PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The love between father and daughter, and their connection through football, will reach a new level this Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field when they'll get to watch from the stands as their beloved Philadelphia Eagles host the New Orleans Saints.
"Our relationship is through sports," Dayona Godwin, 23, told KYW Newsradio a few days before she and her father attend their first NFL game.
On Father's Day this year when Dayona surprised her father Derek, 52, with a touching letter that ended with Dayona letting Derek know that they'd be going to their first game together in the upcoming season.
Dayona, who lives near Ocean City, Maryland, decided to get tickets to the Eagles' Jan 2. road game at Washington in Landover, Maryland.
"I was just thinking, 'What could I get my dad?' Because he has everything," said Dayona.
"We've done everything, but it was just one thing that he's never done in his life that I felt would be a good surprise for him."
Dayona's gift for her father went viral after posting it on social media. It included video of Derek's emotional reaction to Dayona's letter of love, as well as him saying, "Stop playing," when he recognized he was finally going to attend his first game early next year.
But it turns out that won't be Derek's first game, anymore.
The Eagles eventually got word of Dayona's heartwarming gesture, and reached out to invite her and her family to an Eagles game at home this Sunday at 1 p.m. against the Saints.
The invitation included a video message from injured defensive end Brandon Graham, whom Dayona said is one of Derek's favorite players.
"He's sitting on the couch, watching it, and his face just lights up," Dayona said, describing the moment Derek saw the message from Graham.
"He was like, 'BG, BG!'"
Dayona explained that her father started jumping up and down in excitement.
"When it comes to sports, my dad takes it to heart, very seriously," she said.
"For one of his favorite players to actually say his name and then invite him to a game, it was a very, a very precious moment to him. Like, wow, because like this doesn't happen to everyone. He was just soaking it all in and just excited about the moment, and just actually being able to go to the Linc and be rewarded [for] him being an amazing father because this is actually what it all came from, just me showing my appreciation to him."
Dayona said at first a random, good-natured fan offered them two tickets to Sunday's game, but the Eagles are hooking them up with three, which means Dayona's mother gets to go as well.
A representative from the team shared that they'll be in section 115, and will also be provided with pregame passes so they can be on the sideline before kickoff.
"We are thrilled to host Derek, Dayona and the entire Godwin family at Lincoln Financial Field this Sunday,” Eagles President Don Smolenski said in a statement to KYW Newsradio.
“We feel so fortunate to be a part of a special father-daughter relationship, and we are looking forward to creating a memorable experience for them on Sunday."
"That is amazing. Just being able to actually, you know, have people in the organization be honored to host us there. I feel like it's an honor for us and a blessing for us, for them to actually invite us there, let alone give you the comment that they said. So, that is amazing," Dayona said when KYW Newsradio told her about Smolenski's statement.
"I never thought in a million years that it would reach to this capacity that it has reached, but I am forever blessed and grateful that it has just for the sake of my father and him being able to experience this."
The Eagles are 0-4 at home this season, but Dayona predicted they're going to beat the Saints this weekend.
Dayona said every step in the process has led to be at a loss for words.
"When I received the [direct message] from the Eagles it was just like 'Wow, like wow,'" said Dayona.
"I've just been soaking everything, soaking every moment up and I'm just excited and ready for us to finally, actually be there."