By Craig Morgan, thesundevils.com Writer
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Sun Devils quarterback Brady White got down on one knee so he could look into the eyes of three boys half his size.
"Thanks for coming out today," he said as he signed autographs for a group too paralyzed by awe and grins to respond. "I hope you had fun today."
Judging by the dirt on their clothing, the sweat on their faces and the cheers rising from all points of the field, it's fair to say the Sun Devil Youth Experience Clinic was a hit with the eighth-grade-and-under set, but fun was a two-way street as the Sun Devil football team wrapped up its final day of spring practice on Saturday at Sun Devil Soccer Stadium by connecting with the youngest members of its vast community.
"Oh man, this is so much fun," defensive lineman Tashon Smallwood said. "It makes me remember when I was young and doing camps like these. They're taking the coaching really well but that's not what this is about. It’s about the interaction with the kids and I enjoy it as much as they do."
The fifth annual clinic was the brainchild of senior associate athletic director, Tim Cassidy, and was part of a larger weekend in which the football team connected with Sun Devil Nation. On Thursday, players manned a phone bank to personally call or write fans and thank them for their support. On Saturday after the clinic, the families of Sun Devils players and staff had lunch with the team and coaching staff at the ASU Arboretum.
The free clinic on Saturday was open to kids ages 8-13, and afforded them the opportunity to work with coach Todd Graham, members of his staff and Sun Devils players. The participants were led through four 10-minute segments that covered various fundamentals including tackling, ball skills, running, and blocking.
About 200 kids turned out on a perfect day of weather.
"I was honestly skeptical of it, but what a great experience it has been," said former Assistant Athletics Director of Football Operations and High School Relations, John Wrenn, who now serves as a consultant for the football program. "We're trying to build relationships."
The clinic was divided by position into several stations on the soccer field, which was pressed into use while Sun Devil Stadium undergoes renovations. ASU's running backs took turns handing off balls to kids who leaped onto a mat. The offensive lineman held up blocking pads while kids pushed them backward amid howls of laughter from the linemen not working the drills.
Over at the wide receivers' station, position coach Jay Norvell taught the art of running routes and catching balls, but the demands for perfection were significantly relaxed.
"Football is supposed to be fun and I can't tell which side is having more fun out here," Norvell said as he watched the organized chaos in front of him. "Our players were just like these kids at one point. They used to go watch college ball and pro ball and they looked up to the players. Now they're on the other side so they get to give something back just by showing them how to run a route or catch a ball or just encourage them and have some fun with them.
"It's a way for our kids to connect to younger kids and we don’t get that opportunity all the time."
As a loud cheer from a group of boys interrupted his interview, White paused to laugh before noting how the day put everything in proper perspective for ASU's players.
"As athletes, God blessed us with the abilities that we have to come out here and be able to play this sport," he said. "Some guys will get down if they have a bad day and get wrapped up in their problems -- start thinking all these negative thoughts.
"We're passionate about this game and that's important, but there's more to life than just football. Being able to work with these kids and see how excited they are it makes you happy and reminds you of that."