University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Second-Annual Row The Boat BBQ a Success
7/31/2019 4:29:00 PM | Football
Fleck, members of the football team visited with patients and staff at annual event.
Instead they were at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children's Hospital to lift the spirits of patients, families and staff at the second-annual Row The Boat BBQ.
Coach P.J. Fleck and members of the football team spent two hours hosting a picnic with hospital patients outside on a beautiful Minnesota summer day. Fleck and team members can routinely be found at the hospital encouraging patients and visiting with the amazing staff on campus.
A year ago, at the inaugural Row The Boat BBQ, Coach Fleck, his wife Heather and their four children were on hand as the hospital unveiled a Row The Boat wall at the world-class facility. The graphic tells the history of Row The Boat, which is a never-give-up mantra and lifestyle.
At this year's event, the team and hospital patients and families played games, got their faces painted, danced to a DJ and ate amazing food. There were also raffles and prize giveaways, but the highlight of the event was when patients would routinely send football players to the depths of a dunk booth with an accurate fastball.
Caribou Coffee was also on hand and donated $10,000 from proceeds of its Row The Boat coffee blend to a fund set up by the Fleck family to support patients and families at the hospital.
When coffee and football combine, our families win!
— Masonic Children's (@UMNChildrens) July 30, 2019
Watch as @cariboucoffee donates $10K in proceeds from its #RowTheBoat coffee blend to a special fund set up by @Coach_Fleck to support our patients and families! #Gophers #Giving pic.twitter.com/lwNjOdAiwm
One player who has spent more time at the hospital than anyone else is Minnesota's placeholder Casey O'Brien. The Minnesota native, who recently inspired all of college football with a moving speech at the Big Ten Kickoff Luncheon, spent more than 200 nights at the hospital battling cancer. O'Brien is a four-time cancer survivor and served as an honorary emcee at the BBQ. He also spoke to the patients in attendance and encouraged them to never give and know that they were being treated at one of the best facilities in the world.
Great Day start to finish! Started Delayed Intensification this morning and picnicked with @Coach_Fleck, @hfleck10, @caseyob14 and @GopherFootball this afternoon. Thanks for a another great day @UMNChildrens #RTB pic.twitter.com/sQID4mDurJ
— TeamBrax (@TeamBrax1) July 31, 2019
We had an Elite afternoon at the Row the Boat BBQ! Thank you to @hfleck10 and @Coach_Fleck for all that you do for @UMNChildrens! This group of student athletes have had a huge impact on our family! #RTB #Gophers pic.twitter.com/CFe4PrMVC4
— Matt Wagner (@bigdaddywags1) July 30, 2019
#Gophers kicking off fall camp with some community involvement at UofM Masonic Children's hospital.
— Hobie Artigue (@HobieFOX9) July 30, 2019
Team hosting the Row The Boat BBQ. @Coach_Fleck & players visiting this afternoon with patients and their families on a gorgeous afternoon. pic.twitter.com/fWrRxDjClz