Penn State football brings smiles to annual Children's Hospital stops, one of its 'best days of the year'

HERSHEY — The Tree House Cafe inside the Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital was busy on Wednesday afternoon. Hulking football players colored and played tic-tac-toe with pediatric patients and their families at a long table in the center of the dining era. In a nearby booth, members of the Lions’ recently enrolled Class of 2024 giggled as their new friends made quick work of them in a game of Connect 4. It’s the one day every year when coach James Franklin‘s team can set aside its core value tied to competing in everything. This day is about a different kind of winning.

The rewards of these competitions are endless smiles from Franklin, players, Children’s Hospital patients, Four Diamonds, and Children’s Miracle Network children and their families, which light up the room for about two hours. In another corner of it, miniature footballs are being tossed. Some are trying to split an inflated upright with a pass. The massive hands of first-year offensive tackle Garrett Sexton catch each successful attempt, and there are many.

In another part of the hospital, Franklin and team stars like linebacker Abdul Carter, running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, and many others are conducting in-room visits. Later, they all gather for some final game and conversations in the cafe. Before long, the 11th-year leader of the Lions, who started this annual event upon his arrival in 2014, is gathering everyone for a group photo. The trip may only last a defined period of time, but the memories undoubtedly last a lifetime.

Penn State coach James Franklin calls it “one of our best days of the year”

“I’d say it’s really turned into kind of one of our best days of the year, being able to come here and make an impact off the field,” Franklin said before the team left to head back to State College. “First of all, I hope we make a difference with the young people in the hospital and their families. Maybe bring some normalcy and a distraction to what’s going on. And, the other thing that happens is, it’s really good perspective for our players. When they think they’re having a tough day, I think this is pretty good perspective for them. I hope it’s a win-win.”

Redshirt senior center Nick Dawkins certainly thinks it is. He’s been coming to Chocolatetown for this event for years. And, he finds each and every trip special.

“I think something we forget in this sphere of college football, when a lot of attention is brought to you, that this is what it’s all about,” he said. “It’s about being a part of something bigger than yourself, giving back, and using the platform we have now to make a difference and be influential in the community wherever you’re at. It’s finding the beauty in the ordinary things. Being around and putting a smile on someone’s face, I think that’s the beauty of it.”

Before long, Penn State will start summer workouts. Then, preseason camp will arrive, and a new season will follow. During the fall, there are as likely to be thrilling highs as crushing lows. It’s in those moments that these memories will set the program’s perspective for the issue at hand and what lies ahead, which is why the Lions make this annual trek down Route 322 every spring.

“It’s incredibly important,” redshirt senior defensive tackle D’Von Ellies said. “This is the formative time for the team. [Coming here] may seem like a little thing to us, but outside looking in, it’s a huge thing. We take it as serious as a summer workout. I think that’s really what you’ve seen today, the excitement, the energy, that’s what we bring every single day from sunup to sundown.”