Sept. 21, 2007
Thanks to 50 donated tickets from Northwestern University, Special Spectators, a Chicago-based nonprofit arranging for local children with serious illnesses to attend sporting events, attended the football game against Duke on Sept. 15. The day before the big game, four Wildcat football players--Kevin Mims, Eric Peterman, Stefan Demos and Amado Villarreal--met with kids at Children's Memorial Hospital. The day of the game, the fans were able to tour the team locker room, meet the players, shake hands with head coach Pat Fitzgerald, have photographs taken on the field, tour the press box and even get an "announcing lesson" from the WGN's Dave Eanet.
The Special Spectators families enjoyed a tailgate sponsored by CME Group before the game began, assisted by former NU football players, Mike Griffin, Doug Szymul, Donnie Baskin and Joel Layfield. Special Spectators Executive Director, Blake Rockwell described the event as "absolutely great."
"It was filled with so many special moments for the families," Rockwell said. "Getting them into the locker room, meeting Coach Fitz and going up into the radio booth was great. It was the strongest event we have had at NU in our four years working with the university."