Making a difference: MSU visits Scottish Rite Hospital

Michigan State defensive end Shilique Calhoun summed up his team's visit Monday in a tweet.

   Head coach Mark Dantonio and the entire Michigan State Spartan squad spent their Monday afternoon visiting at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Patients, staff members and supporters of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic gathered around the hospital’s cafeteria and welcomed the football team along with their coaching staff in grand fashion.
   President and CEO of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, Bob Walker, started the event thanking the Spartans for visiting with them, followed by remarks from Chairman of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, Dan Novakov.
   During the remarks, Texas Scottish Rite Hospital received a $10,000 donation from the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.
   “I want to thank Scottish Rite Hospital for having us back, Goodyear for everything that you do for the Cotton Bowl, as well, and just the Cotton Bowl in general. One of our goals as a group is to always try to be a light for everybody,” said Dantonio. “Our young people out here, that we’re going to be able to share a little bit of time with, have a day-to-day challenge in a lot of ways that they have to be able to overcome. A lot of it certainly is physical, but probably four times as much is mental and being able to work through the day-to-day things.”
   Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital Orthopedic Surgeon, Amy McIntosh, also gave thanks to her alma mater, Michigan State, for their attendance.
   As the event continued, each Spartan student-athlete, sporting Texas Scottish Rite Hospital caps they were given upon entering, went around the room signing autographs for everyone attending.      Along with autographs, each child received a teddy bear provided by American Airlines; an ‘Eat Mor Chikin’ stuffed animal cow provided by Chick-fil-A; a stuffed Goodyear Blimp provided by Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and a Cotton Bowl T-shirt and poster. Attendees also got to enjoy drinks and snacks provided by the Dr Pepper Snapple Group.
“We were able to do this last year and had a fantastic time. It’s something that all of us were looking forward to doing again this year,” said linebacker Darien Harris. “With the position we’re in, we feel like we can touch a lot of people in the community and in all communities throughout the country. The main thing for us is that [the kids] are a light for us, too, in many senses of the word.”
   Quarterback Connor Cook went around the room making each child smile and laugh while signing autographs. He appreciates football for providing him and his teammates the opportunity to spread smiles and make a difference.
   “Coming here and the impact we can have on kids by playing a simple sport is crazy,” said Cook. “If it wasn’t for football, I would have never impacted these people’s lives. For us to come out here and hang out with the kids and see them smile is great.”
   Director of Marketing for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Seth Klugherz, was present to meet the children along with the team. The afternoon was an inspiring experience for him and something he looked forward to being a part of as a supporter of the Cotton Bowl Classic.
-- Goodyear Cotton Bowl Communications

Photo by Melissa Macatee/CBAA

Photo by Melissa Macatee/CBAA

Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio, Scottish Rite patient Rowan Fitzsimmons and Goodyear's Seth Klugherz. Fitzsimmons and the Spartans have a special connection. Photo by Melissa Macatee/CBAA