BYU junior safety Raider Damuni said he was once a young, impressionable kid, idolizing players like himself.
“I remember being in a spot like this looking up to football players,” Damuni said Tuesday, as players for BYU and Georgia Tech mingled about at Orlando’s Fun Spot during a Pop-Tarts Bowl kids event at the popular attraction. “So it’s great to come out here, spend time with the kids and have fun with them.”
Brigham Young, runner-up in the Big 12 this season, will take on Georgia Tech, the representative from the ACC, in Saturday’s Pop-Tarts Bowl at Camping World Stadium, 3:30 p.m. (ABC).
Players from both teams will be able to enjoy many of the attractions Orlando has to offer during bowl week, like trips to Walt Disney World and Universal, but Damuni said make no mistake, this is also a football trip.
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“A lot of it is fun, and you get opportunities to do fun things,” he said. “But at the same time, it’s a business trip, as well, so you still have that aspect with everything. It’s been fun to have a little bit of a reward for the season, but it’s still high expectations for us to perform.”
Georgia Tech coach Brent Key is no stranger to Orlando, having spent 11 seasons (2005-15) at UCF in various coaching roles, including offensive coordinator. This is his third year as head coach at Tech.
“We say all the time it’s about the players, and it’s about the kids. It’s always gonna be about the kids,” Key said. “We have a chance to interact with other kids, kids in the community, and hopefully give them a positive vibe of what our game is and what our game does to develop [players] and to be better people later on.”
BYU senior offensive lineman Austin Leausa, who spent a lot of time hanging out with 11-year-old Tramelle Dixon at Fun Spot, has plenty of experience with children. He and his wife Gingerlei, have two daughters, Naisina and Grace.
Football players and Central Florida children ride the Freedom Flyer during children’s day for the 36th annual Pop-Tarts Bowl teams at Fun Spot America, on Tuesday. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
“It’s a big thing. I got two kids of my own, so just seeing their smiling faces and them having a good time, it’s been a good time for us, so it’s perfect,” said Leausa, whose children did not come to Fun Spot. “They’re back at the hotel with my wife right now, so they’re ready to get to Disney World and Universal, so we’re excited.”
It’s Leausa’s last ride with BYU in the team setting.
“Yeah, I’m just taking everything in, me being a senior and just really excited for the future, but we’re focusing on the game and all of the activities we have here with the Pop-Tarts Bowl.”
Georgia Tech DL Jordan Van Den Berg, left, and QB Haynes King wait to ride the SkyCoaster during kids day for the 36th annual Pop-Tarts Bowl, at Fun Spot America, on Tuesday. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
Georgia Tech senior defensive tackle Jason Moore said he enjoys being a role model for the young kids.
“For me, this is just so awesome. Being kind of like a person who is an intercity kid from Atlanta, it’s nice just being around people who aspire to be or wanna be like you,” Moore said. “So just kind of shining your light in a positive way and having a positive influence over these kids at such a young age has been a great time.
“How exuberant and excited they were the entire time, going from ride to ride, just kind of lights up your day.”
Football players from the 36th annual Pop-Tarts Bowl teams, Georgia Tech and Brigham Young University, join Central Florida children for a morning of fun at Fun Spot America on Tuesday. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)
BYU coach Kalani Sitake said bowl-game experiences are always a great reward for the teams involved.
“That’s why I love bowl games. Anytime we have an opportunity to be in the community and hang out with the people and do some service … the connection between the people is what makes a bowl game that much better than just a regular football game,” Sitake said.
Chris Hays can be found on X.com @OS_ChrisHays.
Players and children ride the White Lightning during the Pop-Tarts Bowl Day for Kids at Fun Spot America on Tuesday. (Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel)