Thursday was a special day for the Long Beach Poly football program as well as students in the school’s Female Leadership Academy. Andy Osman Auditorium played host to Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert and Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy, as the duo came to speak with students, field questions, and present a $15,000 check to the football program to help pay for its CIF-SS championship rings.
“It was a special day, for sure, one of those things that only happens here,” said Poly coach Stephen Barbee.
The most memorable moment of the morning was Poly lineman Donovan Poe leading the Jackrabbits football team in the traditional Poly pre-game chant, a version of a Samoan pati call. Herbert said he was impressed.
“We didn’t have anything like that where I was growing up,” he joked.
After the duo had taken questions, Duffy presented Poly with a check that had been made out for $5,000, but personally upped it to $15,000.
“We want to make sure all the rings get paid for,” she said. Herbert also donated a signed jersey and football.
Barbee said that with the money the program had already raised, as well as the donation, the Jackrabbits had enough to pay for their championship rings.
NFL QB Justin Herbert Visits Long Beach Poly Football, Carnival Presents Check
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