THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, October 26, 1996 TAG: 9610260271
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY ANNE SAITA, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: 79 lines
Defensive players Tony Mann and Omari Salisbury on Friday tackled something possibly far tougher than football: questions from fourth- and fifth-graders at Pasquotank Elementary School.
The two Elizabeth City State University athletes were there to inspire students to stay in school and remain drug-free. Both wore red ribbons on their blue jerseys, just like their similarly tagged young audience.
While 45 of their teammates were handing out advice and autographs in nearby classrooms, Mann, of Kansas City, and Salisbury, of Seattle, were being thrown a wide array of questions by Jenny Newell's class.
``What's it like to tackle somebody?''
``Do you have fun out there?''
``What do you want to do when you get older?''
``Do you care for the homeless?''
``Have you ever gotten a football stuck in your helmet?''
The two had an answer for all of them, as well as a word or two about staying away from illegal drugs.
The ECSU football team was at Pasquotank Elementary School to help celebrate Red Ribbon Week, a national drug awareness program that's beginning to take hold in the area.
Sheep-Harney Elementary School in Elizabeth City and College of The Albemarle also have planned special events to promote drug-free communities.
Solidarity is shown with red ribbons being worn through Thursday by area law enforcement, school staffs and students.
``It shows intolerance for drugs in our schools, workplaces and communities, and the red ribbon has become a symbol of that,'' said Pat Bishop, a Pasquotank Elementary parent who introduced the program to the school.
Bishop and her family of four came from the San Francisco area, where Red Ribbon Week has been well-received.
``In California, the whole community got involved. Everywhere you looked you'd see red ribbons,'' Bishop said. ``It was quite impressive, and I'd like to see that in this area.''
Friday morning, Pasquotank County Sheriff Randy Cartwright toured several classrooms and then spoke to all 506 students over the public address system.
The sheriff explained how the national campaign began after a federal agent was killed by drug traffickers in 1985. The program is run by the National Federation of Parents for a Drug Free Youth.
During Red Ribbon Week, children are taught about the dangers of drug use. Families are encouraged to discuss the issue at home.
Next week Elizabeth City police will tour Pasquotank Elementary with McGruff, the costumed character who wants to take a bite out of crime.
The activities help reinforce what Pasquotank Sheriff's Deputy Todd Wagner tells area youths all year long. He's been the county's Drug Abuse Resistance Education officer for four years.
``It's a big boost when the children see athletes with a positive message, positive role-modeling,'' Wagner said as the ECSU players embarked on their half-hour tour.
A coach for the team, Ernest Wilson, said, ``We want the players to know their job is more than football - that they have a job to do with our future generation.''
That generation also seemed to appreciate the significance of Red Ribbon Week.
``A lot of people get killed from doing'' drugs, said fourth-grader Jenna Rackley.
And the ribbons?
``I think they're cool,'' said fifth-grader Daniel Lowry, who will wear his token of support with classmates through Thursday.
Students keep the ribbons at school each night, rather than bring them home, to ensure schoolwide conformity the entire week, said Joy Phillips, the president of the school's Parent-Teacher Assocation.
``This is the earliest opportunity to let them know how important it is to be drug-free,'' Phillips said of the program, which she called a big success. ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]
DREW C. WILSON
The Virginian-Pilot
If you got messed up with drugs, would these guys tackle you?
They're football players, after all - but trying to be good role
models Friday at Pasquotank Elementary as part of Red Ribbon Week. by CNB