Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Project 1-2-3: Day 39 - Olivia and Justin

Note: Starting May 1st and continuing for the 123 days leading up to the start of the 2011 college football season, "Project 1-2-3" will share pictures, videos and memorable moments from the last nine years of Special Spectators game day events.

The 2010 Special Spectators game day event at Oklahoma State featured a growing friendship between a young cancer patient and an All-American football player.

Ten year old, Olivia Hamilton, first met Cowboy wide receiver, Justin Blackmon during a Coaches vs. Cancer event during the previous basketball season. The third grader from Sperry, Oklahoma immediately became one of Justin's biggest fans even before his breakout sophomore season.

In preparation for her big day at Boone Pickens Stadium, Olivia made a sign for her favorite Cowboy and left it, along with a personalized silicone bracelet, in his locker. Blackmon also made a point of stopping to talk to his biggest fan during the early stages of "The Walk".

Turns out the gifts in the locker provided quite the inspiration as Blackmon had six catches for 174 yards and three touchdowns on his way to winning the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best wide receiver in 2010.

And what did Olivia discover when she found her friend on the field to sing the school's Alma Mater? Justin wore her bracelet during the game.

Olivia posing in Justin's locker with the sign she made

Oliva standing with Justin for the post-game singing of the Alma Mater

1 comment:

  1. Justin, I just now seen the story of you and Olivia on ESPN. I just wanted to say Thank You for being there for that little girl. You are a REAL MAN and I'm sure that you're going to heaven when the time comes. If this world was full of people like you, we would all be in heaven. Good luck with your football career.

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