Feb. 7, 2011
In an effort to stress the importance of academics and fitness, members of the UCLA football team visited the 186th Street Elementary School on February 4. The Bruins took part in the school's Super Bowl School Spirit Day to celebrate the student's commitment to academic excellence.
The football players who attended the event were: Sean Westgate, Johnathan Franklin, Datone Jones, Stan McKay, Keenan Graham, Ryan Sublett, Derrick Bryant, Uche Amajoyi, Kip Smith, and Alex Levy.
The Bruins kicked off their day by visiting classrooms and saluted the students for their wonderful academic projects. The Bruins were joined by a few members of the USC football team as they kicked off the after school assembly that encouraged the importance of citizenship, scholarship, and sportsmanship. The two teams formed an academic huddle and UCLA running back Jonathon Franklin called the academic play. He told the students to strive for excellence, respect their teachers, do their homework, and go for their goals and dreams. At the close of his comments, he told the players to bring it in, saying "Excellence on three, excellence on me!" Then all of the players shouted, "Excellence!," and formed another receiving line for all of the children in attendance to go down the line and receive high fives.
The Bruins finished their visit by signing autographs and participating in playground activities with the students.