Extra Effort: ISU Football Players Digging Holes for Good

WMBD/WYZZ-TV - NORMAL, Ill. -- Saturday they played.

Then Sunday, instead of resting up after finishing their spring schedule, members of the Illinois State football team volunteered to help make the dog pens at the Humane Society of Central Illinois safer.

"It's a little tough but we're football players," said sophomore defensive end Colton Underwood. "We're strong so labor work isn't that difficult for us."

Roughly 30 Redbird players grabbed shovels and dug two-feet ditches around the fence line of the dog runs.
 
"We're helping the Humane Society dig some trenches to help them lower the fence so they can keep dogs from digging out or digging holes under the fence," said junior linebacker Austin Davis.

As rain started to drizzle on their efforts, the players were still having fun.

"It's kinda like sitting around on a Sunday," said junior linebacker Evan Frierson. "We're talking but we're digging. Telling stories, talking about movies, songs. But playing in the mud."

Needless to say, the Humane Society was thanks for the help.

"I give them a lot of credit. They just finished spring ball, they played their spring game. They're giving up a Sunday," said Humane Society board president Kathy Schniedwind. "I couldn't ask for more."

Added Underwood: "We love this community, they support us. So it's always great to give back to the community that supports you and loves you so much."