By Mike Gallagher
Sports Writer
CASS CITY — Matthew Stafford, starting quarterback for the Detroit Lions came to Cass City Elementary School on Tuesday, May 5, and he had an important message.
In partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM), Stafford has traveled to schools around Michigan to promote healthy eating and good exercise habits.
“Matthew has done this with us for five years, and we go out to about one school a year,” said Andrew Hetzel, vice president of corporate communications at BCBSM.
Cass City earned the visit by winning the MIKidsCan contest, a contest that asked Michigan kids ages 7 to 14 to share their favorite way to be active. Cass City Elementary won the contest with a two-minute video that showed students dancing, exercising and doing other activities to the song “Be True to Your School”. The video drew more than 2,400 votes out of the 7,000 cast.
“We created the video during homecoming week, and I wanted to show school spirit, and how we’re healthy and active in our elementary,” said creative arts teacher Rebecca Walker who helped the students with the video. “I really didn’t expect this. I didnt know if this was what they were looking for (for the competition), but I thought it’s worth a chance.”
Hetzel said Cass City’s video was just what they wanted.
“They used a song and got the kids involved with what we want them to do during the school day, which is to get up, get moving and be active,” said Hetzel. “They clearly have a curriculum at this school that aligns with what Blue Cross really promotes, which is to engage kids while they are young to make simple choices, like choosing the right foods, and daily exercise to grow up healthy, so it was a natural fit for us to be here today.”
Stafford entered the gym to chants of “Let’s Go Lions” from more than 500 Cass City elementary students.
“The kids were fantastic,” said Stafford, the former first overall pick from Georgia. “I could hear them when I was walking the halls, stomping, chanting my name and doing the Detroit Lions cheers. It was honestly suprising. I don’t get to all the parts of the state to see our following, but there were as many Lions fans as I’ve seen in one room right there.”
Students asked Stafford questions, which ranged from “What are the major food groups?” to “What would you be doing if you weren’t a NFL player?” and even trick questions such as “What is the best meal of the day to skip?”
“It was awesome,” said Stafford. “The kids were super engaged, the questions they had for me were fantastic, and this is probably the best one I’ve been done as far as the crowd goes.
“These kids were geared up and ready to go, no doubt about it.
Stafford was even asked to do a push up challenge and to do the splits with second graders Trent Patrick and Kacee Grey.
“That was my favorite part,” Patrick said.
After questions were answered, the fourth graders performed a song and dance about living healty.
“We’ve never performed for someone like that, so they just felt super privilaged that they had the opportunity to do one of their special things for Matthew Stafford,” Walker said.
“The dance was really good,” Stafford said. “Im glad they didn’t ask me to join them, though. I would have been all off rythm,” he said.
Stafford said it’s special to do events like this.
“It’s really important. I have a very unique platform here to talk to the kids. I practice what I preach, I go out there and tell them to make sure they’re sweating every day, eating good and being healthy, and then they can turn on the TV on Sunday and watch us do it, and that is very rewarding for me,” Stafford said.
One thing the Cass City Elementary students have started doing to stay in shape is the walking program, which Walker assists.
“The kids go into the gym right before lunch and they walk laps around the gym, and as their laps add up they get a little blue football that gets to be up on the wall. … As they continue to earn miles they can earn prizes,” Walker said.
Walker said she feels that Stafford left a lasting impression on the school.
“Our kids were so pumped for this event,” Walker said. “Our younger kids may not know anything about the NFL, but they now know Matthew Stafford.”