LOCALS PITCH IN FOR D.A.R.E.

NORWICH -- Zach Hurd remembers a not-so-distant past when he served as
a bat boy at Norwich Navigators games. Thursday, the Waterford High
School alumnus and offensive tackle on the UConn football team,
returned to the field at Dodd Stadium as part of the Connecticut
Defenders' D.A.R.E (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) Day.

Joined by UConn teammate and Norwich Free Academy grad Dan Ryan, the
pair spoke to the crowd of 4,419 prior to the start of the Defenders'
game against the Binghamton Mets about the dangers of drug and alcohol
abuse.

"It feels really cool to be out there, getting the message out to
everybody," Hurd said. "It's great to be out there speaking in front
of everybody."

Ryan said during his time at NFA, getting involved with D.A.R.E
provided him with a "good education" on the dangers of drugs and
alcohol. Now, Ryan wants the opportunity to return the favor.

As a college student, Ryan sees firsthand how drugs and alcohol have
negatively influenced the lives of his peers. It is that perspective
Ryan feels he and Hurd can bring to help children understand the
pitfalls of substance abuse.

"Everyday things are happening," Ryan said, citing a hit-and-run
incident on the Storrs campus in January. "We see the things that a
few bad decisions can impact. It can end a life. It really makes you
realize. When you're a younger kid, you think, 'Oh, it'll never happen
to me.' Once you start growing up and you see things happen to people
your age, it's a wake-up call."

As athletes, both Ryan and Hurd are role models children look up to.
Having the chance to reach out and make a difference to children from
the community they both came from was something neither could pass
on.

"Everybody knows that drugs ruin everything in your life," Hurd said.
"If you're doing drugs, you're not going anywhere in life. No
successful person in the world does drug and alcohol, so it's good to
tell the kids now while they're young."

This is the seventh consecutive year D.A.R.E Day has been held at Dodd
Stadium. The UConn football program has been a participant with
players volunteering to speak at the event. During the pregame
ceremony, Defenders pitcher Garrett Broshuis also spoke to the kids in
attendance and a Connecticut State Police helicopter circled the
stadium before landing in center field.