USF Football: Bulls play key role in the community with Victory Day

The game of football can affect people in many different ways. It can create lasting memories for fans and families. It can drive some to chase their idols by starting their own careers. In other words, football is a lot if things for many different people. So when one is looking at what a football team can do to affect people in a positive way, the first thing is usually community impact. And through their third annual “Victory Day,” the USF Bulls are doing just that.

USF Bulls: Victory Day

Established under head coach Alex Golesh in 2023, Victory Day sees around 40 Special Olympians from Florida participate in a wide range of football activities with the players from the Bulls roster. Each Special Olympian is partnered with a player for the entire day, working with them through the various activities set up inside the team’s indoor practice facility.

To start off 2025’s Victory Day, the athletes were welcomed by the USF band, cheerleaders, and dance team onto the field. From there, each Special Olympian had a chance to make tackles, score a touchdown, throw some passes, and just spend some very quality time with the players on the USF roster.

It was cool to see how invested the players were in the event. Golesh consistently preaches how much he values the culture at USF, and it completely shines through in an event like today.

The players were kind, gracious, and very engaging with the Special Olympians. They truly made them welcome in every aspect of the day and brought the best possible energy to the event, ensuring that the Special Olympians had the best time possible.

Victory Day Quotes

I had a chance to ask about what this event meant to one of the newest Bulls, wide receiver Mudia Rueben. As someone with a noted history of community service, it was very cool getting to hear him talk about what an event like this means to him.

“For me, it is just a part of a bigger purpose. Football is one thing, but at the end of the day, there is life. Not everyone has the same opportunities or experiences brought to them in life. So whether it is being here or doing it somewhere else, I’m pretty big on community advocacy. That is just because I like making the playing field even for everyone, no matter the circumstances.”

Additionally, I spoke to defensive lineman Josh Celiscar about what it means to have the distinction to wear the honorary No. 63 for Lee Roy Selmon at an event like Victory Day.

“To have that distinction, it is just a great opportunity. It is an honor, because with him and what he did in the community throughout Tampa, a lot of people respect him. I want to not only build on his legacy, but also build on my own legacy. It is a great distinction and honor, and I hope that I can live up to it.”

After Victory Day, head coach Alex Golesh called the event “a really cool experience” for his players and said that seeing the relationships between the players and Special Olympians blossom is “a really humbling experience.” Additionally, Golesh spoke about the growth of Victory Day and how it has become a staple of the program.

“It is awesome to see the same young guys and girls here year in and year out. We saw that a handful of them had jerseys of their favorite players, and many have had the same mentors over the years. I think it is something that our guys look forward to and that our coaches look forward to. It symbolizes the start of football season, the end of camp, and is a night to reset. A night to reset, put things in perspective, and allows our guys to just go play ball.”

It is truly awesome that, on top of their football endeavors, USF is ensuring that they are making a big impact in the community. They are creating lifelong memories for people and becoming role models for many others.

Success on the football field is always important. But in the grand scheme of things, the Bulls’ players and coaches are doing something for these Special Olympians that will hold much more value than any single football game outcome.