�� eyes Special Olympics Egg Bowl three-peat

Mississippi State’s Special Olympics College Program, also known as Unified, is a club sport program that focuses on the inclusion of local people with intellectual disabilities and allows these individuals to come together to compete competitively with other athletes. (Photo by Sarah Kirk) — Mississippi State’s Special Olympics College Program, also known as Unified, is a club sport program that focuses on the inclusion of local people with intellectual disabilities and allows these individuals to come together to compete with other athletes. (Photo by Sarah Kirk)

STARKVILLE, Miss.—Mississippi State Unified club sport athletes hope to make this year’s Special Olympics Egg Bowl their team’s third-straight victory over their biggest rival, Ole Miss.

A quarterback drops back for a pass as two receivers run down the practice field. — Cedric Gainwell, left, looks for an open receiver during a Mississippi State Special Olympics College Program flag football game practice. The club, also known as Unified, faces Ole Miss in the ninth Special Olympics flag football game at 6:30 p.m., Nov. 18, at the �� RecPlex near the Sawyer Tennis Courts. (Photo by Sarah Kirk)

Before this year’s gridiron showdown in Oxford on Nov. 29, the Bulldogs and Rebels will face off in Starkville for the ninth Special Olympics flag football match between the two rivals. The game is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Nov. 18, at the �� RecPlex near the Sawyer Tennis Courts on Stone Boulevard. Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs to the event.

A football player and coach high five after a successful play. — Unified athlete Ashton Presley, left, high-fives assistant coach Joshua Devaul during practice. (Photo by Sarah Kirk)

“This team has worked incredibly hard this season, putting in time and effort each week to keep getting better,” said Head Coach Trace Cockrell, whose team is coming off a recent victory against the University of Alabama. “We look forward to the opportunity of a three-peat. Now, all we need is for everyone to come out and watch this team keep the Golden Egg in Starkville.”

��’s Special Olympics College Program, also known as Unified, is a club sport program that focuses on the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and allows these individuals to come together to compete with other athletes. Led by student club Co-President Josh Bell, a senior special education major from Waveland; Co-President Erin Wigginton, a junior special education major from Saltillo; Hadley Howell, Luckyday Scholars Program coordinator and club faculty advisor; and �� Competitive Sports Coordinator Sean Kucharski, the program now offers eight different sports and activities for athletes to compete in each year. Previously, Unified earned a silver medal in the 2022 USA Special Olympics and a third-place finish in the NIRSA National Championships in 2023.

To learn more information about this year’s Special Olympics Egg Bowl or how you can support ��’s Unified program, contact Erin Wigginton at eew245@msstate.edu.

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