Ray Anderson and the 2009 National PPK Winners It’s a moment I know I’ll never forget. Our weekend had come to an end in San Diego. I was making my rounds to all of the hotel rooms of our Punt, Pass and Kick National qualifiers to say goodbye and congratulate them all one last time, when I reached the room of Harrison and his family.
Earlier that day, little eight-year-old Harrison had been crowned our National Champion for his division. He, along with the other 31 competitors had experienced a day most kids (and adults) can only dream of.
Our day had started with a competition outside Qualcomm Stadium. After an entire year of practicing, and making it through three qualifying rounds, these 32 athletes were competing for a national title.
For some, it was their first trip to PPK Nationals. For others, it was their fourth-straight appearance, a feat so impressive I felt as though I was in the presence of the next Brett Favre. These kids were from all parts of the country, with all different backgrounds. For some, flying to San Diego had been their first time on a plane. For others, they’d soon be flying off to tryouts for Junior Olympic teams or at State Championships for the other sports they were involved in.
For now, though, what brought these kids together was the NFL’s Punt, Pass and Kick program, its oldest youth initiative, started in 1961. After having spent a fun-filled weekend together that included a trip to Sea World, a picnic lunch, a tailgate party and special viewing of the Saturday night playoff games, these 32 competitors now eagerly awaited to determine who would be this year’s National Champions.
After the scores had been calculated and verified, the three of us from the NFL who had worked with the program all year presented each participant with a special trophy, a limited-edition PPK helmet, and congratulated all of them on a job well done.
There was a quick photo-op for the families and friends that had made the journey to San Diego before we all headed into the stadium. With the competition behind us, the rest of the day was a reward for these kids and their families for all of their hard work and dedication throughout the year.
After enjoying the first half of an exciting game from prime seats in the corner of the end zone, we led the kids onto the field for their half-time passing exhibition, allowing each participant to showcase the skills that got them all the way to the national competition. As balls spiraled through the air, the collective “ooo’s” and “ahh’s” of the tens of thousands still in their seats at Qualcomm Stadium energized the competitors even more. The smiles on the kids’ faces were priceless as the each took their turn in the spotlight.
After halftime, we had one last special moment planned for the first-place winners of each of the eight divisions. During the break between the third and fourth quarters, CBS did a live broadcast of Ray Anderson, the NFL’s Vice President of Football Operations, congratulating the winners on the field. As Ray shook the hand of the final competitor, the crowd erupted in cheers and fireworks shot off from the perimeter of the stadium. It was one of those special moments you don’t ever forget and the faces of these kids told me they never would.
When the game had ended, we headed back to the parking lot to board the buses, only to see rainbow appear above the stadium. It was the perfect ending to a day filled with the magic and wonder of the NFL.
Back at the hotel, I visited each of the families I’d gotten so close with one last time, thank them again for a weekend I, too, would never forget and wish them all good luck with everything else they set out to do.
I knocked on the door to Harrison’s family’s room and as it opened, a little eight-year-old boy ran out to greet me in the hallway with one of the biggest hugs I’ve ever gotten. He looked up at me and said with a huge smile, “Thank you, Jacque, for the BEST weekend of my whole life! I’ll never forget this!”
At that moment I realized what all of our hard work and long hours at the office, all the time my coworkers and I had spent on this program throughout the year was really for. It made me see how big the NFL really is, and how its effects are further-reaching than just the game that is played on the field each week.
For these kids, the League had given them an experience they’d remember forever. For me, it was a realization of the impact we had as employees of the League and the importance of our programs like PPK. There’s no better feeling than knowing that the work you do makes a difference.
As we prepare to kickoff the 49th year of this NFL tradition, I want to wish all of this year’s PPK competitors “Good luck!” Practice hard and don’t give up. You never know where your dedication will take you. You might just end up at the national competition and have “The best weekend of your life.”
