TOLEDO, Ohio - The University of Toledo football program shared the joy of victory with approximately 20 special needs students from Toledo Public Schools and around the area at its seventh annual "Victory Day" at the Fetterman Training Center on Saturday.  Participating students met Rocket football players, ran drills on the field and heard their names announced over the public address system as they scored a touchdown.

Victory Day is an opportunity for special needs students to have their "moment in the sun" on the football field. Each student was partnered with a Toledo football player who served as his or her mentor for the day. Toledo cheerleaders were also there to cheer on the participants.

"It's an awesome opportunity for young people to be exposed to things that maybe they wouldn't be otherwise," said Head Coach Jason Candle. "It's a special day for these kids, but it's also a special day for our young men to see how fortunate they are to be in the position they are. It's heart-warming to watch them embrace this and understand they do have a platform to make a difference. We haven't been able to do this the last two years (due to COVID), and it's something we certainly missed. Giving back and locking arms with our community is a big part of college football."

"I really love Victory Day," said senior outside linebacker Jamal Hines. "It's something we can give back to the community. It's a chance to share with our fans and give them a chance to do some of the things that we do. It means a lot to us. I think we enjoy it as much as they do."

Victory Day was started in 2010 by Aaron Segedi, a teacher and football coach from Trenton, Mich. Segredi is a cancer survivor whose life was saved thanks to a liver donation from his sister, Rhonda. Since then, the Victory Day program has been adopted by high schools and universities throughout the country. The Rockets first celebrated Victory Day in 2014.