Sandy Padgett, 82, likes to stay active. After the recent snowstorm, she shoveled out her sidewalk and truck. But once the ice arrived and covered her driveway, it proved too much for her to handle. “The ice was at least two inches thick,” Padgett said. “I was out there with a screwdriver and a hammer, picking away, and then I heard a voice say, ‘Ma’am can we help you?’”
The voice belonged to Carter Glassmyer, a Spiders football linebacker. Wide receiver Trey Mancuso was by his side. They had just left campus and were driving down a road near campus when they saw her working on her steep driveway. They turned the car around.
“At first she was hesitant to receive help because she felt bad about taking up our time, but we were happy to help and had nowhere important to be,” Mancuso said.
Glassmyer knew the task would be much easier for him and Mancuso. “I didn’t want to see her do something that could be so dangerous,” Glassmyer said. “I thought to myself, I hope someone would help my grandmother if she were struggling with the same thing. It was an easy decision to make.”
At first, the pair moved slowly, using Padgett’s screwdriver and hammer. Eventually, they switched to metal shovels she kept in the shed. It took them about 45 minutes to clear the space.
“I wish you could have seen them. It would have taken me three more days to even make a dent in my driveway,” Padgett said. “They just went to town.”
Being a Good Samaritan is part of Spider football culture.
“We are always willing to help people who could use a hand. It feels great to help,” Mancuso said. The team’s biggest charitable event is an annual bone marrow drive.
Glassmyer said the faculty, staff, and coaches encourage them to do good deeds. “My defensive coordinator, Coach Wood, makes it known that being a good man is priority number one over football and that should always come first,” Glassmyer said.
When they completed their work, Padgett offered to pay them, but they refused. She finally forced them to take some Olive Garden gift cards. She added, “I told them they had wings on their backs, and they just kind of laughed. They were just as nice as they could be.”
Glassmyer gave her his mobile number and told her to let them know if she ever needed help with the driveway again. “I feel like if everyone were to do one nice thing for someone else it would benefit all of us in the long run,” he said.
Padgett was so pleased she shared the news with local media and Richmond College Dean Joe Boehman.
“She was really overwhelmed by their kindness. She wanted to make sure that these guys were recognized,” Boehman said. “I talk all the time about taking care of others, and this is exactly the type of thing that I hope every one of our students would be willing to do.”
“I am so proud of Carter and Trey,” said Spiders football head coach Russ Huesman. “It did not surprise me that they would do something like this.”
