LINDA ROBERTS, director of special events/outreach for University of Minnesota athletics, helped coordinate the football team’s annual Youth Day Out at TCF Bank Stadium last Thursday afternoon.
Nearly 200 Twin Cities youngsters, ages 9-14, participated in football drills with Gophers players and received pep talks from Head Coach JERRY KILL and Associate Athletic Director LEO LEWIS. They learned about college life by interacting with Gophers quarterback MARQUEIS GRAY and received words of encouragement from former Minneapolis Washburn player and current defensive end RA’SHEDE HAGEMAN.
In addition to Hageman, who led Washburn to the Class 3A state boys’ basketball title in 2009, there were a few other former prep stars in attendance. SHAWN ROSS, the 2009 St. Paul City Conference Lineman MVP from Central, and LESTER JACKSON, the guard who helped St. Agnes capture the boys’ basketball Class A crown in 1994, chaperoned children from St. Paul Parks and Recreation.
Roberts also made her mark during her prep career. She led St. Paul Central to the first-ever Class AA girls’ basketball title and later went on to become one of the greatest players in Gophers history.
Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader responses to mmcdon ald@spokesman-recorder.com.
Support Black local news
Help amplify Black voices by donating to the MSR. Your contribution enables critical coverage of issues affecting the community and empowers authentic storytelling.