Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs, Spirit Squad Visit Local Hospital
12/23/2014 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 23, 2014
By Stephen Trembley
strembley@csufresno.edu
www.GoBulldogs.com
HONOLULU -- "This is the Best Day Ever!"
Those words from a young male patient at Kapi'olani Hospital in Honolulu perfectly described a special afternoon for members of the Fresno State football team, spirit squad and staff.
As the last pre-bowl event, the Bulldogs visited women on extended bed rest as well as pediatric children patients to deliver footballs, stuffed animals, pennants and even a large bear as early Christmas presents.
"I feel like Santa Claus in being able to come visit the children and help them out," Jaamal Rose said. "As soon as we came in the door, people were saying how much they love us. There was one guy in a Oregon jacket, who said he always `Bulldog Born. Bulldog Bred.' That's really cool - this was definitely my favorite part of the trip."
The Fresno State players and cheerleaders helped one young girl make a gingerbread house and played a video game with the young boy, who later received his own personal gaming system and game, along with the oversized white bear for his two-year-old sister directly from his now favorite Bulldog players.
"The big thing was he really wanted to get his sister a bear because she always took his," Malique Micenheimer said. "So we went down to this area that's called `Santa's Workshop' and there's a million gifts in there. It was amazing. That was the biggest bear in there, so we thought that was perfect."
And as much as the Bulldogs were able to give, the student-athletes were inspired and the experience made their Christmas.
"It's great to come here at Christmas time," Kyle Hendrickson said. "It's an honor to come here and makes us feel good, as it does for the children. To see someone look up to me is unreal. This definitely carries over to the game tomorrow. We're playing for something more than our program. We're playing for these people that care about our program - new and old fans of ours that will be watching all over the state of Hawai'i and around the country on TVs. That means a lot to us."
Fresno State and Rice will battle on Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium on Wednesday at 5 p.m. PT. The 2014 Hawai'i Bowl will be broadcast on ESPN.
"Be Bold!" - The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio.
