Haley Young, 5, center, holds up her toy doll that she received while Bowling Green State University football players Jake Burns, left, and Nate Pabst. right, watch during the Sixth Annual Holidays with Falcon Football event hosted by the BGSU football team on Thursday at Perry Field House. (Scott W. Grau/Sentinel-Tribune)
The Bowling Green State University football team took time out from their preparations for the upcoming Quick Lane Bowl to spend some holiday time with children Thursday.
After a morning and early afternoon practice at Perry Field House, from 3:30-5 p.m. BGSU football plays hosted local children ages 2-12 years old for their Sixth Annual Holidays with Falcon Football.
The event provides a celebration for children in the Bowling Green community who might not otherwise have one. The program, conceived and organized entirely by Falcon Football student-athletes, hosted its inaugural event in 2018 with 36 local children.
“We do a lot of community service in the offseason. We do a lot in the summertime, but Holidays with the Falcons and our football camp for disability kids in the summertime is by far, hands-down, my two favorite events,” BGSU coach Scot Loeffler said.
“I think our kids love it. We’re very, very lucky and fortunate to get to do what we do, and I really honestly believe that if we can make anyone smile in the community, if we can bring any joy to anyone, that is our job.
“These guys (BGSU players) have done a phenomenal job with representing themselves in the community and we’ll continue to do that for as long as I get the opportunity to coach here.”
On Dec. 26, the 7-5 Falcons will take on Big Ten member Minnesota (5-7) in the bowl game at Ford Field in downtown Detroit.
