On Friday, the Carolina Panthers’ celebrated a team practice with their enthusiastic fans and boy it was a crowd filled that was excited for the Panther’s season to start. Carolina Panthers’ QB Cam Newton and the offensive players had took the field and practice different plays that they are working on. They had showcased a running package, some slants, and some bootlegs, which the crowd enjoyed.
While the team was practicing Rising first-grader Braylon Beam served as the Carolina Panthers’ honorary Make-A-Wish Foundation head coach during the practice in which he told certain plays that he wanted the team to practice on. Beam said before practice his goal was to make sure the Panthers threw deep to Kelvin Benjamin and Greg Olsen in which both of the receivers had the opportunity to do in the drills. Beam is currently undergoing treatment at Presbyterian Hospital in Charlotte for a tumor on his optic nerve, but he did let that stop him from having fun with his favorite team. He even had the chance to dance with Cam Newton and a couple of the players after practice was finished.
55,060 was in attendance and Panther’s head coach Ron Rivera was thrilled to see so many fans that come out and supported the event. “They (the crowd) brought a lot of energy to practice,” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. “We got an opportunity to work on hand signals and communication with the real live crowd. I think the players responded to the energy and I was real excited with the things our guys did on the football field.”
Coach Rivera is very optimistic about the season and what he expects out of the team; “I think some of the things we’ve done in the past two seasons bodes very well for what we can become,” said Rivera,. “Again, you won’t know until you put the pads on and start playing for real. I’m pretty excited about who we can become. We’ve got to continue to work well and stay healthy.”
After the team had finished up practice, many of the players were out celebrating with their fans, signing autographs, and just have fun. The night ended with some fireworks that captured the true beauty of the stadium.
