The University of Toledo football program will host a special Victory Day for cognitively and physically impaired students from Toledo area schools Saturday, Aug. 23, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Glass Bowl.
Victory Day allows special needs students to have their moment in the sun on the football field. Each student will be partnered with a UT football player who will serve as his/her mentor for the day. Victory Day athletes will participate in a number of simulated game-day activities, assisted by Rocket football players.
Participants will wear Rocket team jerseys and will be presented with medals after the game to commemorate their victories.
Toledo football players, cheerleaders, mascots Rocky and Rocksy, and UT Marching Band members will be on hand to show their support.
Toledo Public Schools is co-hosting the event.
“I had the pleasure in participating in Victory Day at Whitmer High School last year, and it is a truly awesome event,” said UT Head Football Coach Matt Campbell. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for kids with special needs to be on the football field like a hero. It’s also a great experience for our players to interact with young people and get a greater understanding of the challenges they face every day of their lives.”
Victory Day was started in 2010 by Aaron Segedi, a teacher, football coach and cancer survivor from Trenton, Mich., whose life was saved thanks to a liver donation from his sister. Since then, the Victory Day program has been adopted by high schools and universities in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.
For more information about Victory Day, go to victorydayfootball.com.
