COLUMBIA, S.C. — Inside the Jerri and Steve Spurrier Indoor Facility, there was plenty of energy on the field from 140 second graders from Rice Creek Elementary School who were the special guests of the Carolina Panthers and USC Athletics who partnered for the NFL's franchise annual "Keep Pounding Day."
In its sixth year, Keep Pounding Day is a day of service during which the team makes several stops around the Carolinas to make a difference in the community.
The Columbia-based event featured offensive linemen J.D. Direnzo and Ikem Ekwonu engaging with the kids who participated in various drills and interactive games.
Before the games began, the Panthers' presented a $5,100 check to USC's "Active Gamecocks" program, encouraging kids to exercise.
The $5,100 check is written to honor the late Sam Mills, who wore #51. Mills coined the term "Keep Pounding" while fighting intestinal cancer in 2003. His brave fight ended in April 2005, when he passed away at the age of 45, but his legacy continues to this day, as evident on the sixth annual Keep Pounding Day.