MOBILE, Ala. -- It was all smiles for seven-year old Mikaila as Daon Merritt and DeAndre Coleman popped into her room Monday. All 16 members of the men's basketball team and Head Coach Ronnie Arrow spent the afternoon signing autographs and visiting patients at the USA Children and Women's Hospital in Mobile.
Between classes and study hall, the players took a day off from preseason conditioning to make the trip. While some of the patients were sleeping or receiving treatments, about a dozen were able to take their minds off of their medical concerns to talk basketball, cheerleading, lipstick and dirt bikes. The Jaguars handed out pom-poms and t-shirts before saying goodbye for the evening.
"It's nice to be able to bring smiles to the children's faces," Merritt said. "We are so lucky to be healthy, to be able to attend school and to play Division I basketball. Visits like this put it all into perspective."
Under NCAA rules, the Jaguars are currently involved in preseason conditioning and drills before the official practice period begins Oct. 12. The Jaguars return six letterwinners, including the starting backcourt, from last year’s squad that went 20-12 and earned their second straight Sun Belt Conference division title.
Season tickets for the 2007-08 campaign are now on sale. Call the Mitchell Center ticket office 461-6047 for more information.
