Photo courtesy of Rick WilsonJaguars fan Gretchen Harrington gives coach Gus Bradley a hug just before breaking the team down at the end of Thursday's practice.
This article was written about Gretchen's visit to the Jaguar practice field by ESPN (http://espn.go.com/blog/jacksonville-jaguars/post/_/id/8493/longtime-jags-fan-makes-first-visit) after calling Gretchen for an interview. The previous Thursday Gretchen along with our friends from church, Sue and her daughter, Kristin, were able to enjoy the practice session as guests of the Jaguar coach, Gus Bradley. Pretty cool!
This all started 20 years ago when Jacksonville was awarded an NFL franchise, our very own professional team! Gretchen was on board right from the start and has been a supporter for this long. Last season, just before the team was to depart for London for their 'international series' game, Gus Bradley's father passed away. Dear Gretchen, the queen of card sending, sent him a sympathy card and included a separate note telling Coach how much she enjoyed the team and telling him he had her support. Surprisingly, and much to her delight, he wrote her a note back again, thanking her for the kindness. I know the note exists because she brought it to church for us all to see. I has a prominent place in her living room now as I understand it.
Earlier this season, our friend, Terri, got a sneak peek at the stadium with its improvements including vast screens in one end zone and swimming pools added for other attractions in the stadium. She got to speak with the Coach and asked him if he remembered the lady who wrote the note to him when his father died, and he said he did. Cool!
Then, another church friend, Sue, decided to make some phone calls and see what could be worked out for the Jaguars' #1 Fan. They worked it out, without Gretchen's knowledge, that she would get a VIP visit to the practice session, accompanied by Sue and Kristin. They were picked up at their car in the lot, driven to the practice field in a golf cart by a man who used to be a member of our congregation---Richard! How fun was that?? He deposited them on the field sideline where chairs were awaiting them. The ladies watched the practice, Kristin taking pictures, and enjoying the sights.
Then, the Coach came over to them, gave Gretchen a big hug, and then had her join them on the field to break up the practice. All the guys formed a circle around her and Gretchen had to yell, "3-2-1 Jaguars!!", and broke up the huddle. In the article you can read all about it, but she was beyond thrilled. She told us today that she was not going to wash her arms because she had QB Blake Bortle's sweat all over them!! Oh, Gretchen! What a marvelous adventure for her, for them. And, right after church, Kristin and Sue presented Gretchen with a Jaguar frame with her photo taken with the Coach, and a scrapbook Kristin had put together of their day on the practice field. Gretchen kept saying she didn't know why people went out of their way for her like this, but I explained it for her---she is loved. And that's it!!
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