GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – For the first time in two years, young fans got to participate in a time-honored Packers Training Camp tradition. Kids lined up with their bikes outside Lambeau Field on Wednesday, hoping a player would choose their bike to ride over to Ray Nitschke field.
Andrew Jenson is fourteen, but the 6’8″ kid from Kaukauna knows a thing or two about rolling with Packers players. Subtracting the COVID-impacted years, he’s taken part in the ride for about five years.
“I’d come to every single one that I could. I’d get up early, bike here, put my bike in line, and then just hang out. It’s special. It’s awesome,” Jenson said. “It’s really cool, especially with something that most people don’t really get to do. The Packers are the only team that do it, and it’s an awesome experience…Things that happened in the past, like the Lombardi era, still happen today. Just like the bike riding. It’s just special how everyone here kinda knows each other.”
This year was another special ride. The first player to grab his bike was 1st round draft pick, rookie linebacker Quay Walker. But with the new face, Jenson had to explain how things worked.
“That was a pretty good one to get!” Jenson said. “Some of the guys didn’t know about that we’re supposed to carry their helmet and they go ‘Wait, really? You’ve got it?’ So it’s still new to them too, but that’s alright!”
Not too far away, Ethan from Madison was donning a Jaire Alexander jersey.
“We’re right next to Lambeau Field, the legendary field and you’re getting to experience riding with the players. It’s really good to connect with the youth,” Ethan told WTAQ News. “It’s surreal. They’re really tall and you finally get to meet them and you’re like ‘Woah!’ You never know what they’re like, what they sound like, what kind of personality they have – and you finally get to meet them.”
While his idol hopped on an American Family Insurance-sponsored bike with a side cart, his jaw dropped when a red, #10 jersey looked his way. That ‘WOAH’ moment came from backup quarterback Jordan Love.
While Ethan was taken a bit off-guard, he was prepared to learn all he could to become the person on the bike in a few years.
“I asked him some questions on his journey to football and what it takes – he’s a really cool guy,” Ethan said. “It’s very nerve-wracking because you don’t know what to say, but I had a few questions in mind because I want to learn what it takes…I think I’ll get there if I work hard and commit to it.”
Ethan’s friend, Alexander, was just happy to see the event return.
“It’s really cool, because I was here before COVID happened and I saw the bikes going down. It’s nice to see it happening again,” Alexander said. “Obviously you want star players to grab it, but anybody would be great. Anyone works!”
Alexander ran to keep up with rookie defensive lineman, Jonathan Ford. While he was out of breath, he still wanted to say one thing.
“It was awesome!” Alexander said.
But not every kid lined up was a Wisconsinite. Abby’s family drove up from Indiana, and she was ready to go in a pair of green and gold overalls.
“We have the Colts down in Indiana, and they don’t do as much as the Packers do. So it’s really fun to come up here and experience training camp,” she said. “They’re really fan based, and really care about their fans. It’s really fun to come up here and have this experience for when I grow up and get to look back on this.”
Those memories are what make the Packers organization excited about the return of the ride.
“It’s very exciting to have the bike kids tradition back after a couple of years where it was very limited due to the pandemic,” said Packers Director of Public Affairs, Aaron Popkey. “It will never get old because of the smiling faces, and particularly with the Packers and the young players on the roster – it’s our first time just seeing their faces…Of course the kids light up seeing a player approach and hoping to get picked and that sort of thing. It doesn’t get old for multiple reasons, and it’s just one of those simple joys of training camp.”
More information about activities and the training camp practice schedule is available on the Packers’ website.
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