By Brett Grassmuck
Stlouisrams.com

Twelve-year-old Mike Quirion was on the computer one day when he came across What Moves U, a website collaborative between the NFL and the American Heart Association.

He registered for the site and spent some time writing in an activity journal about his quest to play football, and how he had started eating right and working out by playing sports. He had even lost 20 pounds because he wanted to become a running back or wide receiver on his football team.

He wanted to be like Steven Jackson, running back for the St. Louis Rams and his favorite NFL player. 

For one day, Mike got the chance to be like his NFL idol as he was selected as the national winner of the What Moves U Workout With A Player Contest and was able to work out with Steven Jackson.

“I was completely amazed that it was happening,” Mike said. “When I first saw him, I thought I was dreaming, because my favorite player in the whole NFL is in the same building as me. 

“I was about to faint, because it’s not everyday you meet the guy that inspires you to do things you never thought possible.”

Jackson made his way to Mike’s school, Waterloo Junior High School in Waterloo, Ill., where he met up with Mike, his mother Karry Quirion and Waterloo Junior High Principal Linda Yagge.

“Mike is a very good kid,” Karry said. “He has not gotten into any trouble to speak of and he does very well in school, so for this to happen to him will help him strive to do even better.”

Mike had a chance to visit with Jackson before the two entered into the school’s gym and participated in a brief workout as well as spoke to 200 of Mike’s classmates. Jackson talked with Mike about his ambitions as a football player as well as his life at Waterloo Junior High.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” Jackson asked.

“No,” replied a still nervous Mike.

“You will after today,” Jackson said.

Mike and Jackson made their way into the gym where Steven led the eighth-grader in some of the warm-up exercises that the Rams perform before each game, and spoke to the students about the importance of eating right and exercising. He also spoke with them about the importance of academics and applauded the straight-A students.

“Now that we have Playstation and things like that, kids aren’t getting outside as much,” Jackson said. “We need to get them back out on the playgrounds and on the skateboards and just outside having fun.”

He used Mike as an example of leading a healthy lifestyle, and cited Mike’s successful story of losing 20 pounds to play football.

“I’m honored to be a part of it,” Jackson said. “Mike was the national winner of the (Workout With A Player) contest, and he could have picked any player to work out with, and he chose me.”

After the workout was over, Mike joined Steven for some interviews and then had to return to being a normal eighth-grader, but not before being cheered by his classmates as he exited the school cafeteria.

“Steven is one of the nicest guys I have ever met, “Mike said. “To honor him, I’m going to wear number 39 in high school football and baseball.”

Mike was selected out of more than 1,800 registered participants nationally on the What Moves U website. The NFL and American Heart Association’s What Moves U program focuses on getting kids active and teaching them to lead a healthier lifestyle.

“Mike is very motivated to get into shape and lose more weight,” Karry said. “He has even more motivation since he was able to meet Steven Jackson, who is one of his idols.”

The What Moves U website, which can be found at www.whatmovesu.com, is a place where kids can go to get workout tips from their favorite NFL players, participate in interactive games and quizzes and share their own tips on staying active with their peers.

The interactive website is only one portion of the What Moves U program, the other is a lesson plan that includes a unique in-class activity kit is designed to incorporate physical activity in classroom lessons and encourage physical activity to an increasingly inactive generation of children.