Senior Bowl Visit A Hit With Local Kids

It didn't take rising NFL prospect Foster Moreau long to connect with local kids Friday at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
The former LSU tight end, named earlier Friday as the offensive practice player of the week in Mobile at the Reese's Senior Bowl, asked the youths about the morning chill.
"Hey guys, what's going on… are you guys cold?"
"No!" came the loud response of 40 or so kids gathered on the stadium field for a visit from Senior Bowl players.
"Good answer!" he said, before telling the kids he was eager to start drills with them.
He had a ball. That was the idea.
Moreau, one of six Senior Bowl players visiting, was part of a breakthrough moment in a venue known for its firsts.
This was the first time the Reese's Senior Bowl had players traveling from Mobile - a day before the game as well - to Pensacola for an event.
The 70th annual Senior Bowl is set for 1:30 p.m. kickoff Saturday at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile. Tickets remain available. The game will also be broadcast on the NFL Network.
Oakland Raiders' coach Jon Gruden will coach the North squad. San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan will coach the South squad.
Pensacola radio station WPNN (FM 103.7) will broadcast the game with Paul Chestnutt handling play-by-play duties.
Friday was a rare break for players amid a week of practices, team meetings, and interviews with NFL teams.
In an hour, they got a short workout with the kids, signed everyone's autograph request and posed for photos.
Along with Moreau, the other players attending were Alabama linebacker Christian Miller, Florida State defensive tackle Demarcus Christmas, Utah State tight end Dax Raymond, Southern Cal defensive back Iman Marshall, and LSU kicker Cole Tracy.
The area kids got out of school Friday morning to participate. The event was a joint venture by the Blue Wahoos and Studer55 Community Athletics.
"It's very special for these guys to come all the way over here when they have so much going on right now in their lives," said David Wilson, director of Studer55 Community Athletics. "It means a lot and hopefully it can be the start of something really big."
Moreau, a 6-foot-6, 250 pound tight end, has wowed NFL scouts this week with his blocking and his pass-catching.
He also impressed Friday when a young boy attending the event asked about LSU's epic, 74-72 seven-overtime loss Nov. 24 against Texas A&M the past season.
"For the record, I am 3-1 against Texas A&M," Moreau said, as the kids laughed. "Losing in seven overtimes is tough. Especially when we felt we had it won so many different times. It was tough.
"Everyone is going to have to learn to lose sometime…. unless you go to Alabama. But you have to be a gracious winner and an even more gracious loser."
That response got the kids' attention.
Another kid asked FSU's Christmas about the loss against Miami. As the Senior Bowl players broke into a roar, Wilson stepped in to make an interception.
"Guys, I will tell you what. I have been around this game for 30-35 years at all different levels, and all different places," Wilson said. "I know this is true. Everybody will always lose a game somewhere. Now how you did with it is how you move forward. He has many great days ahead of him."
Later Friday night, the fourth flag football season wrapped up with championship games at Blue Wahoos Stadium. This is the first year connected with NFL Flag youth football program.
From the beginning, Pensacola native Derrick Brooks, who rose from Booker T. Washington High greatness to FSU All-American to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has been the presenting sponsor.
As a bonus, the ones attending Friday morning got to meet players who will soon be drafted into the NFL.
"It's great for these kids to see these guys who are so talented, such special people," Wilson said.
The Blue Wahoos are hoping Friday's first venture can be the start of an extended partnership with the Reese's Senior Bowl.