Hugh Freeze and the Ole Miss Rebels are busy preparing for Saturday’s game with LSU. But they found time to support a different group of football players on Tuesday.
Freeze, Ole Miss athletic director Ross Bjork and four Rebels players, including left tackle Laremy Tunsil and tight end Evan Engram, were on the sideline giving their support and visiting with players during the Unified Egg Bowl Tuesday.
The Unified Egg Bowl is an annual football game to help Special Olympics of Mississippi. Students from Ole Miss and Mississippi State team up with Special Olympics athletes for a flag football game. This year’s game was held at Ole Miss’ Vaught-Hemingway Stadium because the actual Egg Bowl is at Mississippi State.
Freeze made a $1,000 donation during the game, which gave the Unified Rebels three points on the scoreboard. Those points were important, because they helped the Unified Rebels defeated the Unified Bulldogs 25-24. The winning touchdown was scored on a fade pass with 17 seconds left.
After the game, Special Olympics Mississippi tweeted out its thanks to Freeze, his players and Bjork.
Thanks again to @RossBjorkAD@CoachHughFreeze@KingTunsil78@EvanEngram for your support of @SpclOlympicsMShttps://t.co/wbvp5mscIH
— SpecialOlympicsMS (@SpclOlympicsMS) November 17, 2015
Freeze had a response:
It was an absolute joy!! https://t.co/4zHj64vMyR
— Hugh Freeze (@CoachHughFreeze) November 17, 2015
Engram told the Daily Journal that being a part of the event was special to him, too.
“We gave them a little pep talk, and they had a blast. We were out chilling with them the other day, getting them ready for the big game,” the Ole Miss tight end said. “Now they’re actually out in the game and having fun. To see them fly around, it’s really a good experience. Just seeing the smile on their face when you walk up, they know who you are and exactly what you do. It’s a very, very humbling experience. It’s a blessing. It’s a great privilege to hang out with these kids and to share the sport of football with them.”
