Welcome to “Edwardsville”
The Sports Hut’s sign said it all last Friday in Columbus.
“Welcome to Edwardsville!”
It was down-right electric at the schools as hundreds of kids, teachers, parents and community members donned specially made Dwan Edwards T-shirts in celebration of Dwan Edwards Day. Edwards, a Columbus High School graduate who now plays for Super Bowl-contending Carolina Panthers, sported the shirt himself and posted a photo on his Facebook fan page with the words “Reppin’ the Shirt! Thanks to my hometown of Columbus, Montana for all your support.”
It was one of approximately 1,200 made for the event by Jenny Hanson Cheff of Atomic Sign & Design. Amy Ward, who spear-headed the day, Tosha Vavak and Racheal Prather were up until 11:30 p.m. Thursday night sorting and delivering shirts. The trio hit it again at 4 a.m. Friday morning to make sure all the orders had been filled at the schools.
When it was discovered that about 60 kids were without shirts, it only took an hour for businesses and individuals to donate $825, said Ward. The shirts were all over town Friday with several businesses getting into the event. Nearly every business on Pike Avenue was painted. The 307 Bar & Grill even offered a fun lunch special in honor of Edwards -- the Dwan Edwards “Keep Pounding” sandwich that featured Carolina Panther blue.
The 1 p.m. pep rally featured teachers and staff doing the “Nae Nae” -- or rather trying to dance. The band played “Sweet Caroline” and there were a lot of cheers and well wishes sent to Edwards.
The Game
Although Super Bowl 50 did not end as Edwards, his family and his fans had wished, it was the experience of a lifetime, said his mom Cass Hense-Hegg.
“It’s a class act,” said Hense-Hegg Tuesday.
Seeing everything as a family member as opposed to a fan was interesting and so much fun.
She recalled waiting at the elevator one day to take her 2-year-old grandson up to the hotel room and seeing Panther quarterback Cam Newton step off the elevator with his baby strapped to his chest.
“Just a totally different setting,” said Hense-Hegg.
She laughed while telling a story about Carolina defensive end Jared Allen buying Tony Lama boots for the entire defensive line and saying to Edwards he couldn’t believe he was from Montana and didn’t have cowboy boots.
She also said a great moment for Edwards was being on the field with his idol, former wide receiver and Super Bowl MVP Jerry Rice.
“He was on the field at the same time,” said Hense-Hegg. “Almost makes me cry.”
She said there was sadness over the loss but that the team still came together after and Coach Ron Riveria gave a great speech at a dinner after the loss about how they would regroup and come back.
“They win as a team and they lose as a team,” she said.