Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Walt Middleton Photography
Day Two at the Camellia Bowl: Football Gives Back and Hits the Practice Field
12/12/2018 1:16:00 PM | Football
The day included community service and time on the gridiron
Photo Gallery: Community Service. Practice #1.
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (EMUEagles.com) - The Eastern Michigan University football team continued its Raycom Media Camellia Bowl preparations Wednesday, Dec. 12, spending the morning giving back to the local community before hitting the practice field for the first time in the Cotton State.
The team split into two groups to engage with two different parts of the Montgomery community. One group of Eagles' student-athletes spent time at Chisholm Elementary School in Montgomery, Ala., interacting with all ages of students.
"It was a great time," recalled sophomore punter Jake Julien (Barrie, Ontario-North Collegiate). "We probably loved it more than they did, honestly. My major is in education, so it means a lot to me to give back to the kids and help set them on a path for success."
The EMU players spread the message of the importance of a strong education to the youths, and spent their time at the school with the students reading books, completing schoolwork, and even throwing the pigskin around in the school's yard.
"I love giving back to the community," noted junior defensive lineman Ty Eddington (Bakersfield, Calif.-East-Bakersfield College). "Getting the opportunity during this bowl week to come talk to the kids and read to them has been one of the best parts of this experience so far."
The other group of student-athletes went to the headquarters of the Montgomery Area Council on Aging in downtown Montgomery, aiding the group in the packing of meals for the local elderly community that are unable to prepare their own.
In the afternoon, the team headed to Alabama State University to conduct its first Camellia bowl practice since arriving in Alabama.
"It feels great to just get going again," said senior running back Ian Eriksen (Clarkston, Mich.-Clarkston). "Feels good to get back in football mode after all the traveling, feels great to be getting ready for game day."
To finish off a full day of events in Montgomery, the Eagles made the trip to Riverwalk Stadium in downtown Montgomery for a taste of Alabama's finest barbeque in a team dinner hosted by the bowl committee. The dinner was the final touch to a day full of embracing all that Montgomery has to offer for the Eastern Michigan student-athletes.
EMU takes on Georgia Southern Saturday, Dec. 15 in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl in Montgomery, Alabama. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m. The Eagles' first bowl game in the continental United States since 1987 will air live on ESPN and will also be available on 89.1 FM WEMU. For more information regarding the bowl game, click here.
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