Video: A Giant's Homecoming

A member of the Super Bowl-winning New York Giants (that phrase still stings) visited Highland Elementary School on Friday: alumnus Brandon Bing.

Bing, a cornerback, and a member of the Giants practice squad, stopped by his old elementary school to speak to the students. Bing graduated from Highland in 2001, attended Abington Junior High School and then transferred to Cheltenham High School.

Cafeteria manager Joann High helped make the visit happen. High’s son Andrew played football with Bing on the Abington Raiders. She refers to Bing as part of the family.

"He was an all-star and always focused on making his way to the NFL,” Joann High said. “He was just very, very focused.”

Andrew High said he met Bing in fifth grade. They became fast friends because of their love for football, and later sat next to each other in sixth grade.

“He was the brother I never had,” Andrew High said, speaking to the students. “I aspire to live like him,” adding that he thought of Bing as his role model. 

Bing spoke to the students, telling them the importance of having a positive attitude and a strong work ethic.

“A lot of you guys want to be professionals — and it’s the same formula,” he said.

And on display that afternoon was Bing’s Highland yearbook photo. What were his aspirations at the time? To play in the NFL and NBA and be “#1.”

Two out of three ain’t bad.