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Barrington 5th Grader Brings Rams’ Steven Jackson to School
Andrew Linzie, a fifth-grade student at Barrington Elementary School, looks on as Steven Jackson, running back for the St. Louis Rams, speaks during an assembly for NFL Take a Player to School. Linzie won the contest for the St. Louis area and Jackson was his guest at school on Dec. 2.
Andrew Linzie will always remember the morning that he went to school with a professional football player.
Linzie, a fifth grader at Barrington Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District, won the “NFL Take a Player to School” contest and he got the opportunity of his young life to have St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson spend a morning with him and his classmates.
On the big day, Linzie said that his first thought was “I get to meet a famous person and take them to school.” He was both happy and nervous, but was so nervous that he didn’t eat breakfast.
Part of the contest included Jackson picking Linzie up at home and taking him to school in a limousine. While he and his family waited for the limo, Linzie said they watched television and kept looking out of the front door. His mother and sister rode in the limo with him and Jackson, while his dad drove separately. When the shiny, black stretch limo pulled up in front of the school, they were greeted by Principal Beverly Boyd, television cameras and photographers. As they entered the building, a group of students, led by teachers, cheered and clapped, welcoming Jackson with a chant and excited smiles.
Linzie and Jackson met with Boyd in her office to talk about the morning’s plan. From there, it was off to the gym for an assembly. They followed school mascot, Spike the Bulldog, inside and the gym erupted to a roar.
Jackson worked his way through rows of kids, bending down to touch outstretched hands like a musician at a rock concert. Waiting at a podium under an arch of gold and blue balloons was Boyd, Linzie and Todd Barnes of JCPenney, a sponsor of the NFL Take a Player to School program.
Using a microphone, Linzie read from a card to introduce Jackson to the audience. He talked to the students about the importance of education, having goals and having a back-up plan. He also spoke about the importance of being active and physically fit, mentioning the NFL’s PLAY 60 campaign, which promotes 60 minutes of exercise every day. He answered a variety of questions posed by the students, such as “What does it take to be a football player?” “Where did you go to college?” and “What is your favorite restaurant in St. Louis and what would you recommend from the menu?”
After the assembly, Jackson helped lead activities for two fifth grade classes, including Linzie’s, during physical education. Activities included jumping rope, using exercise resistance bands and football drills. Each of the students was given a T-shirt with the NFL PLAY 60 logo.
Jackson left Barrington Elementary after the class and Linzie went to his classroom to begin his studies.
At the end of the day, Linzie had time to reflect on what had happened and shared his thoughts.
While riding in the limo, he said that Jackson asked him what he wanted to be when he grows up.
“I want to be a basketball or football player,” he told him. His favorite NBA team is the Boston Celtics and his favorite player is Kevin Garnett. As far as football goes, he likes the St. Louis Rams and the Indianapolis Colts. His favorite Rams are Jackson and Tory Holt.
Linzie’s dad told him that he’d won the contest. He thought it was a game because he didn’t know that his dad registered him for the contest.
“My dad just came home and told me that I won.” Then he said he got a package with “a Rams jersey, a hoodie, a T-shirt, a hat and a real NFL football,” and it became a reality for him.
“This was important to me because it’s the first time I met a famous person, and it’s my first famous person’s autograph.” Jackson signed his football and his jersey, and gave him a poster and football cards.
His favorite part of the whole experience, after much thought, was the moment he walked into the school gym. “When we first walked in, everyone was screaming.”
