AUBURN, Ala. – Wearing navy No. 26 Victory Day jerseys, EAGLES students and Lee County Special Olympians teamed up with the Auburn football team Sunday for a magical night at Jordan-Hare Stadium.
“It signifies the beginning of the season for us,” said coach Alex Golesh, who brought the concept to the Plains from his previous head coaching position at the University of South Florida. “It gives us a chance to give back to some really cool fans. It gives our players a unique perspective of how fortunate they are. We get to share this stadium tonight with a bunch of really special athletes and we get to go play football on Saturday.”
With Auburn University cheerleaders and Tiger Paws lining the end zone and pep band members playing the fight song from their spot in the stadium’s southeast corner, each Victory Day participant huddled up with the Auburn offense, then scored a touchdown on a variety of plays, narrated over the stadium speakers by Voice of the Auburn Tigers Andy Burcham.
After every touchdown, Golesh congratulated the athlete who scored it.
“This was an incredible evening,” EAGLES program director Betty Patten said. “Being part of Victory Day was a representation of the Auburn family and what it looks like for everyone to have a place here and belong.
“This is the first coach who reached out to us from the moment he got here to initiate a partnership because it was that special to him that everyone be included. You can tell his heart is about developing character, that cultural fit and building up the players through these types of experiences.”
It was likely the first time in the stadium’s 87 years that both the offense and defense celebrated simultaneously in the end zone after a touchdown.
“It’s cool for our players that they get to see some special athletes score touchdowns and get to celebrate with them,” Golesh said. “It’s my favorite night of the year. We’ve been game planning here for a week, we’ve been at it for a month nonstop, and for us to peel back for two hours and see it through a different light, then we’ll get right back in the film room.”
After Golesh concluded his visit with reporters, EAGLES student Kaili Blauwkamp grabbed a microphone, asked for an interview and started firing away with questions like a seasoned sideline reporter.
“Why did you choose Auburn?” she asked.
“I chose Auburn because it’s the best place in the entire country,” Golesh answered, “and we’re going to win national championships here.”
Six days before his first game at Auburn, the Tigers’ head coach earned his first victory.