
"I told her why they should vote for Indianapolis," said Joyce, whose father Brian Joyce chaperoned the trip.
They toured the training facility, met players, and then Dillon received game-worn jerseys of guard Shawn Andrews and quarterback Donavan McNabb, and an autographed jersey from McNabb. They had lunch in the facility's cafeteria, were chauffeured by team owner Jeffrey Lurie's personal driver, and toured Lincoln Financial Stadium, where the Eagles play.
It's easy to say that that was one of the greatest experiences of my life," Dillon said.
Erik Forbes, whose father Todd Forbes chaperoned his trip to deliver the bid to the San Diego Chargers, met A.J. Spanos, the son of owner Alex Spanos, and toured the offices and practice facility. Erik told Spanos about Indianapolis' new stadium, to Spanos' reply: "I wish we were getting one."
Erik handed Spanos the bid, stuttered a moment, his dad said, then told how honored he was to deliver the bid for the city of Indianapolis.
The teen also met Hall of Famer wide receiver Charlie Joiner, pro-bowl defensive lineman Luis Castillo and all-pro offensive lineman Marcus McNeill. He saw Chargers cornerback Darren Sproles, and received a Chargers hat, photos, calendar and video.
The students, who will be seniors in 2012, will continue as ambassadors until the Super Bowl that year if Indianapolis is awarded the bid.
Original Story:
http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar....
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