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University of Minnesota Athletics
Blog: Gophers Promote Reading With Kids
3/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
University of Minnesota head football coach Tim Brewster and his wife Cathy have three sons. Clint, Eric and Nolan Brewster are grown and out of the house. Coach Brewster misses the days when he could sit his sons on his knee and read a book together.
So days like Thursday, when Brewster got to visit the children at Nativity of Our Lord Elementary School in St. Paul, are very important to the Gophers' head man. Brewster and a handful of his student-athletes visited the local elementary school Thursday morning to promote reading and the importance of education.
"I miss my sons being young," Brewster said. "At this age, kids are so exciting. To get a chance to sit down and read a book with them and spend some time with them is really special. Something I think we're all obligated to do and should do, is reach out to the community and try to help people make their day a little bit better."
Brewster spent time with first-grade students in the library. He read the book "Hello, Goldy!" to the group before answering questions from the youngsters. Brewster then moved on to the classrooms of some of the older children and spoke to them about the importance of reading and school and answered some of their questions.
Nativity of Our Lord librarian Nancy Scanlan said the visit from Coach Brewster and the Gopher players had a very positive impact on the children.
"Just to have somebody who has an aura of being very special makes the kids get excited and proud to be in the space with them," Scanlan said. "Listening to him read makes it even better. Once they sit and hear somebody who is famous enjoy a book, it just gives them an example that books are for everybody and can be enjoyed by everybody."
Thursday's school visit is just one example of the commitment to youth the Gopher program has had under Brewster. Minnesota football players and coaches regularly make visits to children in hospitals, hold youth clinics and do a lot of work with the HopeKids organization.
"I enjoy being out in the community, getting a chance to enjoy some time with these young people," Brewster said. "They're so excited and so energetic. Again, it's just an opportunity for myself and our players to be involved in the community and reach out and touch young people. That's special to us all."
Adam Weber, Matt Carufel, Kim Royston, Kyle Theret and Jeff Wills were among the group of Gopher players to visit with the school children. Also in that group was fullback Willie Schneider. While each one of the Gophers enjoyed meeting with the kids, it was extra special for Schneider. The freshman actually attended Nativity of Our Lord Elementary and got to see many teachers and others who were at the school when he attended.
"It's amazing coming back to look at these kids and think I was once in their shoes," Schneider said. "It maybe gives them the dream that they can come be in my shoes at some point in their lives. Today was very important. Reading is a basic element in school. If you don't read, you're not going to be successful."
Royston, who attended nearby Cretin-Derham Hall High School, was equally as excited to give back to children in his community.
"It's definitely awesome coming back and seeing the excitement in these kids' faces when I tell them I went to Cretin-Derham Hall, a local school," Royston said. "I just think this is something we have to do to give back to our community and let them know that it is possible, even if it's not in athletics, they can make it in the academic world."
-Andy Seeley
