The Wabash football team proved to be nearly unstoppable last fall. Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 28, eight members of the team met several children with that same unstoppable attitude.
Adam Pilli, Erik Shaver, Bryan Engh, Dan Masterson, Josh Burgan, Nate Powell, Josh Gangloff, and Chris Greisl spent the afternoon with patients at the James Whitcomb Riley Hospital for Children at Indianapolis The players split into groups of four, watching the kids paint and draw. One group of patients hopes to have its artwork featured as a holiday card produced each December by the Hospital. (Click here to view a photo album of the players' visit to Riley.)
Powell and Meagan worked on a picture of a cow after producing an earlier masterpiece of a tree with rain on one side and a bright sun on the other. A quick signature by the artist and the freshman offensive lineman, Merrillville, produced an original work to add to the collection for the day.
"She’s so tiny," Powell said after helping one of the nurses take Meagan back to her room after the craft period. "I didn’t think she would even be able to get all the way to her bed. But she just kept going, step after step, down the hallway. That really sticks with you."
Engh and Greisl learned to make spin art. While talking to one patient, Edward, about his artwork the question about the Wabash nickname, Little Giants, was raised. Engh told him about the 1904 football game that Wabash nearly won, despite being the smaller team. The coach told the team they played like little giants on the field. A reporter heard the comment and used it in his story, and since that time Wabash teams have been called the Little Giants.
A few minutes later Edward felt like one of the Little Giants, accepting a Wabash sweatshirt given to him by the players. He went back to his room to don the shirt. In the meantime, the visitation period ended for the players, and they headed for the lobby to board the van back to campus. Just before leaving, Edward and his mother appeared in the lobby, clad in the new sweatshirt with a smile beaming from ear to ear.
"I’ll come back anytime they’ll let us," Gangloff said on the trip home. "I’m thankful for what I have in my life and the opportunity I have to play football and go to school at Wabash. But the strength of spirit those children showed today despite all of the things going on in their lives was amazing. I’m ready to go back right now and spend more time with them."
Harris is Wabash College's Sports Information Director.
Photo - Erik Shaver (58), Josh Gangloff (93), Josh Burgan (30), Adam Pilli (5), Dan Masterson (25), Chris Greisl (39), and assistant football coach Steve House pose with Edward and his mother in the Riley Hospital lobby.