DUDLEY, Mass. (Nov. 16) -- For the entire fall semester, student-athletes at Nichols College have been taking Fridays a little more seriously than most college kids. Between class and practice, the Bison have taken a couple of hours to join in with some local athletes for flag football and cheerleading as Special Olympians from the Center of Hope in nearby Southbridge train for competition at Gillette Stadium.

The Nichols community is furthering its involvement with Special Olympics during the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship November 19-20. The Bison have teamed up with Special Olympics Massachusetts to Spread the Word to End the Word™ and build awareness for society to stop and think about its use of the R-word. That R-word is something hurtful and painful – “retard” or “retarded.”

Fans and teams attending the NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship at Vendetti Field will have the opportunity to pledge their support for the elimination of the derogatory use of the R-word and to promote the acceptance and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. It is the goal of Nichols College to gather 1,000 pledges throughout the Championship weekend.

Football captain Christopher Kerrigan (Hyde Park, Mass.) had never volunteered with the Special Olympics before his senior season with the Bison, and found it to be an amazing experience.

“I loved it. It was probably the most rewarding thing I've done,” said the soft-spoken strong safety who logged 54 tackles in 10 games this season.

Kerrigan attended every weekly session with the group of approximately 60 Special Olympians from the Center of Hope, working mainly with the flag football team playing five-on-five minigames.

But it was more than a football experience for Kerrigan, who, unless he has his helmet on, always sports a smile on his face.

“We know a lot of the kids by first name now. There are a lot of handshakes, a lot of touchdown dances we've all developed together.

“Every week they come with great attitudes, which is really refreshing because football is a long season, it can really drag on. But on Fridays they always come with a great attitude and are ready to play.”

And every Friday, Kerrigan and his teammates, along with Bison from other teams joined in.

“A lot of the kids remember us by name,” added Kerrigan. They're always asking, 'where's so –and-so' and 'where's so and so.' That in turn makes us want to be there more for them and play harder and work harder for them.”

Anyone who has been to a Nichols College athletics event knows the men's lacrosse team can cheer – and dance – so to have a group of laxers lead the cheer team was no surprise.

“We had such a great time. We laughed, they laughed, we laughed together,” said junior attackman Steve Delahanty.

“We taught them a lot of the cheers we do at games, and learned a lot in the process. I feel so fortunate to have spent this time with such wonderful athletes and people. They don't care what the score is, they just want to get out there and compete and have fun. It's a really valuable lesson.”

Senior Alexa Boucher (West Springfield, Mass.), a back on the Bison field hockey team, also worked with the cheerleaders and brought a group from the Nichols field hockey team to the Special Olympics Flag Football and Cheerleading competition last Sunday at Gillette Stadium.

“We had built such a strong relationship with the Special Olympians, we just had to go cheer them on at their competition,” said Boucher.

“We surprised them in Foxboro and saw the cheerleaders first. They were so happy, we were so happy – there were a few tears,” she added.

Boucher said she and her field hockey teammates walked their cheerleader friends onto the field where they then saw the football group and again it was like a reunion.

“We have had such a great opportunity to spend time with them every Friday, and to see them on the field at Gillette, it was such an awesome experience. I'm so glad we went, and I'm sure we would do it again in a heartbeat. They are all so inspiring.”

Sophomore football player Austin Turek summed up his experience, saying, “We're dedicating our time. When we could be taking a nap or could be on the Playstation or Xbox, we're going out and doing something that helps out in the community that makes someone's day. To see the kids, smiling, having a great time out there on the football field, it put a smile on my face and made me more motivated for football.”

For ticket information for the 2011 NCAA Division III Field Hockey Championship, visit ncaa.com/tickets

Spread the Word to End the Word: http://www.r-word.org
Special Olympics Massachusetts: http://www.specialolympicsma.org/