JACKSON, MISS– For one day, Jackson State University and Alcorn State University are laying aside their rivalry for the sake of the Special Olympics.
The first Special Olympics Unified Soul Bowl will be tonight at the JSU practice field at the Walter Payton Center on campus. Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disabilities will play flag football on teams alongside traditional college students from JSU and ASU.
“The goals behind the Unified Soul Bowl are to foster interaction, inclusion and understanding about intellectual disabilities,” said Tony Bahou, President and CEO of Special Olympics Mississippi. “It’s a great way for our athletes to have fun while showing the world that even though we like our sports rivalries, Mississippi is unified in support of Special Olympics.”
Of course the competition has already begun, well before the game. Fans are encouraged to donate to the Special Olympics, and the school that raises the most money will get a three-point advantage to start the game. Donate online at UnifiedSoulBowl.org.
This isn’t the only time you’ll see rivals unite. The Unified Egg Bowl between Ole Miss and Mississippi State students and Special Olympics athletes will be next Monday at 5:30 p.m. at the Ole Miss intramural fields in Oxford. Athletic director Ross Bjork will be a featured guest at the event. Fans can donate in the name of their team and find additional information at UnifiedEggBowl.org.
Last year, the game raised over 12,000. MSU won the Fan Fundraising Challenge, while the Unified Rebels won the game 23-17.
