Ultimate
In the fourth round,
Mr. Lewis represents
the Carolina Panthers
and announces the
selection of Eric
Norwood.
Tom Lewis and his son
Brian pose on stage in
Radio City Music Hall.
Brian and Tom Lewis sit
at the Panthers Draft
Table.
draft day experience
By: Chrystal Rowe
Mr. Lewis Goes to New York
Tom Lewis sits at the
Panthers Table with
Don Toner and Jackie
Miles.
“With the 26th pick of the 4th round”
was resoundingly stated and became
words that Tom Lewis will never forget.
As part of a NFL initiative, teams were offered the
opportunity to select a celebrity, player, alumni or
employee to announce the 4th round selection of the
75th NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. The Carolina
Panthers took a jerry Richardson quote to heart and
proved that the fan was the most valuable member of
the team and selected a PSL Owner to represent the
Carolina Panthers for the 4th Round announcement.
During a behind the
scenes tour, Tom
Lewis stands at the
Commissioner’s
Podium.
Tom Lewis, a local businessman and original PSL Owner in the upper level was selected at random the
week of the Draft to represent the team. “It was unbelievable that I had won, so at first I thought it
could be a scam,” Lewis admitted. The experience was anything but a scam as Lewis and his son Brian
made a 48-hour trip to New York City and packed in all the sights and sounds the Draft and the City
had to offer.
After arriving in New York, the Lewis party was provided with VIP tickets on the floor for all three days of
the draft, a behind the scenes tour of the NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall, a session with former NFL
player Merrill Hodge, as well as a Panthers Prize Pak – which included a custom jersey for Mr. Lewis.
Mr. Lewis and his son made the most of their short time in New York – visiting the TODAY show set at
NBC, walking to the Statue of Liberty and the site of the World Trade Center, plus plenty of famous New
York pizza and deli sandwiches.
When asked if one moment stood out, Mr. Lewis fondly remembered it all. “I’m not sure there’s one
particular moment I could call out, instead just the bits and pieces of seeing the inside of Radio City all
‘NFL-ed’ up, to the first round, to touring the city on Friday, to sitting in the same row with Ndamukong
Suh’s family, to walking down to the Today show at NBC, to the behind-the-scenes tour, to the 4th
round on Saturday. Each ingredient independently was a very cool thing, but all together is one heck
of an experience.”
34 / www.panthers.com
35
The 4th round saw teams bringing in celebrities like Bob Woodard, athletes such as Carl Lewis and players like Chris
Samuels, Braylon Edwards and Mark Bavaro. But for the Carolina Panthers, Mr. Lewis was about to make the pick.
“Up until I walked down the aisle to the Panthers’ table the first time, I think it was more
‘wondering how this is all going to play out’ nerves rather than ‘stage fright’ nerves. Then
the Panthers traded my pick to the Jets! So that little unexpected ‘dress rehearsal’
ended any nervousness. But then I started thinking, ‘you don’t think they’d trade their
pick again, do you?’” stated Mr. Lewis.
Mr. Lewis didn’t disappoint Panthers fans with his announcement of the 4th Round pick. After a trial run to calm his
nerves when the Panthers traded back their initial pick in the 4th round, Mr. Lewis sat confidently at the table with
Panthers representatives Jackie Miles, Don Toner and Jeff Mueller. And when the time came, Mr. Lewis stood and
announced the pick. And in that instant, represented all Carolina Panthers PSL Owners as our celebrity.
And with the 26th pick in the 4th round, Mr. Lewis stood and announced the Panthers selection – Eric Norwood from
the University of South Carolina. And in that instant, Mr. Lewis became an instant Norwood fan. “I think that I will
feel a kinship with the player on the card and will have a special interest in following his Panthers career,” Lewis said.
CAROLINA PANTHERS V.11.9 / 35
Ultimate
In the fourth round,
Mr. Lewis represents
the Carolina Panthers
and announces the
selection of Eric
Norwood.
Tom Lewis and his son
Brian pose on stage in
Radio City Music Hall.
Brian and Tom Lewis sit
at the Panthers Draft
Table.
draft day experience
By: Chrystal Rowe
Mr. Lewis Goes to New York
Tom Lewis sits at the
Panthers Table with
Don Toner and Jackie
Miles.
“With the 26th pick of the 4th round”
was resoundingly stated and became
words that Tom Lewis will never forget.
As part of a NFL initiative, teams were offered the
opportunity to select a celebrity, player, alumni or
employee to announce the 4th round selection of the
75th NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall. The Carolina
Panthers took a jerry Richardson quote to heart and
proved that the fan was the most valuable member of
the team and selected a PSL Owner to represent the
Carolina Panthers for the 4th Round announcement.
During a behind the
scenes tour, Tom
Lewis stands at the
Commissioner’s
Podium.
Tom Lewis, a local businessman and original PSL Owner in the upper level was selected at random the
week of the Draft to represent the team. “It was unbelievable that I had won, so at first I thought it
could be a scam,” Lewis admitted. The experience was anything but a scam as Lewis and his son Brian
made a 48-hour trip to New York City and packed in all the sights and sounds the Draft and the City
had to offer.
After arriving in New York, the Lewis party was provided with VIP tickets on the floor for all three days of
the draft, a behind the scenes tour of the NFL Draft at Radio City Music Hall, a session with former NFL
player Merrill Hodge, as well as a Panthers Prize Pak – which included a custom jersey for Mr. Lewis.
Mr. Lewis and his son made the most of their short time in New York – visiting the TODAY show set at
NBC, walking to the Statue of Liberty and the site of the World Trade Center, plus plenty of famous New
York pizza and deli sandwiches.
When asked if one moment stood out, Mr. Lewis fondly remembered it all. “I’m not sure there’s one
particular moment I could call out, instead just the bits and pieces of seeing the inside of Radio City all
‘NFL-ed’ up, to the first round, to touring the city on Friday, to sitting in the same row with Ndamukong
Suh’s family, to walking down to the Today show at NBC, to the behind-the-scenes tour, to the 4th
round on Saturday. Each ingredient independently was a very cool thing, but all together is one heck
of an experience.”
34 / www.panthers.com
35
The 4th round saw teams bringing in celebrities like Bob Woodard, athletes such as Carl Lewis and players like Chris
Samuels, Braylon Edwards and Mark Bavaro. But for the Carolina Panthers, Mr. Lewis was about to make the pick.
“Up until I walked down the aisle to the Panthers’ table the first time, I think it was more
‘wondering how this is all going to play out’ nerves rather than ‘stage fright’ nerves. Then
the Panthers traded my pick to the Jets! So that little unexpected ‘dress rehearsal’
ended any nervousness. But then I started thinking, ‘you don’t think they’d trade their
pick again, do you?’” stated Mr. Lewis.
Mr. Lewis didn’t disappoint Panthers fans with his announcement of the 4th Round pick. After a trial run to calm his
nerves when the Panthers traded back their initial pick in the 4th round, Mr. Lewis sat confidently at the table with
Panthers representatives Jackie Miles, Don Toner and Jeff Mueller. And when the time came, Mr. Lewis stood and
announced the pick. And in that instant, represented all Carolina Panthers PSL Owners as our celebrity.
And with the 26th pick in the 4th round, Mr. Lewis stood and announced the Panthers selection – Eric Norwood from
the University of South Carolina. And in that instant, Mr. Lewis became an instant Norwood fan. “I think that I will
feel a kinship with the player on the card and will have a special interest in following his Panthers career,” Lewis said.
CAROLINA PANTHERS V.11.9 / 35