Over the two days after school let out for the summer Jack participated in the Jonathan Stewart Football Pro Camp. For several years it was Steve Smith’s Pro Camp (in fact Jack had an amazing time at his 2013 camp, meeting Luke Kuechly, Brandon LaFell, and Charles Godfrey and even catching a pass from Steve himself). Steve Smith moved on to the Baltimore Ravens this past season, although he still calls Charlotte home, and so it was time to pass the reins to a Carolina Panther. Running back Jonathan Stewart was the new lead to the camp but Steve Smith joined him in his first year as a co-host. Also joining them on the field for the camp were Carolina Panthers Luke Kuechly and Mike Tolbert. Jack LOVES football so just getting to go to a football camp is ideal for him, but you add in playing with professional football players and it couldn’t be much cooler. And we all love the Carolina Panthers, so we enjoy watching at the beginning and end of each camp day to see which Panthers we can spot.
{luke kuechly and steve smith}
{meeting his coach.}
{motivational speech by jonathan stewart.}
{jack looks sooo motivated…}
{stretching out with jonathan stewart.}
{ooh, even better—stretching out with luke kuechly.}
{i wasn’t there when luke played with jack’s team, but i just think it’s so awesome how the panthers get out there and play with each team.}
{jonathan stewart threw with jack’s team for the quite a while, although he really had his favorite targets. steve smith always seemed so thoughtfully methodical, making sure just about every kid got a throw from him.}
{some parting words from steve smith—charlotte misses you #89! i can’t say enough about what a stand-up family guy he is.}
{jack was sent home with a jonathan stewart autograph and a hard copy of this team photo. jack with his carolina panther buds—luke kuechly, jonathan stewart, mike tolbert, and steve smith (well, i guess smith is a baltimore raven now, but he’ll always be a panther to us—awesome guy who we happened to also hang out with just a few weeks earlier at his memorial day lace up son 5k).}