The Natchez High Football team’s 1-4 record on the playing field didn’t mean a thing to the students at Frazier Primary School Wednesday morning.

Frazier students had stars, real football players, in their midst, and the big football players were spending time with them.

The Bulldogs and the NHS cheerleaders were the main event at Frazier’s assembly to kick-off the annual Books and Beyond reading campaign.

After the players introduced themselves and the cheerleaders did a few cheers the little bulldogs quickly jumped in, providing gruff barks to a recording of the song &uot;Who let the dogs out.&uot;

During the assembly the children pledged in unison, along with most of the team on stage, to read 120 books this school year.

&uot;I pledge to read a book, or have someone read to me every day,&uot; Librarian Susan Mingee said for the children to repeat. &uot;I pledge to do my very best to meet my goal.&uot;

The school goal is to have each child be a top reader, not just one child.

&uot;We are going to encourage you to read, read, read,&uot; Principal Lorraine Franklin told the students. &uot;If your parents can’t read to you, you need to read to them.&uot;

After the assembly the football players and cheerleaders split up and toured the school’s fish exhibits to go along with the Fishing for Books theme. Each class had prepared a display on a different type of fish.

The high school students also spent time in each classroom reading, coloring and talking with the first-graders.

Bulldog players Charles Cothern and Travis Washington said they enjoyed being back in primary school.

&uot;The little girls said they wanted to be football players,&uot; Washington said.

Marlon Gatlin, Carrington Jackson and Dennis Williams said they spent their time talking to the students about reading, grades having a positive attitude, staying away from drugs and eating healthy.

&uot;I got stickers for being a good helper,&uot; Williams said.

For some Frazier students, 120 books was no big deal, for others it seemed like an awfully big number.

&uot;This is going to be a long year,&uot; Miracle Posey, 6, said. &uot;My brother (who is 7) is going to have to help me.&uot;

Rebecca Peneder, 6, said she felt she had a good start on the challenge.

&uot;I’ve read 10 already,&uot; she said. &uot;They make me happy.&uot;

Jakeisha Shepherd, 6, has a plan to meet her goal. &uot;I read them every day,&uot; she said. &uot;Three each day.&uot;

Jamario Ashley said he reads books four at a time.

&uot;I get to learn,&uot; he said.