San Francisco 49ers starting right guard Alex Boone knows how to keep big defensive linemen from getting to the quarterback. The 6-foot-8, 325-pound third-year player had a bit of trouble keeping hundreds of school children in Redwood City on Monday, though.
Not that he minded.
Just 17 hours after the 49ers finished off the Miami Dolphins, 27-13, on Sunday at Candlestick Park, Boone was showing kids how to jump rope, run fast, do pushups and perform agility drills at Roy Cloud School in Redwood City on Monday morning.
"I feel great," Boone said afterward. "It's good to be out with the kids. I had a blast."
Boone was there as part of the NFL's Play 60 program to encourage kids to be active for 60 minutes a day in order to help reverse the trend of childhood obesity.
"Child obesity is a big problem in this country right now," Boone told the assembled crowd, which packed the school's gymnasium. "Eat healthy and be healthy. When I was growing up, I was a big kid. I was 6-8, 275 pounds in the eighth grade. I always tried to stay active."
Monday is a normal day off for NFL players, though Boone was lifting weights at 6:30 a.m. before getting quite a workout with the kids.
Boone, who majored in history at Ohio State, also talked about teamwork in response to one student's question.
"Just like in school, when you're on a team you have to get together for the greater good," he said. "You silence your ego, do your job and trust the guys around you do their jobs. We go out and win together."
Jim Balestrieri and Sarah Orton teamed up to write the grant that eventually led to the award.
Comcast area vice president Kim Lynch said the award - which came from the NFL Network, the 49ers and Comcast - is given to schools "who make health and wellness a priority."
Roy Cloud principal Greg Land attended Sunday's game and was presented with one $10,000 check on the field.
A second $10,000 Play 60 check was also presented to the Redwood City School District (RCSD) on Monday during the assembly.
RCSD Superintendent Jan Christensen said one check will go toward P.E. equipment for Roy Cloud School, and one check will serve the whole district through "Serve Peninsula," part of the Sequoia Health Care District.
Boone arrived in front of the Roy Cloud Office to a rousing reception from students, teachers and parents alike. Everybody seemed to be wearing something red, and red and gold balloons were tied to posts along the path Boone took to the gym.
The 25-year-old Cleveland native needed about three seconds to fully engage his audience, and posed for pictures in front of the school office, inside the office, in the gymnasium and out on the outdoor facilities.
He also took the time to sign autographs for more than 100 people.
His enthusiasm proved infectious, as kids from kindergarten through eighth grade hung around just to watch a select group of kids go through a set of activities designed to give every muscle in the body a workout.
Boone was on campus for about 90 minutes, but left behind a lifetime of memories.
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