The football players do not only score touchdowns on the field; they are also making a big impact in the classroom.
Each Tuesday and Thursday a few of the players make the trip to Harding Academy to mentor children in pre-K through third grade with the Bison Buddy program.
The buddies read with the children or help with any other classwork that they need assistance with. The ‘buddies’ continue this relationship with the kids even outside the classroom, attending special events such as music programs and sporting events.
“The children love interacting with the football ‘celebrities’ of the university,” second grade teacher Donna Brown said.
The second graders in Carol Adams’ class described the ‘buddies’ as “helpful, fun, nice, jokesters.”
The children said that they love spending time with the players of the university football team and actually having a personal connection with the players they see play for the university.
This program is an encouragement to the players, just as much as it is to the students at Harding Academy.
“The best feeling is when you are out in public and you hear them call your name and give you a big hug, that’s the best feeling,” senior defensive linemen Romas Roberson said.
Bison Buddies started in 2009 as a way to get the football team to serve the community.
It began when coach Lee Edwards mentioned the idea of sending football players over to mentor his own son to Adams.
The ‘buddies’ program has now grown to a total of 22 players volunteering twice a week to mentor the children of Harding Academy. Each year new Harding players get to experience Bison Buddies.
