USC Pigskin Poets Get Kids Reading

School may be out but some University of South Carolina football players got kids to focus on reading.

The players kicked off the 2008 season of the Pigskin Poets Program Friday at Columbia’s Richland County Public Library. Pigskin Poets emphasizes the importance of summer reading. Stories, games, and autographs were in the morning lineup.

Wilhelm Elliott, age 7, has been attending Pigskin Poets since he was age 1.

“I think it’s great…lots of fun”, said Elliott.

Pigskin Poet Leader, Darion McCloud has been with the program for ten years. He said Pigskin Poets helps keep students from dropping out of school.

“It’s hugely important”, said McCloud, “dropout rates are so high and its good to get players to give the message that literacy is important and fun.“

Ryan Broadhead is in his second year as a pigskin poet. He read the well-known childhood book ‘Chicka Chicka Boom Boom’ by Bill Martin.

“It’s great to see the kids and just to see how happy they are to see us…everybody tells us they look up to us…its just good to show the community that we do appreciate them…I love it” said Broadhead.

The USC Pigskin Poets read to over three hundred adoring fans and were honored with a special library medal.

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