Saint Alphonsus Patients Get Visit from Idaho Potato Bowl's Buffalo Bulls - Archived

Boise, Idaho – The Buffalo Bulls, the football program for the University at Buffalo, square off against the San Diego State Aztecs tomorrow afternoon at Bronco Stadium for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. But before they suit up and hit the field, they decided to give some lucky patients at Saint Alphonsus a very special holiday visit.

Five Buffalo football players, two cheerleaders, Bull’s mascot “Victor E. Bull”, and head coach Jeff Quinn stopped by to see a number of folks at Saint Alphonsus Friday morning, making the day a whole lot more fun for patients and staff alike. Walking from one end of the hospital to the other, they visited patients and eager fans on the rehabilitation floor, intensive care units, and even in the front lobby.

One of the 19 year-old patients, Quarez Moore, couldn’t believe his eyes. “Is this a dream?” he asked, as he awoke to the players, coach, mascot, and cheerleaders visiting his room. Quarez, a member of US Air Force, was excited to see he had some unexpected visitors during his stay in the hospital. With a smile on his face, Quarez joked with the players, saying “if I wasn’t in this (hospital) bed, I could take you all on right now!” Quarez – and all of the patients that were visited by the Bulls - said that they would be rooting for the Bulls in tomorrow’s bowl game.

“What the Bulls have done for the patients – and all of us here at the hospital – is such a great service,” said Joshua Schlaich, spokesman for Saint Alphonsus. “Their visit really made everyone’s day. Coach Quinn should be proud of the caring attitude his players have. I know they are hard-hitters out on the field, but they have nothing but kindness when the helmets are off.”

The Buffalo Bulls and San Diego State Aztecs face off at Boise State Bronco Stadium at 3:30p MST, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN.

About Saint Alphonsus Health System


As a faith-based Catholic ministry and not-for-profit health system, Saint Alphonsus Health System reinvested over $40 million in charity care and benefits back into the communities we serve in 2012. Our goal is to improve the health and well-being of people by emphasizing care that is patient-centered, physician-led, innovative and community-based. Saint Alphonsus Health System serves the people of southwestern Idaho, eastern Oregon and northern Nevada through these facilities: Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center - Boise, ID; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Nampa, ID; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Ontario, OR; Saint Alphonsus Medical Center – Baker City, OR; and, Saint Alphonsus Medical Group with primary and specialty care providers at 35 clinic locations, all of which are members of the Saint Alphonsus Health Alliance, a network of over 1400 employed and independent providers. To find out more go to: www.saintalphonsus.org