BOCA RATON, Fla. – FAU linebacker Akileis Leroy is normally lauded for his ability to read offensive keys and make plays on the field.
But he drew applause off it by reading something a bit simpler: a picture book.
Leroy and six of his teammates visited the Boca Raton Public Library on Monday to read to school-aged children. Once story time was over, the players posed for pictures and handed out autographed FAU posters to the young fans in attendance.
They even orchestrated a group rendition of the FAU fight song.
"Just to put a smile on their face means a lot," quarterback Justin Agner said.
The players' appearance precedes FAU's Love Libraries Day on Saturday, in which Boca Raton Public Library cardholders can purchase discounted tickets ($5) to the Owls' 6 p.m. home battle against Wagner.
FAU is also participating in the Extra Yards for Teachers promotion on Saturday. The promotion, led by the College Football Playoff Foundation, is a week-long event honoring and empowering teachers nationwide.
As part of the promotion, all teachers will receive 25% off their ticket purchases if they show a valid teacher's ID or badge at the FAU Stadium box office. In addition, FAU Athletics will honor teachers from A.D. Henderson University School during the game, presenting them with $10,000 in Michael's Gift Cards.
Safety Ahman Ross thinks the recognition for teachers is well-deserved.
"It's really an underappreciated job in the workforce, and it's really needed," he said.
FAU's student-athletes are joining the proceedings, too. Those who earned a 3.0 GPA in the spring semester will be honored at halftime. FAU's student-athletes have done so collectively for eight consecutive semesters.
Once the autograph signing concluded, the kids began scurrying out the doors – except for one. A child wearing glasses, an oversized black polo shirt and a yellow safety patrol belt had a message for Leroy: "I like your touchdown dance," he said.
The child was referring to the moves Leroy broke out during his reading of My First Book of Football: A Rookie Book. Leroy bent his knees and wiggled them in and out, inciting an eruption of laughs and smiles from the kids seated ahead of him.
The players came to the library to help educate the younger generation. But that child's comment taught Leroy learn something, too.
"It just lets me know that the game of football is bigger than football," Leroy said.