Tiger football players usually play teams like the Florida Gators and Alabama Tide, but this weekend they had a different matchup.People with disabilities from group homes across Louisiana took on the Tigers in the indoor football practice facility Saturday as part of the BuddyBall program.BuddyBall allows people with autism, Down syndrome, paralysis and other disabilities to participate in sports with some of the state’s best athletes. The team is called Superstarz because the game shows what makes each person special.Gayla Guidry, director of the Buddy Sports and Arts Program, said the program provides opportunities for people with “abilities” to be included in sporting events and to promote a healthy integrated quality of life through exercise programs.”I don’t call them disabilities,” Guidry said. “They might learn a different way, but we all have great potential and possibility inside of us.”Guidry has two adopted children of her own on the Superstarz team. Her daughter, Rhonda Guidry, has a cheerleading outfit for each team they play and cheered for her fiancé during the game.The Superstarz took turns playing against 10 Tiger football players. Guidry said the goal of the game is to make sure everyone gets a shot at winning.”The game is not over until everyone that wants to play gets a touchdown,” Guidry said.The 87 participants range from 18 months old to 64 years old. Some are paralyzed in wheelchairs, hooked to breathing machines or in diapers. If a participant couldn’t run to the end zone, players put a ball in their hand and sometimes pushed his or her wheelchair in for a touchdown.The game also had a referee throwing fake flags. LSU players fell to let BuddyBall players make it to the end zone.”The LSU guys helped with playing,” Guidry said. “They laid down and let the rambunctious ones jump on them.”BuddyBall volunteer Mary Stuhlman has helped with many of the program’s games. She said her favorite part is seeing the participants’ smiles and laughter.”[Volunteering] started as part of the job, but it’s more out of love,” Stuhlman said.Tiger football players said they got a lot out of the experience, too. Defensive back Craig Loston said he loved playing BuddyBall.”Just watching them run around and enjoy themselves … it doesn’t get much better than this,” Loston said.The game had special significance to running back Drayton Calhoun because his mother taught children with disabilities like the BuddyBall participants.The Superstarz will play against the New Orleans Saints in March and against the Dallas Cowboys next year.
 
 
 
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