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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Titans coaches and rookies went for 120 Wednesday so that guests from Boys and Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee and Special Olympics Tennessee could each play 60.
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• Photos: Boys & Girls Club | Special Olympics
Youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs and athletes of many ages from Special Olympics visited Baptist Sports Park for "Play 60 Day," which emphasizes the active lifestyles and healthy choices messages of the Play 60 campaign through a series of fun football drill stations.
About 75 youth from the Boys & Girls Clubs participated in eight different football drills that involved running and throwing the football, and agility, speed and defensive drills for 60 minutes. Following a short break, about 100 Special Olympians participated in the drills for 60 minutes.
Coaches, players and the guests shared smiles and laughs during both sessions.
"This is encouraging them to go out, run around, play whatever game it may be, get active and it will make you feel better," Munchak said. "I think the coaches and players had as much fun as they did. The players and coaches love giving back to the community in any way, and I think (the guests) obviously appreciate their day here, so it's fun for everybody."
Munchak said, although the Play 60 campaign focuses most of its effort toward encouraging youth to get 60 minutes of play a day so that lifelong habits can be initiated early, it is an important message for any age. The second-year head coach encourages his coaching staff to fit in exercise as part of their long work days because he believes it helps them do their jobs better.
"It's a message for everybody, for anyone: stay active," Munchak said. "I think you're going to feel better, you'll be healthier, you're going to make better decisions, you'll feel better about yourself. If you can't do 60, give us 30. I try to tell my coaches the same way."
Dan Jernigan, President/CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Middle Tennessee, said Play 60 reinforces a message of activity and healthfulness that the Boys & Girls Clubs deliver to members, and the opportunity to take the Titans' practice fields creates a lasting memory.
"The Boys & Girls Clubs are so excited to have this partnership with the Tennessee Titans," Jernigan said. "They have been a strong supporter of our organization. Anytime you can get our kids outside — it's such a beautiful day, and get them exercising with the Tennessee Titans, we all benefit."
Sean Stake, Event Marketing Manager for Special Olympics Tennessee, which serves individuals with intellectual disabilities, said Play 60's message aligns with the Healthy Athletes program in Special Olympics. Stake said the Special Olympians had been looking forward to the event.
"They love sports and they love the Titans, so it's like the perfect mix, the perfect storm of awesomeness, in a way," Stake said. "They just love being part of a big event like this and being part of such a great organization like the Titans.
"They see the joy and the fun it can be," he continued, "and a lot of them have maybe never had that experience before, so we're hoping to get them excited about sports, excited about being healthy, excited about all those things that make a healthy lifestyle."
About the Play 60 campaign
The Titans Play 60 initiative encourages youth to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity or play per day in an effort to fight childhood obesity. With the help of local non-profit organizations, like Nashville Metro Public Schools, American Heart Association and the National Dairy Council, the Titans have enhanced this mission and opportunity to reach out to America's youth. Since the NFL's Play 60 inception in 2007, the NFL has committed more than $100 million to youth health and fitness through programming, media time for public service announcements and grants from Titans owner K.S. "Bud" Adams, Jr. and his fellow NFL owners and players.
