Members of the Stetson University football team joined forces with student-athletes from multiple sports on Saturday for a special effort.

The Hatters' student-athletes were on duty outside of residence halls all over campus to help the newest crop of Hatters feel welcome and to lend a hand with the sometimes tedious work of unpacking cars, vans, truck, trailers and even a few RVs to give those new students some of the comforts of home.

Even with picture day and a scrimmage on the schedule, the Hatters football players were up by the crack of dawn, working to make a difference on campus.

"It was really cool," junior defensive back Conrad Fonseca said. "I remember this day three years ago. It's awesome to be the first people to help them and give them a welcome feeling that they already know somebody."
 
The Hatters dispersed across campus to help make move-in day for hundreds of students a memorable one.
 
Football team members split their time between two shifts - working from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. or 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. They assisted students, families and residence assistants with unloading vehicles and carrying the student's items to their living spaces.
 
While helping, the student-athletes invited their new friends to get out to all of the Stetson Athletics facilities this year to cheer on their new friends.