CHARACTER COUNTS

Cardinals’ Ryan Lindley visits former elementary school as ‘principal’

Mar 5, 2014, 9:30 PM | Updated: 9:31 pm

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Ryan Lindley returned to school on Tuesday — elementary that is.

The Alpine Elementary School graduate visited his former stomping grounds, taking on the role of “Principal for a Day.”

Hundreds of students in grades 1-5 mobbed the 6-foot-4 quarterback, who did not take any regular season snaps last year. Lindley, being the professional he is, signed anything and everything that was thrown his way.

Lindley pointed out the dirt fields at the Alpine, Calif., school, where he used to play football every day to the kids of his former first-grade teacher’s classroom.

The 24-year-old San Diego native helped serve orange chicken at the cafeteria, posed for countless photos and reconnected with former teachers as part of his principal duties.

Lindley’s donation of three boxes of footballs, basketballs and soccer balls to the school rounded out his day as principal, proving he was the No. 1 guy for the job.

Character Counts

Author Ben Kaplan shares on social media the story of his connection between his family and TNT bro...

Bailey Leasure

Inside the NBA’s Ernie Johnson makes heartfelt impact for father and son

Author Ben Kaplan tells the story of his and his father's full-circle connection with Inside the NBA's Ernie Johnson.

1 day ago

Refugio "Coach Kuko" Juarez at the Arizona Sports studios....

Character Counts

Refugio ‘Coach Kuko’ Juarez named Arizona Sports Coach of the Month

Refugio Juarez has been named as the Arizona Sports Coach of the Month winner for uplifting the soccer players at La Academia in Mesa.

9 days ago

Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz talks about new Cardinals defensive player Darius Robinson....

David Veenstra

Arizona Cardinals DL Darius Robinson’s impact goes far beyond the field

Cardinals DL Darius Robinson started his own nonprofit foundation at Missouri and his goal is to host three charitable events each year.

13 days ago

Manager Torey Lovullo (L) and general manager Mike Hazen of the Arizona Diamondbacks meet before Ga...

David Veenstra

MLB feature showcases inseparable bond between Diamondbacks’ Hazen and Lovullo

MLB published a short-form documentary centered around the friendship between D-backs general manager Mike Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo. 

1 month ago

Devin Booker gifts Purdue men's basketball with Book 1s...

Arizona Sports

Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker gifts pair of Final Four teams Nike Book 1s

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker gifted Alabama and Purdue men's basketball teams with Nike Book 1s ahead of the Final Four.

1 month ago

Paris Johnson Jr. looks on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Paris Johnson Jr. eyeing ways to extend his foundation’s reach in Arizona

Don't let his age fool you, Cardinals offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. is no stranger to giving back to the communities around him.

2 months ago

Cardinals’ Ryan Lindley visits former elementary school as ‘principal’