On Sunday, 16 members of the Kentucky football team surprised two Special Olympics basketball teams. The Lexington Defenders and Lexington Wildcats thought they were having a normal practice at the Immanuel Baptist Church ROC center, but in walked a group of football players led by fullback Cody Jones.Jones organized the event after he met Lexington Wildcats head coach Dave Wickstrom in a Special Eduction class. He was joined by 15 of his teammates, including Jalen Whitlow, Tristian Johnson, Daron Blaylock and A.J. Legree.The football players and athletes scrimmaged, with the Division-I student-athletes getting all they could handle. Afterward, the football players took questions and posed for pictures.Though the Special Olympians certainly enjoyed having their visitors, the football players felt like they got even more out of the experience. The Special Olympics of Kentucky website has the story:

Jones found the experience humbling.“I know (the Special Olympics athletes) are excited,” he said, “but just to see what those guys go through on a daily basis and to be able come out here and smile and laugh and enjoy themselves, it’s a very humbling experience for us and we’re tickled that they’re glad we’re here.”Jones was asked by one of the media members who came out to cover the appearance what it was like to be looked up to as heroes by the Special Olympics athletes, but he wasn’t so sure who was looking up to whom.“It was feeling more like celebrities when we walked in,” Jones said. “But these guys are the real heroes. The stuff they go through every day and just come out here and live their life the way they do? They’re the real heroes.”The group of UK players that came out was a mix of older faces and newcomers. In fact, even in a group that included quarterback Jalen Whitlow, with many of the Special Olympics athletes being pro wrestling fans, Steve Borden — a junior college transfer tight end who hasn’t played yet for Kentucky, but whose father is former professional wrestling champion Sting – may have been the most popular guy in the building.

There are many more details about the visit in that story, so make sure to check it out. Also, here’s a photo gallery.Link: Members of football team visit Special Olympians