Most fans dream of calling plays and giving a pep talk to their favorite team. For 8-year-old Jack Bolton, that dream became a reality Saturday when he was signed as an honorary coach for the Carolina Panthers’ Fan Fest.
As a part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Bolton arrived at the Panthers’ training facility to sign his contract and meet with players, according to Panthers.com. Prior to the event, Bolton had even penned a pregame speech to give to the players, but in all the excitement, he couldn’t bring himself to deliver his inspiring words. So, head coach Ron Rivera read them for him.
Bolton suffers from a disease called spinal muscular atrophy, which severely impairs his mobility and respiratory health and confines him to a motorized wheelchair.
Bolton spent the entire day with the team, and the experience was capped off by quarterback Cam Newton asking for Bolton’s autograph and hanging his game-worn shoes around the youngster’s neck.
Check out the experience below, and make sure you have tissues handy.
Photo of the night
Big Papi, little baby.
Photo via Twitter/@Cut4
Tweet of the night
After more than a decade of being falsely imprisoned, Brian Banks played in his first NFL game Thursday night.
[tweet https://twitter.com/BrianBanksFREE/status/365509249071185922 align=’center’]
Video of the night
Oh, just the Carolina Panthers running back crew singing “Just My Imagination” by The Temptations in a Waffle House.
